Chicago Tim’s Offseason Plan
Introduction
The Sox are a good team with 2 big big holes to fill, and enough money to fill 1 one of them in free agency, but not both. The key is not to equivocate and sign 2 sub par free agents. My offseason plan addresses one key hole in Free Agency and fills the other via trade
Manager
AJ Hinch. This isn't a ringing endorsement more than a "who else" move. I don't want another guy who has never coached before like Ventura or someone living in 1970. He's got baggage that he has to answer for in an interview, but in my little world he passed
Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):
Need to non tender most of tweeners to make room
- Nomar Mazara, $5.9 million Non-tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $2 million Non-tender
- Adam Engel, $1.4 million Tender
- Carlos Rodón, $4.55 million Non Tender (try to sign for less and convert to Reliever)
- Lucas Giolito, $5.3 million Tender
- Reynaldo López, $2.2 million Tender
- Evan Marshall, $1.9 million Tender
- Jace Fry, $1 million Tender
Impending Free Agents
Re-sign, cut loose, or extend a qualifying offer of $18.9 million? (Explain any tough or complicated calls.)
- Alex Colomé (2020 salary: $10,532,500) Cut
- James McCann (2020 salary: $5.4 million) Cut
- Jarrod Dyson (2020 salary: $2 million) Cut
Team Contract Options
Write "pick up" or "decline," and explain any tough or complicated calls.
- Edwin Encarnación (2021 salary: $12 million) Decline
- Gio González (2021 salary: $7 million) Decline
- Leury García (2021 salary: $3.5 million) Decline
Free agents
Using the list of free agents, tell us who you’d sign, keeping in mind our salary cap and good, old-fashioned logic. Include your maximum offer (total years, total salary). Explain your choice at least briefly, even in the case of the most obvious, superstar signs.
George Springer (six years, $120 million). This is where the money gets spent
Trades
Jarred Kelly and Micker Adolfo to the Texas Rangers for Lance Lynn The Rangers wanted to deal Lynn this past year, but the ask was too high. Now the Rangers are openly rebuilding and Lynn is a 1 year rental, so the price will be down. That said, the bargain bin won't get it done and we need to be willing to part with a promising prospect in Kelly and give Adolfo a chance elsewhere.
Summary
Total Payroll comes out a hair under $130M which I think is more than fair.
The glaring holes at RF and SP have been repaired especially with Kopech coming back. Otherwise the Sox are expected to come back strong with the core they have
26 Man Roster:
C - Grandal
1B - Abreu
2B - Madrigal (Mendick to start if Nick isn't ready)
3B - Moncada
SS - Timmy
LF - Jimenez
CF - Robert
RF - Springer
DH - Vaughn (No need to manipulate service time with a 1B when we are in Win Now)
Bench:
C - Collins ( I really think the bat will improve with him starting every 3-4 days)
Util - Mendick
OF - Engel
Bench Bat - Offseason TBD
Starters:
1. Giolito
2. Keuchel
3. Lynn
4. Kopech
5. Cease/Dunning/Lopez
Bullpen:
CL - Marshall
SU - Foster
High Leverage - Bummer
R1 - Fry
R2 - Heuer
R3 - Burdi
R4 - Rodon
Long Relief - Lopez/Cease/Dunning
Key notes here are Crochet does not break camp with the club and gets stretched out in AA to be a starter long term. Rodon spends the spring transitioning to a reliever where hopefully that FB SL combo can play with less injury risk. Marshall is the closer, regardless of whether or not he is the best reliever, Bummer is much more valuable in a high leverage flex role where he will slot in
Love to know your thoughts
thanks
-tim
Connect @SouthSideSox