South Side Hit Men

Very tough decision. I hope a depressed FA market allows the White Sox to resign Colome. I would have have guessed pre Rona plans were to promote Bummer and use the $ elsewhere on the roster after another solid Bummer season. The nerve injury is an additional factor in Colome's retention. The candidates you mention may be possibilities, though the truncated schedule really hurt in terms of providing significant audition time in late inning situations. Foster has succeeded in multiple roles this year. Heuer has looked very good as well, wish he was used more. Wouldn't hold Burdi's bad outing against him, but would like a full year under his belt before considering late inning roles. Liam Hendricks is the best 2021 FA closer beyond Colome, likely beyond the Sox' budget. I don't know whether other minor league candidates are in the mix with the lack of minor league games or news, but hopefully the minors will continue to provide the White Sox with additional candidates. The White Sox won it all, though with a more experienced veteran SP staff, with rotating Closers throughout 2005, and push comes to shove this would not be my number one priority this off-season. Right Field would be my top priority as it impacts offense and defense, followed by making a decision as to whether Grandal is a good fit to catch 120 games, or whether a three position rotation between Abreu, Grandal, McCann and Vaughn is best. In a perfect world, the Sox would have signed two OFers instead of Parrot and Grandal, and Jiminez would serve significant time as DH. Would upgrade the defense and keep Eloy's bat in the lineup without continued lost time due to injuries in the outfield. I do like Grandal's pitch framing, and unfortunately the truncated season limits the time he gets to work with the staff this season (hopefully the postseason adds a few dozen more opportunities ). I think the writing is on the wall and McCann will leave, Collins gets promoted and the money, if used, is for RF and Pitching. And thanks @Chicago White Sox for pointing out the two RP omissions, Heuer and Burdi. Both will return, eliminating the need for the FA RP.

Projected Opening Day Roster Assumptions = Full Season, Depressed FA $ across MLB. * = Estimated Arbitration Award / Final Contract; ^ = Estimated Free Agent Contract Hitters: $73.8M + Potential Additional FA $ (13 Hitters) C: Y. Grandal $18.3M 1B: J. Abreu $17.7M 2B: N. Madrigal $0.6M 3B: Y. Moncada $6.8M SS: T. Anderson $7.3M LF: E. Jimenez $4.3M CF: L Robert $3.5M RF: Free Agent / Trade Acquisition TBD or N. Mazara $6.5M* DH: A. Vaughn $0.6M C; J. McCann $6.5M^; INF: D. Mendick $0.6M* & Free Agent / In House TBD $0.6M + OF: A. Engel $0.8M*. Pitchers: (13 Pitchers): $46.9M SP: L. Golito $3.5M*; D. Keuchel $18.0M; D. Cease $0.6M*; D. Dunning $0.6M*; C. Rodon $5.0M*; R. Lopez $1.5M*; RP: A. Colome $11.0M; A. Bummer $2.0M; E. Marshall $1.5M*; R. Detwiler $1.0M; M. Foster $0.6M; J. Cordero $0.6M; Free Agent $1.0M. Additional 14 Players on 40 Man including M. Kopech (14 * $0.6M = $8.4M) Players granted FA w/ buyout if applicable ($1.6M) : S. Cishek $0.8M; G. Gonzalez $0.5M; L. Garcia $0.3M; E. Encarnacion $0.0M; J. Dyson $0.0M. J. Fry $0.0M. Total White Sox Payroll: $130.7M Key Decisions: 1. James McCann: Very important in terms of defense, pitcher development and pitch calling. Grandal signing hamstrung organization in terms of not filling their biggest 2020 lineup hole (Right Field - Nick Castellanos better use of $$$, especially looking at the options in 2021 Free Agents). That said, it's likely he walks, Collins is the backup. Hope Lucas and others don't take a step back as a result. Decent possibility RONA continues and there's a total collapse of the FA market, allowing McCann to return with a reasonable deal. 2. Starting Pitcher: Do they rely on in house options, or sign one more SP (2-4) to add depth while the young core continues to develop. 3. Closer: Will they attempt to resign Colome or will they attempt to go in house and use $ to shore up middle relief or RF? Bummer injury impacts his potential promotion. 4. Right Field: Will they stick with Mazara, or contemplate a trade to acquire an adequate defender and bat? Short sample size so far, but nothing to indicate Mazara will progress beyond a below average fielder and corner OF hitter. Limited Minor League options at this point to fill this position. Wild Card = RONA: I don't see the White Sox being among the aggressive teams if RONA continues in 2021 and beyond, allowing for few/no free agents beyond ML Minimum Salary roster additions. They will likely seek continued salary reductions from players for next season.

Or Mazara for Jake Cave

The Sox have enough hitting to put a second Major League outfielder out there to help Robert. Engle, Dyson, I don't give a shit.

Nice!

Drake, I'm not Adam Eaton, you are not my "leader". Hopefully the third time is the charge and they never sign another 30 something over the hill DH. The Sox needed OFers, not Dunn 3.0.

He's Dunn alright, Dunn 3.0 (LaRoche = Dunn 2.0). White Sox Math - Player / Batting Average / Wins Above replacement Dunn .201 / -0.4 LaRoche .207 / -0.7 Parrot .174 / -0.1

Getting rid of Eaton itself for anything made it a clear winner. The team with Eaton, LaRoche and their 13 year old child leader was the hardest team to watch and cheer for, regardless of W/L record. Or Todd Frazier (yet again) to fill in for a lengthy Moncada absence. Prefer the solid defense Yolmer provides for late game substitutions and fill-in flexibility he provides, was happy with this signing. Hahn did a good job signing Cubans and his tanking trades, but the jury is out on whether he can make trades to move a contender up the ladder (Thinking the Peavy and Samardzija trades). Would have preferred two complete (bat and field) Outfielders and shifting Jimenez to DH vs. EE and Grandal.

With the COVID situation likely persisting into 2021 and beyond, it will work in the White Sox favor to be able to reach agreement with McCann on a reasonable deal if he wants to return. I envision free agent demand this year to be worse this off-season than the several years of collusion (1980s, past few seasons) conducted under normal financial times. That said, McCann may want to walk even if the Sox match/exceed other offers. Right now, there are six starters for three positions (DH/C/1B) with McCann, Grandal, Abreu, Vaughn, Parrot and Jimenez (not a ML OFer). McCann's defense and pitcher management is very valuable. Assuming Eloy continues in LF and they let EE walk, it's tenable to carry the remaining five and use EE $ for a RF and/or pitching.

I agree, and that assumes Kopech decides to return to baseball next year. I would rather have a second half call-up allowing for development to start the year, and have him available to pitch through year-end including postseason, vs. what Washington did with the September shutdown of Steven Strasburg several years ago. I don't see him being allowed to exceed 140 innings next year, consistent with his final active season. 2016 56 IP 2017 134 IP 2018 140 IP