Chicago White Sox Black Friday Shopping List
The Chicago White Sox started their “Black Friday” shopping a little early, signing former Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila on Wednesday to a one-year contract. (Thanksgiving dinner yesterday at the Avila household must have been a little awkward as Al Avila, father of Alex, is the General Manager up in Motown.) Now that a platoon partner has been found for Tyler Flowers behind the plate, the White Sox can focus on the rest of their shopping list on Friday: a third baseman, a right-handed starter to plug in behind staff ace Chris Sale, infield depth, and a new designated hitter. Here is how GM Rick Hahn can accomplish each of these needs.
Sep 18, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier (21) drives in a run with a base hit in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Third Base: The hot corner has been a hot mess on the Southside since Joe Crede left for Minnesota following the 2008 season. The front office recently has looked at former top prospects Matt Davidson and Mike Olt at the position, hoping one of them could put it all together at the big league level, but neither has appeared up to the challenge thus far. Davidson has struggled mightily with the AAA Charlotte Knights, not even earning a September call-up in what was a lost season for the White Sox in 2015 whereas Olt flashed some of the power that made him the Texas Rangers’ number two overall prospect heading into the 2012 season, but has struggled with consistency both at the dish and in the field. He was the number two prospect at third base, trailing only Detroit’s Nick Castellanos. (Davidson was the number six rated third base prospect prior to that season as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.)
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While signing David Freese is an option I explored before, another choice could be trading for the Cincinnati Reds’ Todd Frazier . The Reds are said to be shopping the reigning Home Run Derby champion in an effort to rebuild, looking for major league ready prospects. Frankie Montas certainly fits the mold they are looking for in the Queen City. Montas, 22, came to the White Sox by way of the Boston Red Sox organization in the same trade that netted the Good Guys Avisail Garcia, made his major league debut late in the 2015 season, posting an 0-2 record and a 4.80 ERA, but struck out 20 hitters in only fifteen innings. With a fastball that can reach triple digits, the Reds could use him as a starter or to replace Aroldis Chapman, their fireballing closer who may be on the move this winter as well. Frazier would be an instant solution at third and is entering his age 30 season, meaning he could have four or five solid years left in him, but with only two years left on his current contract, the risk factor is a lot lower than committing to a five-year deal. An all-star the last two seasons, “The Toddfather” could finally make third base a strong point for the White Sox once again. TRADE: Frazier to the White Sox; Montas and Davidson to the Reds
Sep 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) delivers a pitch to an Atlanta Braves batter in the sixth inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Right-handed, number two starter: Potentially the biggest obstacle to overcome in signing a pitcher of this stature is the fact that Jerry Reinsdorf and Co. have never handed out a contract worth more than Jose Abreu‘s $68 million dollar pact starting in 2014 when the burly first baseman escaped Cuba. However, there has seemingly been some willingness to top that mark, especially with pitching. When Masahiro Tanaka was coming over from Japan during that same off-season, the White Sox reportedly offered in the $100,000,000 range for the righty and something near that figure may have been floated in extension talks with Jeff Samardzija when he was acquired, but no one knows for sure. Samardzija not talking extension and struggling is oddly enough why the Pale Hose are looking for a number two starter for the second winter in a row. One name on the free agent market that most intrigues me is Jordan Zimmermann.
The former Washington Nationals starter is 29 years old and looking to cash in this off-season. A tier below the likes of Johnny Cueto, Zach Greinke, and David Price, the UW-Stevens Point product could jump to a team early before they spend all their money on one of the other pitchers mentioned to avoid the situation James Shields found himself in last year, where he signed late and ended up getting $35 million less than his asking price, signing a four-year/$75 million deal with the San Diego Padres in early February of this year. Zimmermann and his agent would be wise to avoid a similar situation this year (although it would be nice to get a pitcher of his caliber that cheap) and sign on the dotted line if the White Sox offer what Shields asked for last year and become the first player in franchise history to ink a nine-figure deal. Following that, if the club can trade starter John Danks and his contract, a rotation of Sale, Zimmermann, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, and Erik Johnson would be more than enough to compete. SIGNING: 5 years, $115,000,000 for Zimmermann to pitch for the White Sox
Jun 6, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Hanser Alberto (68) throws to first base on a grounder against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Texas won the game 4-2. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Infield depth: With the corners now being set in this scenario fielding Frazier and Abreu, the focus turns to infield depth. Carlos Sanchez likely did enough in the second half to earn another shot at second base and it appears Tyler Saladino will get first crack at shortstop, the team would need an infielder who can play up the middle to spell either of those two sophomores next season; provided the organization wants Micah Johnson to continue getting consistent playing time and keeps him at AAA Charlotte. One possibility that kills two birds with one stone is trading Danks (as discussed in the previous slide) back to the Texas Rangers for Hanser Alberto. Texas takes most, but not all, of the remaining money on Danks’s contract since he became a steady pitcher following the 2015 All-Star break, improving his ERA by 1.28 points and WHIP by .124 in the second half for an average prospect who saw time at second, third, and shortstop last year for the American League West champs. The Rangers already have a replacement in former number one overall prospect in baseball by the name of Jurickson Profar. Alberto, the #30 ranked prospect in the Rangers system following the 2014 season proved he could play at the major league level this post season, knocking in the go-ahead run in the 14th inning during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays. With Texas looking to make another playoff run with a healthy team in 2016, the veteran southpaw Danks would certainly not hurt the team as a fifth starter. Trading Danks would mean cutting ties with the current longest tenured and highest paid member of the team, but with free agency coming at the end of the year, 2016 would likely be Danks’ final year on the Southside anyways, so giving the team better depth in the infield would benefit the team more than a sixth starter. Danks would also be back with the organization that drafted him in the 2003 draft. TRADE: Danks plus cash to the Rangers; Alberto to the White Sox
Jun 28, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox designated hitter Adam LaRoche (25) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
A new designated hitter: The White Sox new DH is actually on the roster as you read this, outfielder Melky Cabrera. The issue is ridding the team of Adam LaRoche. Trayce Thompson could replace Cabrera in left field as he proved at the end of last season and J.B. Shuck would stay as the club’s fourth outfielder. Both Avila and Frazier also have experience at first base to replace Abreu when he needs a day off. LaRoche would likely benefit from a move back to the Senior Circuit, and one team that still makes sense for him is the Saint Louis Cardinals. It was suggested last year that the Cardinals would have interest in the lefty slugger at the trade deadline to complement the right-handed Mark Reynolds. Already being linked to the biggest name on the free agent market, Chris Davis, it is clear the Redbirds have not given up their search for a first baseman with left handed power, something LaRoche still possesses. If Saint Louis does not want to break the bank on Davis, LaRoche could be had at a much lower cost in the form of a single prospect. Since the White Sox are actually set on pitching in the minors, a player such as Paul DeJong, the #30 ranked prospect in the Cardinals organization and a third baseman, could be a nice piece for the White Sox to take a chance on hoping he pans out as a replacement in two years at the hot corner. TRADE: LaRoche and cash to the Cardinals; DeJong to the White Sox
Following the move of acquiring a catcher, it would not be surprising to see another busy off-season to try and win in Chicago next season, but coming shy of going “all in” after seeing how that plan worked for 2015. This plan blends win-now moves like Frazier and Zimmermann, while looking to the future by getting Alberto and DeJong to help with getting younger and improving the farm/depth in the organization at the same time. The White Sox cannot afford to rush completely to one side as they have pieces to win in Sale, Quintana, and Abreu in their primes and at the same time cannot waste their best years by rebuilding and sticking them on losing teams hoping for the future to come. Many of us will start Christmas shopping on Black Friday, maybe Rick Hahn will do the same.