Offseason Outlook: Chicago White Sox

Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the White Sox.  Their likely commitments for 2010:

C – A.J. Pierzynski – $6.25MM
C/DH – Tyler Flowers – $400K
1B – Paul Konerko – $12MM
2B – Chris Getz – $401K
SS – Alexei Ramirez – $1.1MM
3B – Gordon Beckham – $400K
IF/OF – Brent Lillibridge – $403K
IF – Jayson Nix – $400K
LF –
CF – Alex Rios – $9.7MM
RF – Carlos Quentin – $550K+
OF –
DH – Dayan Viciedo – $1.25MM

SP – Mark Buehrle – $14MM
SP – Jake Peavy – $15MM
SP – Gavin Floyd – $2.75MM
SP – John Danks – $520K+
SP – Freddy Garcia – $1MM

RP – Bobby Jenks – $5.6MM+
RP – Scott Linebrink – $5MM
RP – Matt Thornton – $2.25MM
RP – D.J. Carrasco – $440K+
RP – Tony Pena – $430K+
RP – Randy Williams – $410K
RP - Carlos Torres - $400K

Other commitments: Mike MacDougal – $350K, Jermaine Dye – $1MM

Non-tender candidates: Bobby Jenks

The White Sox have about $82MM committed before arbitration raises to Quentin, Danks, Jenks, Carrasco, and Pena.  Those raises will be significant, and Jenks will probably be tendered a contract.  So we'll put the Sox at about $95MM for 2010.  According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the Opening Day payroll was $96MM (after averaging $111MM the three previous years).

Trading or non-tendering Jenks would free up a good $7MM for GM Ken Williams.  MLB.com's Scott Merkin believes it'd take "a strong-to-overwhelming package" for Williams to move his closer.  With a surplus of available closers this winter, Jenks will stay put if Merkin is correct about the team's demands. 

The rotation appears set, since Garcia's option was exercised recently.  The pen is nearly ready, with a minor veteran addition possible (a lefty, if Jenks is traded and Thornton promoted to closer).

The infield is locked in as well, leaving vacancies at left field and DH (assuming Quentin moves to right).  Hopefully Williams is considering more than just Chone Figgins and Scott Podsednik for left field.  Most likely the free agent market will have corner outfield bargains once again.  It'd be even easier to fill the DH spot; re-signing Jim Thome on the cheap is one of many options.

Chicago's rotation looks strong, but the offense is filled with variables.  Will Williams make the right choices at left field and DH, two easy-to-fill spots?  Will Konerko and Beckham keep hitting, with Rios and Quentin bouncing back?  It's easy to imagine both extremes for the offense; that outcome should determine whether the Sox contend in 2010.