I hate the word retool but I can't thing of a better word.

I'm going to try something a little bit different. I really get discouraged when I see how little major league talent we have ready to join the "big club". I'm proposing a number of moves to change that and by 2017 make us competitive again.

I'm going to go focus on players that were either injured in 2015 or had a sudden drop in productivity from one year to the next. I'm also going to focus on farm system prospects from other teams who were just drafted last year.This is the first time we can trade for these prospects this early. I know this is risky because there is such a little snippet of production to predict future success but I felt that if I focused on college players and looked at the success rate of those players vs other players drafted in the first round I could id the prospects with the best chance of success( I have located two prospects).Both are on a fast track by their teams.

Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):

• Tyler Flowers, $3.5M: Tender
• Avisail Garcia, $2.3M: Tender
• Nate Jones, $900K: Tender
• Zach Putnam, $800K: Tender
• Dan Jennings, $800K: Tender
• I need everyone on the list but I'm tendering Avi to trade him.

Contract options (pick up or buy out)

• Alexei Ramirez: $10M for 2016
• I'm going to pick up his option because I just don't feel comfortable appointing Tyler Saladino the starter and the other outside options are underwhelming. Its a lot to pay for comfort but what are you going to do.I will attempt to trade Alexi when Tim Anderson is ready.

Impending free agents (re-sign, let go, or qualifying offer?):

• Jeff Samardzija: $15.8M-offer QO
• Matt Albers: Offer 1 yr, $2.5 M deal
• Gordon Beckham: let go
• Geovany Soto: let go

I don't know what it is but I just like Matt Albers.

Free agents

Offer SP Scott Kazmir a 3 yr, $45 million contract(15M per year)

Offer Mark Buehrle a 1yr 7 million contract

I'm going to trade some of our pitching and I need some replacements. I think that Kazmir is a good solid pitcher and he does not cost a draft pick. On one to the Detroit sites I read that they really wanted Kazmir but because of their payroll problems could only see going to 14M in order to try and sign him The deal is not so long as to be too risky. I also read that he is good in the clubhouse(a good guy who is a good pitcher-I like it).

Speaking of "good guys " I think that Mark still has something left in the tank. I think it is only fitting that he retires as a White Sox.

Trades

I have to apologize in advance because I have quite a few trades. I'm going to trade some of the people I get in trades for other trades

Trade Jose Quintana and Chris Beck to Arizona Debacks for SS prospect Dansby Swanson ,RP Silvino Bracho, SP prospect Archie Bradley and their !st round pick in the supplemental draft.

Trade David Robinson to Boston for OF prospect Andrew Benintendi, C Christian Vazquez and SP prospect Anderson Espinoza.

Trade Avi Garcia, Micah Johnson and Arizona's 1st round supplemental pick to the Mets for starting pitcher Zach Wheeler.

Trade Archie Bradley and Anderson Espinoza to the Rockies for LF Corey Dickerson.

Trade SP Erick Johnson and Adam Laroche and 10 million dollars to the Miami Marlins for Marcell Ozuna

Finally trade Courtney Hawkins and Andre Wheeler to the Oakland A's for Brett Laurie.

Summary

Archie Bradley(Hit in face by batted ball and shoulder strain), Christian Vazquez(Tommy John Surgery),Corey Dickerson(Planter fasciitis and fractured ribs),Zach Wheeler(Tommy John Surgery) were all injured. All should be ready for the start of 2016 with the exception of Zach Wheeler who should be ready by June.

If we go back a year we would find the both Corey Dickerson and the Marcell Ozuna were considered to future stars based on the 2014 production and Christian Vazquez was penciled in as Boston's starting catcher before he was hurt .I guess I'm trying to say that I think they are all poised for comebacks this year .If Ozuna or Dickerson do not bounceback then I have Trayce Thompson ready to step in in 2016. Its a year of evaluation

The real payoff comes in 2017 when Swanson and Benintendi join the team. I expect both to be starters from day one .I know that Tim Anderson also plays SS but that's a good problem to have.Its also possible that Sanchez hits more in 2016-again a nice problem to have Likewise If Dickerson and Ozuna have good seasons then its nice to have options. I expect Vasquez to be the starting catcher in 2017.

The pitching will also be a winner as I see the starting 2017 rotation to be Sale,Kazmir,Rodon,Wheeler and Fulmer.

We would also have 42M coming aff the books to pursue free agents

Roster(no particular order)

Eaton CF

Abreu 1B

Sanchez 2B

Flowers C

Ramirez SS

Dickerson LF

Ozuna RF

Laurie 3rd

MCabrera DH

Bench

Saladino

Thompson

Vazquez

L.Garcia (not sure about this one)

SP pitching

Sale

Rodon

Kazmir

Buehrle

Danks-will trade mid season to open spot for Wheeler)

Bullpen

Petricka

Duke

Putnam

Albers

N.Jones

Jennings

Bracho

Montas

My cost for 2016 comes in at about 115,000,000. I would expect the difference from the 135,000,000 buget to be spent on the international draft.