South Side Hit Men

I’m almost at the reverse, since I rather give 2024 opportunities to Sosa, Popeye and Gonzalez. I “signed” Amed Rosario primarily help the staff get 27 outs, and the fact that Rosario is young enough to possibly contribute in a future window. The Sox need a veteran defensive / smart catcher to catch 90 + games, hopefully help the young catchers develop and work with pitchers to develop game plans like McCann. I see Merrifield as the fourth incarnation of Cesar / Big Energy / Tiny Elvis. If it only costs money, then Perez can soak up games caught and has a reputation to help pitchers. Since they need a full time catcher, he would be cromulent for two seasons and zero extensions. I’d also be fine with two catcher duo Caratini and a scrub veteran, to get them through until Quero is ready in 2025 or 2026.

I’m also excited about Drew Butera if he is being brought in to develop catchers. No word on any relation to Paul Butera, but his father is former catcher Sal Butera.

Glad they are expanding the coaching staff as well. Boston covered OF, first base and baserunners last year. The overall coaching staff was contracted by IIRC 2 or 3 after Tony’s departure. Need Getz, staff and players to be on the same page. Make sure Pedro and the staff know the goal is to identify and develop talent, not the contend now bullshit said (possibly instructed to say by Hahn / Boyer) last year. Need to give guys who didn’t produce but possibly can like Colas one more legitimate chance to improve, not bring in guys to establish “clubhouse culture”, while sacrificing player development to “win now”. Start with a clean slate in AZ and go from there.

Assuming the players were interested, these prices above were final (or Spotrac if not listed above). Rules: No trades for this exercise - though would likely have to couple Cease or Robert with Benintendi and or Moncada to get under $100M. Going with my projected Jerry 2024 Budget of $136M + $13M Dead $, which may be overly optimistic. Flip Severino and perhaps a Cease in July. No rush of call ups for Top AA 2023 Prospects until 2025. Try to fill in gaps, short term FAs to see what is salvageable into a possible 2026 contention team. Perhaps get a couple Shaw or Touki inning eater guys between $1.5M - $3.0M. Sox Salaries: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C4dU46AiC_pt1GtzakmASUg9UD_UnpG32kdRZ3clOnk/edit#gid=1520401900 Salary / Position(s) / Player (Batting) 7/1/24 Age / Projected fWAR (Depth Charts) Starting Lineup $85.4M $17.1M LF Andrew Benintendi 29 (L) 1.4 $12.5M CF Luis Robert Jr. 26 (R) 3.3 $13.8M DH Eloy Jimenez 27 (R) 2.1 $24.8M 3B Yoan Moncada 29 (S) 2.2 $3.5M 1B Andrew Vaughn 26 (R) 1.8 $9.0M SS Amed Rosario 28 (R) 2.2 (2 Year FA) $3.1M C Victor Caratini 30 (S) 1.6 (2 Year FA) $0.8M 2B Lenyn Sosa 24 (R) 0.9 $0.8M RF Oscar Colas 25 (L) 0.3 Bench $3.2M $0.8M C Carlos Perez 27 (R) 0.3 $0.8M INF Jose Rodriguez 23 (R) 0.2 $0.8M INF/OF Romy Gonzelez 27 (R) 0.3 $0.8M OF Yoelquis Cespedes 26 (R) No Projection Rotation $36.9M $8.7M SP Dylan Cease 28 (R) 2.7 $14.0M SP Luis Severino 30 (R) 1.5 (1 Year FA) $8.0M SP Yariel Rodriguez 27 (R) No Projection (4 Year FA) $3.1M SP Michael Kopech 28 (R) 0.6 $1.5M SP Touki Toussaint 28 (R) 0.7 $0.8M SP Jesse Scholtens 30 (R) 0.6 $0.8M SP Nick Nastrini 24 (R) 0.4 Bullpen $11.2M $0.8M CL Gregory Santos 24 (R) 0.7 $1.0M SU Garrett Crochet 25 (L) 0.6 $1.5M SU Bryan Shaw 36 (R) 0.0 (1 Year FA) $5.5M M Aaron Bummer 30 (L) 1.1 $0.8M M Tanner Banks 32 (L) 0.3 $0.8M L Jimmy Lambert 29 (R) -0.1 $0.8M L Luis Patino 24 (R) 0.1 Dead Money $13.0M $5.5M Leury Garcia - Final Year Buyout $4.0M Mike Clevinger - Option Buyout $1.5M Liam Hendriks - Year One of Ten $1.0M Tim Anderson - Option Buyout $1.0M Jose Abreu - Deferred $1M / year payouts through 2026 per Spotrac.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html Rank (QO = Received a Qualifying Offer; Y = Estimated Years) Estimated Term (Predicted Team Signing by the three authors) Shohei Ohtani QO $528M / 12Y (3) Dodgers Cody Bellinger QO $264M / 12Y (2) Giants, Yankees Yoshinobu Yamamoto $225M / 9Y (2) Yankees, Giants Blake Snell QO $200M / 7Y Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox Aaron Nola QO $150M / 6Y (3) Cardinals Jordan Montgomery $150M / 6Y Giants, Mets, Rangers Matt Chapman QO $150M / 6Y Cubs, Giants, Phillies Josh Hader QO $110M / 6Y (3) Rangers Sonny Gray QO $90M / 4Y Atlanta, Dodgers, Tigers Shota Imanaga $85M / 5Y (2) Cubs, Angels Eduardo Rodriguez $82M / 4Y Red Sox, Reds, White Sox Teoscar Hernandez $80M / 4Y (2) Angels, White Sox Jeimer Candelario $70M / 4Y Blue Jays, Cubs, Royals Lourdes Gurriel Junior $54M / 4Y Mariners, Royals, Yankees Jung Hoo Lee $50M/ 5Y (2) Padres, Blue Jays Jorge Soler $45M / 3Y Astros, Blue Jays, Mets Lucas Giolito $44M / 2Y (2) Mets, Orioles Marcus Stroman $44M / 2Y Dodgers, Phillies, Twins Seth Lugo $42M / 3Y Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Reds J. D. Martinez $40M / 2Y Angels, Mariners, Mets Jordan Hicks $40M / 4Y Orioles, Tigers, Yankees Jack Flaherty $40M / 3Y Pirates, Royals, Tigers Mitch Garver $39M / 3Y (2) Rangers, Red Sox Michael Wacha $36M / 3Y (2) Reds, Atlanta Kenta Maeda $36M / 2Y Mets, Orioles, Twins Rhys Hoskins $36M / 2Y Angles, Phillies, Twins Robert Stephenson $36M / 4Y Cardinals, Mets, Orioles Yariel Rodriguez $32M / 4Y (2) White Sox, Padres Reynaldo Lopez $30M / 3Y Mets, Reds, Twins Mike Clevinger $26M / 2Y (2) Angels, Red Sox Kevin Kiermaier $26M / 2Y (2) Blue Jays, Yankees Nick Martinez $25M / 2Y Blue Jays, Cardinals, Padres Aroldis Chapman $24M / 2Y Angles, Astros, White Sox Michael Lorenzen $22M / 2Y Diamondbacks, Marlins, Rockies Sean Manaea $22M / 2Y Dodgers, Pirates, Rays Harrison Bader $20M / 2Y (2) Twins, Giants Tyler Mahle $20M / 2Y Blue Jays, Nationals, Tigers Gio Urshela $20M / 2Y (2) Blue Jays, Tigers Amed Rosario $18M / 2Y (2) Marlins, Tigers Whit Merrifield $18M / 2Y (3) White Sox Justin Turner $16M / 1Y (2) Diamondbacks, Marlins Jason Heyward $16M / 2Y Dodgers, Pirates, Royals Yuki Matsui $16M / 2Y Cardinals, Cubs, Giants Frankie Montas $15M / 1Y Cardinals, Nationals, Orioles Brandon Belt $15M / 1Y Brewers, Pirates, Red Sox Hector Neris $15M / 2Y Cardinals, Reds, Twins Jakob Junis $15M / 2Y (2) Padres, Diamondbacks Luis Severino $14M / 1Y Brewers, Tigers, White Sox Liam Hendriks $12M / 2Y Diamondbacks, Phillies, Red Sox Tim Anderson $12M / 1Y Athletics, Mariners, Marlins Honorable Mention Victor Caratini Adam Duvall Erick Fedde Kyle Gibson Clayton Kershaw Lance Lynn Craig Kimbrel Phil Maton Wade Miley Matt Moore Tom Murphy Emilio Pagan James Paxton Joc Pederson Tommy Pham Hunter Renfroe David Robertson Hyun Jin Ryu Gary Sanchez Ryne Stanek Michael A. Taylor Joey Votto

Very Nice. He comes from Cleveland's FO and even if he does nothing is an upgrade over Boston's coaching of OFers. Keep plugging away Chris!

But if you are a competent front office, and believe this manager is the best available one for a contention period they are intending on upgrading their roster and chances, the marginal money spent on a Counsel vs. say an average manager based on salary could be a difference maker. The other two factors are the fact that many fans will see a commitment to winning and therefore will buy more tickets at higher prices with a Counsell hire plus other player acquisitions. Also, you have a better selling point to free agents you are trying to recruit, having a good team, committing to spend more to be better, attracting players who want to win during their contract vs. say grab a couple million more on a team not serious about winning (poor to average roster/FO/Manager). MLB Owner collusion against players which continues unabated since the 1980s is even more pronounced with FOs and other management /staff. Moneyball was great for Jerry and the other 29 because it basically said your manager is pretty much meaningless, so hire the cheapest guy and make him your b****. Pre Money/Collusion Ball, Joe Torre was making $7.5M a year. Today only six active managers make $3M + (plus Showalter's severance). with Counsell's new deal and Bochy the only two making $4M. The median manager salary is $1.75M, and six including you can bet your ass Pedro Grifol making under $1M. There are 10 NCAA Baseball managers making $1.2M plus. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/10/08/major-league-baseball-managers-grossly-underpaid/71106218007/ Highest paid MLB managers as of November 6, 2023: 1. $8M Craig Counsell 2. $4M Bob Melvin 3. -6. $3M - Under $4M Bochy, Cora, Martinez, Roberts 7. $3M + Showalter (Fired with 2024 salary in tact).

I only joined 3ish years ago, but seemed as though people mostly liked Tim through 2021. This bad clubhouse bullshit against Tim, Yoan, Abreu is primarily either worthless douchbag media having something to write or podcast about daily, and or CYA by the garbage management and ownership. Surely couldn't be decades MLB worst player development, scouting, coaching, ownership, front office. Bottom line is the players who provided the Sox the most value are the players they most wanted gone, and the players who provided the least amount of value were the ones defended until in became untenable, with a few still defending. A few like Parrot were luckily spared due to the prorated Jerry lockout (under $10M net) or being dumped prior to the threshold. White Sox Career $M spent per 1 bWAR ($10M minimum career White Sox salary + cash bonuses) Sources: Spotrac $ Salary / Baseball Reference bWAR - Amounts include buyouts & deferred payments for players no longer here. Window White Sox here since 2020, amounts include prior years if applicable. Window - Career White Sox stats / payments to players here between 2020 - 2023 White Sox Players who have provided value: 0.74 Adam Eaton ($11.9M / 16.0) - Sadly this value was used up in 2015-2016, inverse in 2021 1.41 Lucas Giolito ($19.8M / 14.0 bWAR) 1.72 Carlos Rodon ($19.3M / 11.2) 2.15 Tim Anderson ($34.8M / 16.2) 2.72 Yoan Moncada ($37.8M / 13.9) 3.20 Jose Abreu ($101.9M / 31.8) 3.62 Luis Robert Junior ($45.6M / 12.6) 3.63 Mike Clevinger ($12.0M / 3.3) White Sox Players who provided negligible value: 4.50 Leury Garcia ($19.8M / 4.4 bWAR) 4.66 Eloy Jimenez ($26.1M / 5.6) 6.65 Alex Colome ($11.3M / 1.7) 7.33 Kendall Graveman ($13.2M / 1.8) 7.54 Lance Lynn ($38.5M / 5.1) 12.56 Liam Hendriks ($54.0M / 4.3) White Sox Players who provided horseshit value: 24.60 Yasmani Grandal ($61.5M / 2.5 bWAR) 38.91 Dallas Keuchel ($42.8M /1.1) 41.25 A. J. Pollock ($16.5M / 0.4) 55.00 Andrew Benintendi ($11M / 0.2) - $64M to go - Worse than the Burger Trade Infinity s%*# Kelvin Herrera ($12.6M / -0.6) Infinity s%*# Joe Kelly ($14.4M / -0.9)

Apparently, the All Star Game may also be headed to Wrigley Field. https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/sports/chicago-cubs/city-cubs-working-to-bring-all-star-game-to-wrigley-field I guess it's their turn, thought they had it last. White Sox Hosted Games: Comiskey Park 1933, 1950, 1983. Comiskey Park II 2003. Chicago Cubs Hosted Games: Wrigley Field 1947, 1962, 1990.

Does every player with deferred money get paid each July 1st, the same as Bobby Bonilla, or is Bobby Bonilla's day specific to his contract? Liam Hendriks Day $1.5M through 2033 will still come up two years short of Bobby Bonilla Day scheduled through Bobb's age 72 year in 2035.

I like Robert Jr. and Cease. I like Eloy and Vaughn, they are just less healthy/talented, respectively. I also like Yoan, though understand why others don't. Still think he was very likeable by most in 2019-2021, and is highly motivated to perform next year for his 2025 contract. Santos pitched well. Their other players need a big step to reach a solid MLB starter plus level at this stage. Would like to see Kopech and or Crochet put it together and have a solid 2024. All the moves made by Getz to date were expected. There is not a lot of experience to gauge future Getz success, but I am encouraged with Barfield. The player development hire seems weak, hope there is something positive with him we don't know. Moore isn't coming, so that's a positive. Getz' biggest obstacle is not his lack of experience or his attributes (whatever they may be) but Jerry and Tony continuing to f*** things up covertly running the show. Hoping Getz can communicate a credible and honest assessment as to their plans for 2024 and over a 3-5 year window. Hoping Tony has zero more influence on future moves, FO or player. Would appreciate reasonable candor, not Hahn bullshit lawyer talk. If they are tanking for another 3-5 years, just say it. I enjoyed the 2019 season the most since 2005/06. There was hope, several exciting likable players, and there was no government lockdown/vaccine restrictions or TLR boycott. I went to many games and enjoyed fun at the ballpark with optimism for the future. Hope they could get to that point over the next few seasons.

Get a dozen or so 3-5 + bWAR players, and another dozen decent players / depth and you'll have a solid clubhouse.

Only two White Sox Opening Day payrolls were larger than the combined $148M paid to Benintendi ($75M) and $73M Grandal ($73M). The first five years resulted in 2.7 bWAR with four more to go which may not even result in a positive bWAR number after nine seasons. Only four of the eleven seasons resulted in an over .500 record. White Sox Nine Figure Opening Day Payrolls & Ben-Dal 2022 $193M 81-81 2023 $181M 61-101 Ben-Dal Total $148M (TWTW Record Grandal 171-192 & Benintendi 59-92 year 1 of 5) 2021 $129M 93-69 2011 $128M 79-83 2008 $121M 89-74 2013 $119M 63-99 2015 $119M 76-86 2016 $114M 78-84 2007 $109M 72-90 2010 $103M 88-74 2006 $103M 90-72

I like having the games on radio in the background at home or on walks. It's why I'm not obsessed about the at this point farcical postseason. If I did, I would have jumped on a team with a legitimate owner about the time Jerry replaced Hemond and Dombrowski with Hawk. Jerry killed my two favorite teams with one stone (1994 Sox and Expos).

Jerry would veto it on principle, even if Getz won the Powerball and offered to pay for both Counsell and Grifol's buyout out of pocket.

Yes, the best case scenario is the Sox lose the lottery, as the 2025 lottery selections are projected to be better. Also allows say a 5% chance of new ownership group, GM, scouting and player development in place by July 2025.

“This pleases me. The money will be spent at a later time. You can always trust me.”

Current 2024 OD Payroll: $108.9M (5 Players Under Contract) $73.7M $24.8M Moncada $17.1M Benintendi $13.8M Jimenez $12.5M Robert Jr. $5.5M Bummer Arbitration estimates if tendered and retained: (6 Players) $18.6M $8.7M Cease $3.5M Vaughn $3.1M Kopech $1.5M Toussaint $1.0M Crochet $0.8M Foster ML Minimum (15 Players) $11.1M Leury Legend (0 Players) $5.5M

Worse Tex, not worst. Worse in terms of 2024 and beyond competitiveness, better in terms of purging alleged rape, domestic violence and infant abuse people from the organization. Progress is they factor that aspect in future hires. Cues walk-up music I used to be cruel to my woman, I’d beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved. I know it’s mean, but I’m changing my scene and I’m doing the best that I can.

Let’s face it, the Sox haven’t tried to compete since Jerry and his fellow owners cancelled the 1994 World Series. They lucked into one season, spent money Tony told them the spend on Leury, Kelly, Eaton, Lynn extension, etc.. Jerry lied at the Getz press conference, tried to con gullible season ticket holders to renew their tickets. Until a non Reinsdorf is in charge, they will not spend the appropriate funds on a competent baseball operations organization or a proper roster to contend. Fischer in Vegas might beat them to the first nine figure contract.

Cot’s Contracts lists the current estimated 26 man OD payroll including arbitration estimates at $108.9M, including Leury’s $5.5M 2024 salary. It does not include the following four salaries / buyouts ($7.5M), which I guess go not count for the Luxury Tax, or whatever reasoning or basis Cot’s uses. Clevinger $4.0M Hendriks $1.5M Anderson & Abreu $1.0M each (per Spotrac) For purposes of this poll, the correct guess / winner will be based on Cot’s Contracts reported Opening Day payroll.

Prior Year White Sox OD Payrolls: Source 2023 $181.2M 2022 $193.4M 2021 $128.7M 2020 $50.2M 2019 $88.9M 2018 $71.2M 2017 $97.8M 2016 $114.5M 2015 $118.6M 2014 $90.1M 2013 $118.9M 2012 $97.7M 2011 $127.8M 2010 $103.1M 2009 $96.1M 2008 $121.2M 2007 $108.7M 2006 $102.8M 2005 $75.2M 2004 $65.2M 2003 $51.0M 2002 $57.1M 2001 $65.6M 2000 $31.2M

Appreciated the solid play and joy brought to the team and fans during his tenure here. I hope he does well throughout the remainder of his career and beyond. Thanks Tim for being one of the few bright spots over the past decade of White Sox baseball.