White Sox: Let’s Talk About A 2018 Free Agent Wish List
This upcoming offseason could be one of the more important offseasons in recent memory for the White Sox. What would be the perfect signings?
With the White Sox slowly creeping up on what can potentially be the peak of their rebuild, it’s time to start thinking like a winning team. What I mean by that is I personally believe it’s the appropriate time to start strategizing and making moves as if the Sox were a given first place team.
The offseason is quickly approaching our Sox after we were able to get a glimpse of the future with the 162-game display this past season. With that being said it is now evident in our roster where the team needs to improve and where they appear to be just fine for now.
So now that we are already two games deep into the World Series, the free agent class of 2018-19 is slowly creeping up on us. It is a class that stands superior to those of the last five years or so. Not only is the talent of the class tremendous, but the amount of youth included is an eye catcher as well.
The amount of players aged 30 or under is rather large in this year’s class. This benefits the Sox tremendously. Considering at one point the Sox held the lowest average age in the entire major leagues, it is obvious that their approach is to stay young and fresh. This is perfect for general manager Rick Hahn, who can pursue free agents this offseason while keeping the team young.
Now let’s get to business…
Let’s talk about what you all came here to read. Of this free agent class, who could most likely see themselves playing for the White Sox come the 2019 season? There is an array of players who I could personally see Hahn going after and ultimately acquiring. There are also some that I believe are less likely, but I would love to see them join the Sox anyway. Let’s be honest, chances are you’re reading this to see those big names anyway. So let’s discuss!
Rotation Depth
With James Shields almost certainly on his way out of Chicago, Hahn will be searching for inning eaters in the offseason. With a rotation consisting of multiple pitchers that have a small amount of experience, the old dogs got to eat. Eat innings, that is. Using my knowledge on the archetype of players that Hahn typically goes after, my list of potential additions looks like this.
Matt Harvey (30)
Everyone knows of Matt Harvey. The “Dark Knight” is a one-time all-star with the New York Mets. He spent a handful of seasons as the ace of a Mets rotation that was considered one of the best at the time. After a steep downfall that now sees him coming off of a 2018 season in which he yielded a 4.94 earned run average, Harvey will not necessarily be getting a large contract this offseason.
What he can receive this offseason, however, is a second chance. A one-year contract, one that could potentially prove that he can escape this slump and return to his original form. I believe the White Sox would be a perfect team to give this to him too. Consider it a one-year evaluation or tryout for a new contract.
What’s in it for the White Sox? Plenty of things. Harvey obviously brings a great amount of experience to the table. Having him around will allow the younger part of the rotation to pick the brain of a one-time all-star. That’s not the only facet the Sox could benefit in, however. Say they pick up Harvey and he does return to his original form. The Sox could then either trade him at the deadline and receive something in return, or if they’re making a playoff push, his services could be needed and could benefit the club greatly.
Garrett Richards (31)
Garrett Richards has a lot of similarities to Harvey. He is an experienced right-hander who has seen great success at some points in his long career. He posted Cy Young caliber numbers with a 13-4 record and a 2.61 ERA in 2014. The rest of his career has been a tad inconsistent, but still effective.
Richards has upside and could be a low risk-high reward type of signing for Hahn and company. He can eat innings which is a must with this upcoming years pitching rotation. I could potentially see Richards being handed a two or three-year contract at the most. Though he could certainly use the time to attempt to prove himself, his injury history may just encourage him to find security when it comes to contracts.
Like Harvey, Richards could be swapped at the deadline if necessary. He could also be an extra arm, rotation or bullpen, barring a playoff run. Baseball fans alike have seen what Richards is capable of on the mound, so hey who knows, maybe a Don Cooper adjustment wouldn’t hurt him.
Outfield Depth
Considering the Sox infield crew seems to be set in concrete for the next few years, their outfield is the only asset of the team that could use additions. Especially with the likely emergence of Eloy Jimenez in 2019, the experience would be crucial to have in the White Sox outfield.
Carlos Gonzalez (33)
Carlos Gonzalez‘s name should sound familiar to all. He was a household name just a few years ago, considering he was arguably the best left fielder in all of baseball. On top of that, on multiple occasions he was on the Sox radar both during the trade deadline and the offseason. Now 33 years old, Gonzalez will be entering free agency following a season in which he batted .276 with 16 home runs.
This one might anger some Sox fans. Even as I write it, the thought of some past signings lingers in the back of my head. Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche, and so on. They all share a similarity in that they all were at one time perennial power hitters who entered free agency just past age 30. The problem? Well, Sox fans should know about Dunn and LaRoche. They both ultimately ended up as busts, not providing much production in their time on the south side.
So why am I still sticking with Gonzalez as a likely option? Because I believe he would be different. He brings a swagger to teams. He could play under 100 games and I still believe his impact would be felt. He is a clubhouse leader.
Also, I believe he could give the Sox 15-20 home runs, which would never hurt. It also isn’t a secret that he would blend perfectly with the club given that he is of international descent. As a final note, think about this. If you had the option to give Jimenez constant access to the brain of a hitter like Gonzalez, would you do it? I would too.
Marwin Gonzalez (30)
Marwin Gonzalez is a true seasoned veteran in the major leagues. He has seven seasons under his belt, including a World Series championship. Not only has he been contributing in the league for seven years, but he has been doing it in multiple positions. Gonzalez is the definition of a utility man. He can give a team solid defense in the outfield, usually in left field. He also has the ability to play every position in the infield but spends most of his time at first base.
There isn’t much talk about Marwin Gonzalez heading into this offseason, and that is because he isn’t necessarily a flashy player. He is, however, an effective player. In the White Sox case, he can be a very valuable player. With our current lineups varying by the day, Marwin Gonzalez can be slotted into a number of positions. He also adds a switch bat to the lineup that already has a handful of them proven.
Like Carlos Gonzalez, Marwin Gonzalez also is of international descent. Chances are he would mold very nicely with the young White Sox team. He could also serve as a mentor to the almost exclusively youth roster of the Sox. When a team can add a player with a World Series championship under their belt, especially a team as young as the White Sox, it’s huge. Marwin Gonzalez is being hugely slept on heading into the offseason, and I believe Rick Hahn would be getting a steal by acquiring him.
Now what you all came here for…
Okay, enough with the realistic (or at least I believe) predictions. It’s time to have fun. This upcoming free agent class is an exceptional one, and I couldn’t write on it without including at least one of the big names. So here it is, my big name prediction for the White Sox this offseason.
Manny Machado (26)
Did you expect anything else? Us Sox fans have been crossing our fingers for Manny Machado ever since the team reportedly was interested in trading for him last offseason, or at least I have. Now I know Machado is not necessarily a fan favorite because of his aggressiveness on the field, but his skill is too much to avoid. It’s not like the Sox never signed one of the leagues most hated players anyway (see Albert Belle).
Despite speculation, the White Sox did not acquire Machado in a trade, obviously. But now he will be free game for anybody, and the Sox have an attractive resume. They have a young foundation that seems to be ready to burst onto the scene anytime now. The Sox have a manager in Rick Renteria that could be perfect for a player like Machado. They have a team that shares many similarities with Machado, a team that is around the same age as him for the most part. There’s a lot of reasons I chose Machado as a possibility because it really is not that far fetched.
Regardless of who signs Machado, it is not going to be cheap. That is due in part to his generational ability and his agent Scott Boras, someone who always knows how to get his clients what they want. Whatever team gets him will also likely be handing him for eight to 10 years, as that is the trend with younger superstar players. Acquiring Machado and implementing him into the Sox already strong young core would be huge for Hahn and company. He truly could be the missing piece that could propel the Sox from mid-rebuild to serious contenders.