FanPost

Chet Lemonhead's Offseason Plan

Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):

Write "tender" or "non-tender" after each of the following names:

Four million can be better used elsewhere than Belisario. Viciedo is tempting but no, we must move on. There is no realistic chance of him being dealt at the $4.4 million level, so dash all hopes of doing anything more with the Tank than buying his bus ticket out of town.

Contract options (pick up or buy out):

Free agents (re-sign or let go?):

Free agents

No. 1. Victor Martinez (four years, $56 million) This is an increase on his going rate for his last contract, which is the one the White Sox should've signed him to the LAST time around rather than Dunn. (Not revisionist, it's what I proposed along with plenty of others four years back.) Switch-hitter, some lousy 1b coverage in a pinch. I know Detroit has the first crack at him and has apparent bottomless coffers, which is why I'd push past my $48-50 comfort level and push the contract to 4/56.

No. 2 Russell Martin (four years, $50 million) He failed to get $40 over four a year or two ago, but after 2014, you gotta pay the man. Production, leadership, durable enough. In the AL, Martin can get some off-days at DH so his bat won't be tied to his knees behind the plate.

No. 3 Ichiro Suzuki (one year, $5 million) Handwringing about RF defense/No. 2 slot deficiencies are handled in one swoop. Plus, an outside chance of seeing this living legend collect his 3,000th hit in a White Sox uniform.

No. 4 Neal Cotts (two years, $4 million). Standard fare for the White Sox, fliers on shaky lefties (see: Ohman, Downs, et. al).

I would offer Grady Sizemore and Sergio Santos spring-training shots, if they're game. I am willing to sign a veteran starter (Masterson, McCarthy, Peavy), but only at a market-glutted contract. None of those guys are solid bets at eight figures a year for multiple years.

Trades

No. 1. Acquire 2B Ben Zobrist and C Jose Molina from Tampa for 2B Micah Johnson, P Frank Montas, 1B Andy Wilkins, C Josh Phegley, OF Moises Sierra. Zobrist has accumulated almost 37 WAR in six full seasons, his worst season falling just short of All-Star level (4.6). He played seven positions last season and hits from either side. The Rays would be crazy to ditch him, but with limited resources, he's not a factor in Florida beyond 2015.Tampa needs power (Wilkins) and is looking for a leadoff man (Johnson, yeah, I know, damaged wheels etc) and a suitable backup catcher (Phegley). Even though the Rays are pitching-rich, I'm sweetening the pot with Montas. The White Sox take back Molina essentially to give the Rays a sweetener of a salary dump ($2.75 million).

Semi-related, upon acquisition I extend Zobrist (I know, bad Teahen vibes) for three years, $25-30 million.

No. 2 Acquire P Edwin Jackson from the Cubbies for P John Danks. Puts a RHP in the rotation at a cost of $3.25 million less this season and $6.5 million over two years. EJax is essentially the same pitcher as Danks at this point, with the additional caveat that his best year(s) came with Coop and the White Sox.

No. 3 Acquire 3B Pedro Alvarez from Pittsburgh for C Tyler Flowers. Alvarez is getting a little expensive for the Pirates and isn't exactly a proven commodity. Flowers is a luxury in Chicago after Martin's signing, and the Pirates will be in need of catching.

No. 4 Acquire P Ian Kennedy from San Diego for 3B Conor Gillaspie. Need a sweetener here for the Padres, but with Kennedy looking at what, $8 million for pretty minor production, the Padres might jump at the chance to unload him for another Headley replacement.

Summary

Rotation: Sale, Q, Kennedy, Rondon, Jackson

Bullpen: Cotts, Bassitt, Jones, Guerra, Putnam, Petricka, Noesi

C: Martin, Molina

1b: Abreu

2b: Zobrist, Sanchez

ss: Ramirez

3b: Alvarez, Simien

of: Eaton, Garcia, Danks, Ichiro, Zobrist

dh: Martinez

This turns around the three weakest spots in the field. DH was less than 1 WAR with Dunn, VMart was 5+ in 2014. LF was -1 WAR, 2B was a 1 or so, and Zobrist splits 5 WAR between them. C wasn't bad with Flowers, but Martin should double that WAR. RF (mishmosh including new LF Avisail) was around 0 WAR, Ichiro brings around 1.

I can see the pursuit of a 3b given the market, but I can't fathom Panda or Headley or Hanley not coming in a massive overpay. Plus, Alvarez is fairly low-risk/high return.

I like the idea of Heyward but he's an ATL guy and I just don't see him not being part of the rebuild/relaunch/restock there.

This payroll, INCLUDING the five mil owed Keppy and Downs, comes to $107 million.

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