ChiSoxFanMike

I wanted to post this in the offseason plan thread, but it got closed for some reason, so I'll post it here instead. Here is my plan for the offseason. • Trade Avisail Garcia for Billy Hamilton • Trade Jose Quintana and Adam LaRoche for Yasiel Puig, Scott Van Slyke, and Austin Barnes • Trade Chris Beck and Tyler Danish for Jurickson Profar • Sign David Freese to a 3 year/$30 million deal • Sign Doug Fister to a 1 year/$5 million deal Lineup: LF - Adam Eaton (L) DH - Melky Cabrera (S) 1B - Jose Abreu ® RF - Yasiel Puig ® 3B - David Freese ® SS - Jurickson Profar (S) 2B - Carlos Sanchez (S) C - Tyler Flowers ® CF - Billy Hamilton (S) Bench: 3B and SS - Tyler Saladino ® OF - J.B. Shuck (L) C - Austin Barnes ® 1B and OF - Scott Van Slyke ® 2B - Micah Johnson (L) Rotation: SP - Chris Sale (L) SP - Carlos Rodon (L) SP - Erik Johnson ® SP - John Danks (L) (He's a placeholder for Carson Fulmer) SP - Doug Fister ® Bullpen - RP - Dan Jennings (L) RP - Zach Duke (L) RP - Zach Putnam ® RP - Jake Petricka ® SU - Nate Jones ® CL - David Robertson ® Although this plan weakens the rotation by losing Quintana, it improves the team in several other areas, including defense and versatility. Lineup - While this lineup doesn't have a whole lot of pop, they do have one thing that White Sox teams haven't had in the recent past - speed and versatility. With several switch hitters and speedsters at the top and bottom of the lineup, this lineup should be able to put pressure on opposing pitching staffs by playing small ball. Don't get me wrong, this team would struggle to hit the ball out of the yard, but contact hitters have been scarce for the Sox over the past few years, and this team would change that. Defense - Taking Melky and Avi out of the outfield and replacing them with Puig and Hamilton improves the outfield defense ten-fold, as that was a huge problem last year. Freese isn't known for his defense, but he has got to be better than Gillaspie/Olt. Profar provides a lot of range up the middle, and I think that he could form a good DP combo with Sanchez. When Anderson comes up, perhaps Profar could shift over to 2nd base or maybe Anderson could become an outfielder. Youth movement - Profar, Hamilton, and Barnes represent young, cheap, and high potential position players that haven't hit their stride yet at the big league level yet, but have the potential to do so. Not trading any notable young players besides Avi, Beck, and Danish ensures that the Sox keep their young talent in tact for the most part. Hopefully guys like Montas, Anderson, Fulmer, etc can contribute in 2017 and beyond, but I'm not counting on any of them to contribute much in 2016 Rotation - Sale and Rodon form a formidable 1-2 duo in this rotation. Starters 3-5 are question marks, but Johnson showed potential last year, not to mention his youth. Fister is a bit of an unknown, but I like him on a 1 year deal. The worst case scenario is that he bombs, and even then, it's only a 1 year deal. If he succeeds, great. Hopefully the Sox will be a spot to contend for a playoff spot, but if not, they can flip him at the deadline as a rental. Danks is purely a placeholder for Fulmer, as he will surely be gone after 2016. Bullpen - This bullpen is almost exactly like the 2015 version. Robertson should provide decent value as a lockdown closer, and I expect Jones to have a nice injury-free season as the setup man. Petricka, Jennings, Putnam, and Duke can be all be very inconsistent at times, but when they're on, they're very good. The bullpen wasn't great last year, but it wasn't as bad as 2014 either. I fully expect Montas to be called up at some point and hopefully be groomed as the future closer. Let me know what you think of these ideas. Thanks.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 03:14 PM) My idea from the start has been to acquire Billy Hamilton, put Trayce in RF and Eaton in LF then rolling with an Avi/Melky 4OF and DH platoon. LaRoche even gets a few DH AB's, since this plan packs 5 OF on the roster while only soaking 1 bench spot. This matters because trading LaRoche is impossible and eating his $11m is fantasy. Lots of OF versatility too. Rolling with the defensive oriented OF in away games at Kaufmann, Comerica, etc. while introducing a little more pop with Melky or Avi at the Cell. If the Sox get a lead throw in the defensive replacement. Hamilton and Trayce can both PR like nobodies business, which is a colossally underrated tool to have for those crucial 1 run games in this deadball era. The downside is the best power bat of the 5 is likely Eaton. The whole group may not hit more than 30 HR a year which puts massive pressure on Abreu and the IF (yikes!) to make up the power. But for a team in the Sox position sacrifices must be made, we aren't getting a group of 3 OF that play good defense, get on base a lot, can run and hit >50 HR as a group. Billy Hamilton would be a great addition if he knew how to hit above .230. The dude is probably the fastest guy in baseball, but he can't ever put his speed to good use because he rarely gets on base.

The Sox need to get Puig.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 12:19 PM) Where would Avi play? Center? That would be an amusing train wreck to say the least. Hey, we shouldn't be opposed to that as Sox fans.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 11:39 AM) Cubs refused to give up Baez for Tyson Ross (at least that's what I took away from last year's trade deadline), they would laugh hard at this proposal. Is that true? If so, the Cubs are idiots.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 11:33 AM) They have no need for Avi with their glut outfielders. That's probably true, but an outfield spot will open up for them once Fowler leaves. Avi would be a much cheaper (albeit less talented) alternative to Heyward/Upton/Cespedes/etc

I wonder if the Cubs would trade Baez for Avi and Danish/Beck/etc?

Everyone is so set on having Thompson replace Avi full time next year, but what if Thompson struggles too? Then what?

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 11:07 AM) there are options here. trade him if the fo can get a rtn they can live with creating a space for TT to play, b/c he deserve the shot, he earned it. if not, platoon him or send him to the minors to continue to work on his game. for me, at least this they should have done to DV 2-3 yrs before they did it. I 100% agree with sending him to AAA for awhile to get his confidence back. It might be a blow to his ego, but he needs to get back to the fundamentals that made him a top prospect in the first place. His potential is still there, he just has to work on a couple facets of his game to realize it.

Trading Avi now makes no sense. His value is lower now than it has ever been before...

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:42 AM) He has 802 games at 2B and 15 at 3B. I wouldn't do it. It's not like his 2B defense is anything special, and generally, guys who make a position switch to be a third baseman don't do too well defensively. Sanchez's defense is better at 2B IMO. The only reason I'd want Walker is because of his bat. If he could play acceptable defense and hit .275 with 15 ish homers at 3B, I'd love him.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:49 AM) Unsexy, but effective offseason mock: -Resign Alexei to a 1 yr, $7 MM deal -Resign Soto to a 1 yr $8 MM deal -Trade Erik Johnson for Martin Prado -Trade Carlos Sanchez and Tyler Danish for Neil Walker -Sign Trevor Cahill to 2 yr, $7 MM deal CF Eaton 3B Prado 1B Abreu DH LaRoche RF Thompson LF Cabrera 2B Walker SS Ramirez C Flowers BE Saladino BE A. Garcia BE Soto BE M. Johnson SP Sale SP Quintana SP Rodon SP Danks SP Montas/Cahill CL Robertson SU Jones SU Montas/Cahill RP Duke RP Petricka RP Putnam RP Phillips You want to give $8 million to a backup catcher?

Can Walker play third by any chance? I know he's been a second baseman for most, if not, all of his career, but I'd go after him if he can make a position change.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Nov 18, 2015 -> 06:08 PM) With the Verlander and Cabrera deals, what other choice do they have? 100% agree. Their core is aging rapidly, so they need to win in the next year or 2. Once Miggy/V-Mart/Verlander/Etc decline, they're in trouble. They have no farm system whatsoever.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 12:32 AM) Dellin Betances and Shawn Tolleson were better pitchers in 2015 according to 2 writers....A couple thought Marco Estrada was better..... Holy f***, ban those writers immediately. Some writers believe that ERA means everything, unfortunately.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 18, 2015 -> 06:28 PM) When Steve Stone explained why he would probably win a few months ago it made sense. If anyone had any sort of bias towards LA, Greinke and Kershaw would likely split the votes. He never gets much credit, but Stone knows what he's talking about when it comes to baseball. I'm surprised he never wanted to be a manager/front office guy.

World Series 2016 here we come! The GOAT (Scott Hairston) will lead us the promise land!

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 06:14 PM) CF Betts SS Bogaerts 1B Abreu LF Cabrera C Swihart RF Garcia DH LaRoche 3B Olt 2B Sanchez Add a Todd Frazier and maybe another OF and this offense is as good as it comes imo. Quintana Rodon Rodriguez Johnson Danks Formidable. Hitters 6-9 in that lineup are automatic outs just about every time.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 05:38 PM) Major blockbuster proposal: SP Chris Sale, CF Adam Eaton, and SS Tim Anderson for SS Xander Bogaerts, CF Mookie Betts, C Blake Swihart, 3B Rafael Devers, and SP Eduardo Rodriguez Who says no? No thanks. I'd probably do it though if Moncada and Owens were included too.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 04:37 PM) I don't see how we could get Fernandez without giving up one of those pitchers, at least. I doubt that the Sox would even be interested in him. I'm just thinking hypothetically.

It'd be cool if the Sox traded for him. Sale/Fernandez/Quintana/Rodon/Fulmer would be awesome.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 01:31 PM) Prepare to be disappointed. Like I said, I know it's not realistic to expect it. I'll still root for him no matter what team he's on though.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 12:01 PM) What if the Sox went to Sale after next season and told him they'll rip up the team options for 2018-19 if he signs a 5-year/$100 million contract for 2018-22. Sale gets a nice raise on those option years, $100M of guaranteed money where he had $0 before, and the chance for another contract at age 33. The Sox get three additional seasons from him at below market value. $100M seems low and I have a feeling it wouldn't be enough to get him to sign, but keep in mind that the Sox are taking on a lot more risk from Sale in this scenario; in his current deal, they hold all the cards. A number exists where he'd accept and it'd still be worth it for the Sox. $125? I hope Sale gives the Sox a 'Hometown Discount' after his current deal is up, but I don't see that as being realistic. I'd love it though if he was on the Sox for his entire career.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 17, 2015 -> 11:28 AM) He keeps pitching the way he has been, he certainly won't be with this organization after 2019. Contracts escalate every offseason. He'll get a 7/8 year deal worth at least 30/35 mill a year. That's kind of what I was hinting at. Kershaw would get way more than $215 million in today's market for aces. Hell, Cueto or Zimmermann could get something close to that number this offseason and they're not even close to the talent level as Kershaw/Sale.

Ok, maybe $400 million is a little crazy, but I do think he'd get a deal similar to Kershaw at the very least.