Chicago White Sox: 2017 Season Review and Offseason Preview
Top Offseason Priorities
According to CBS Sports, the Chicago White Sox ranked 24th with a payroll just under $100 million. They shed much of that payroll during the season with trades to add more talent to an already talented minor league system.
This is how the lineup and rotation look for 2018 based on their current roster, with salaries from Cot’s Baseball Contracts at Baseball Prospectus:
C Omar Navarez, pre-arbitration
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1B Jose Abreu, arbitration-eligible (projected: $17.9 million)
2B Yoan Moncada, pre-arbitration
SS Tim Anderson, $1 million
3B Yolmer Sanchez, arbitration-eligible (projected: $2.1 million)
LF Leury Garcia, arbitration-eligible (projected: 1.2 million)
CF Charlie Tilson, pre-arbitration
RF Avisail Garcia, arbitration-eligible (projected: 6.7 million)
DH Nicky Delmonico, pre-arbitration
UT Leury Garcia, arbitration-eligible (projected $1.2 million)
Chicago White Sox
3B Matt Davidson, pre-arbitration
SP James Shields, $21 million
SP Carlos Rodon, , arbitration-eligible (projected: $2 million)
SP Reynaldo Lopez, pre-arbitration
SP Lucas Giolito, pre-arbitration
SP Carson Fulmer, pre-arbitration
RP Nate Jones, $3.95 million
RP Danny Farquhar, arbitration-eligible (projected: 1.5 million)
RP Zach Putnam, arbitration-eligible (projected: $1.4 million)
RP Jake Petricka, arbitration-eligible (projected: $1.1 million)
RP Al Aburquerque, arbitration-eligible (projected: $1.1 million)
RP Juan Minaya, pre-arbitration
Free agents: C Geovany Soto, SP Mike Pelfrey, RP David Holmberg, SP Chris Volstad
The White Sox have made a flurry of trades over the past two years and some of the players they acquired have already spent some time in the big leagues. The big name is Yoan Moncada, who was a top five prospect prior to each of the last two years. He appeared in 54 games last year and held his own as a 22-year-old. He’s the first big name position player prospect to ascend to the big leagues, but more top prospects are on their way, including Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Blake Rutherford, and Alec Hansen.
On the pitching side, they already have Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito ready to hold down spots in the rotation, and Carlos Rodon will be there when his shoulder is healthy. Highly-regarded minor league pitching prospects on the way include Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease.
With the future on its way, the White Sox’ top priority for this offseason is to determine what to do with Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia, who are their two most tradeable veterans. If the team wants to continue the rebuild, one or both could be traded for young cost-controlled players who would fit with the talent they have on the way.
On the other hand, the team has shed enough salary to keep both for next season. Abreu is under team control as an arbitration-eligible player who could make $40 million total in the next two seasons before he’s eligible for free agency in 2020. Garcia is even cheaper and is coming off his best year. White Sox fans would likely prefer to have at least a few recognizable veterans to root for.
With the starting rotation having so many young pitchers and just the veteran James Shields, the White Sox could make it a priority to get another veteran pitcher on a short deal, like they attempted to do with Derek Holland before last season (and Mike Pelfrey during the season). It didn’t work out last year, but maybe they’ll find the next Charlie Morton this time around.
The bullpen lost numerous players last season, so adding some arms to the mix is another priority. Four relievers are arbitration-eligible and projected to make between $1.1 and $1.5 million. The team will have to decide which of these pitchers to bring back to compete for a spot next spring.
With all of the roster moves they’ve made to build to the future, the White Sox have committed to a path they hope will lead to a World Series title. How this will play out in a few years remains to be seen, but at least they have a vision and a plan.