Chicago White Sox

Updated off-season plan based on the recent rumors that we plan on being big spenders this offseason. These moves would significantly improve the major league club in the short-term without jeopardizing the future. And yes, I’m adding two controllable starters because you can never have enough starting pitching and I’m not completely wasting a Manny Machado year. I would address any log-jams the following offseason. Free Agents: Manny Machado, 3B - 10/$375M (opt-outs after years 4, 5, & 6) Andrew McCutchen, OF - 2/$36M Martin Maldonado, C - 1/$6M Yusei Kikuchi, LHP - 6/$66M (including posting fee) Cody Allen, RHP - 1/$11M Trades: Omar Narvaez, C & Bernardo Flores, LHP for Jon Gray, RHP Yolmer Sánchez, 2B to Yankees for Freicer Perez, RHP Roster (May 1st): Moncada, CF (0.6) McCutchen, RF (18.0) Machado, 3B (40.0) Abreu, 1B (16.0) Jimenez, LF (0.6) Palka, DH (0.6) Anderson, SA (1.4) Castillo, C (7.3) Rondon, 2B (0.6) <Sub-Total: 85.1M> IF: L. Garcia (1.9) OF: Engel (0.6) UT: Delmonico (0.6) BC: Maldonado (6.0) <Sub-total: 9.1M> Gray (3.2) Rodon (3.7) Lopez (0.6) Kikuchi (11.0) Giolito (0.6) <Sub-total: 19.1M> CL: Allen (11.0) SU: Hamilton (0.6) SU: Fry (0.6) MR: Jones (4.7) MR: Frare/Bummer (0.6) MR: Burdi/Covey (0.6) LR: Banuelos/Stephens (0.6) <Sub-total: 18.7M> <Grand-total: $132.0M>

? Sale got us two blue chip prospects and another guy who’s probably in the top 100 (when we had no farm system). These guys only cost us money for which we have tons of.

Lol...ok, now I actually believe we’re trying to add both.

But Fathom’s “sources” claim the Cubs & Harper are basically a thing already!!

I don’t think there is a notion that he is bad defensively, but my understanding is his range is limited because of his size and his arm is below average for a RF. Long term he could be relegated to LF if he continues to grow. Add another below average (or even bad fielder) in Harper and you probably need to move Eloy to 1B in order to have a solid OF defense.

Signing Harper pretty much condemns Eloy to 1B in the long-run. But yeah, you’d need a pretty good defensive CF like Engel in between them.

I agree but man do Harper’s defensive metrics look terrible. Like I don’t see how he physically could be that bad out there. Does moving him to LF help at all? I have no interest whatsoever in playing him at 1B.

When are they giving this presentation? At the Winter Meetings?

Adding both would be pretty awesome ?

What Cubs “sources” are you referring to? Multiple outlets are reporting the Cubs are strapped right now. And how the fuck would Kaplan know the Sox’s intentions?

You need to stop while you’re ahead. Gavin Sheets has 70 grade raw power, Yurchak has well below average raw power for a 1B type.

Lol...so you believe Kaplan about the Sox and not the Cubs? And Cafardo knows shit outside of Boston depsite how badly he wants to pretend he’s Peter Gammons.

Why is that?

Not sure if this will make Fathom happy or sad: https://mobile.twitter.com/thekapman/status/1059100928693874688

Interesting. He would definitely make a ton of sense for us if our front office isn’t scared off by the recent shoulder problems. MLBtradrumors has him signing a 6/$42M contract with a $8M posting fee on top. I’d be all over him at that price. An under 30 left-handed starter would slot in nicely with all our right-handed pitching and make Rodon a little bit easier to move if he has a fast start coming season.

I take it Kikuchi doesn’t count against our amateur bonus pool?

Yup, this isn’t the case of Gavin Sheets with 70 grade raw power. Swing changes alone won’t fix his problems.

Please don’t take this offensively, but the Pizza Man should NOT be compared to the Ameritrade trust fund babies. I know we all want to believe the Cubs have endless money, but the reality is their owners do not and are highly levered on top of it all. I don’t see a way in hell they can add Harper unless they find a sucker to take Heyward off their hands.

Lots of rumors out there the Cubs are financially strapped.

I keep forgetting about the Cardinals, but you’re right they will likely be in the mix. And the Dodgers are always a threat even if they’ve never made a crazy exepensive move under Friedman. Still like our chances though.

Yeah, they are totally going after Machado.

So the Cubs & Yankees both seem like no-go’s for Harper. Still seems like the Phillies are the biggest threat for both him & Machado. I really think we have a shot to land one of these guys. Can’t wait for some real rumors to start popping up.

Yup, and a great fit for the Cell given how much it plays up HR’s and the importance it places on infield defense. I’m a big OBP guy but there’s nothing wrong with a having a couple guys like Rondon at the bottom of the lineup.

I’d honestly rather have Rondon as our reserve IF than Sanchez. I really like Yomer, but I don’t see the point of spending $5M on a reserve infielder and I think Rondon has more upside. I’d be looking to deal Sanchez this offseason and reallocate those savings elsewhere.

He also had 6 HR & 6 2B in just over 100 plate appearances. That’s in addtion to the 18 HR he hit in 80 games at AAA. The power looks like it might legit, which is shocking as that’s what drove down his prospect rankings in the past. His calling card coming up was actually being a good defensive SS. If Rondon can be a plus defensive 2B with 20+ HR power, we’re talking about an incredibly valuable player even with his plate discipline shortcomings. That’s a player worth investing some time in during a rebuild season and one who is far more interesting than most of the fringe guys we rolled out there last year.