Write "tender" or "non-tender" after each of the following names. Note that you can trade before or after tendering a contract, and that players can also be extended.
- Jose Abreu, $17.9M - Tender
- Avisail Garcia, $6.7M - Tender
- Yolmer Sanchez, $2.1M - Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $2.0M - Tender
- Danny Farquhar, $1.5M – Non-tender
- Zach Putnam, $1.4M – Tender
- Leury Garcia, $1.2M – Tender
- Jake Petricka, $1.1M – Non-tender
- Al Alburquerque, $1.1M – Non-tender
Explain the toughest calls if necessary:
Impending free agents (re-sign, let go or qualifying offer)
- Geovany Soto: Made $2 million in 2017 (already let go)
- Mike Pelfrey: Made $8 million in 2017 (already let go)
Elaborate if needed:
Free agents
Peruse the list of potential free agents and name two (or more) you would pursue, the max offer you would extend to them, and a brief explanation. A good-bad example:
No. 1: Javy Guerra (1 year, $600K): This would be a nice reclamation project for Coop (AKA one of those "Coop’ll fix ‘em" guys).
No. 2: Tony Barnette (1 year, $2M): He didn’t have the best season, but he was solid in 2016. I think this would be a good lefty option to have out of the ‘pen for the season, since the Sox currently only have two lefties, Jacy Fry and Aaron Bummer on the 40 man.
No. 3: Yusmeiro Petit (2 years, $8M): This is an actual add that would improve the team. He’s coming off of a career year. If the season isn’t going well, you could always flip him for a low-level prospect.
No. 4: David Holmberg (1 year, $535K): Let’s be real. He had a very average season, but he’s one of the youngest relievers on the market, let alone lefties. At 26, I think another year of work with Coop and playing on the South Side could pay off for both the Sox and Holmberg.
No. 5: Adam Rosales (2 year, $3.5M): Rosales is a Sox killer and a Park Ridge native. This is a cheap move that could possibly play out. In addition, he’s a utility. With the lack of bench players and surplus of pitchers in the bullpen, the 3-4 players on your bench really count. Saladino has most likely plateaued, so I think this really makes sense.
Trades
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them.
No. 1: Trade Nate Jones to the Dodgers for Errol Robinson. Jones has been known to get hurt. He’s usually electric, when he isn’t injured, but that is a big IF. Tony Watson and Brandon Morrow will be free agents for the Dodgers, so I think this would be a trade fitting both team’s needs. Robinson in 29th in the Dodger’s top prospects, so I don’t think this is impossible for Hahn to pull off.
No. 2: Trade Tyler Saladino to anyone for Cash Considerations.
This would bring us to a 25-man roster. Sadly, it isn’t as exciting as last offseason, but as Hahn said, this is a year for development. There won’t be as many moves. Potentially, we could see a pitcher, Abreu, or Avi on the move midway through the season, but I don’t think much will happen. I believe they will sign these guys again because they would get more value out of them in the future or on the open market via trade.
I think, obviously, our bullpen was a horrid issue last season. For good reason, the tank was on. However, I think you need to look at real bullpen possibilities and reclamation projects that could help the team, whether it is through an extension or through trade for more prospects. I do not see Hahn conceding the future to satisfy a 2018 playoff birth, so I wouldn’t expect any trades or large money commitments that greatly help the 2018 roster, either. You can construct a solid bullpen for cheap, and I think there are always enough options out there.
In this scenario, Holmberg plays the role as a spot starter. Guerra is another relief option. Barnette is a solid lefty arm out of there in a bullpen dominated by righties. Petit had a career year and could play the role of closer until Burdi or someone settles in as one, and Holmberg had a good enough year to bring back on a league minimum salary. Plus, he is young compared to the rest of the market. Rosales fits that utility role off the bench, previously occupied by Saladino, who would be traded for cash.
Your 2018 White Sox should look like the following:
3B – Yolmer Sanchez
SS – Tim Anderson
2B – Yoan Moncada
1B – Jose Abreu
DH – Matt Davidson
LF – Nicky Delmonico
CF – Adam Engel
RF – Avisail Garcia
C – Omar Narvaez
C – Kevan Smith
Util – Leury Garcia
Util – Adam Rosales
SP – James Shields
SP – Carlos Rodon
SP – Reynaldo Lopez
SP – Lucas Giolito
SP – Carson Fulmer
RP – Aaron Bummer
RP – Jace Fry
RP – Juan Minaya
RP – Zach Putnam
RP – Javy Guerra
RP – Yusmeiro Petit
RP – David Holmberg
RP – Tony Barnette
Guys like Michael Kopech, Eloy Jimenez, Casey Gillaspie, Spencer Adams, Zack Burdi, Zack Collins, Ryan Cordell, Charlie Tilson, and Jordan Stephens could all force the hand of upper management, but above is what the roster should look like at the beginning of the season.
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