In a few weeks, we’ll be running a two-team mock expansion draft here at MLBTR. Currently, we’re creating 15-player protected lists for each of the existing 30 teams. You can catch up on the rules for player eligibility here.
So far, we’ve done the Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles. The White Sox are next.
First, we’ll take Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Gonzalez, Steve Cishek, Kelvin Herrera, Leury Garcia, Alex Colome, and James McCann out of consideration, because they’ll be free agents after the season (although some have club options). We’ll lock in Yasmani Grandal, Dallas Keuchel, and Jose Abreu on our protected list due to no-trade protection in their contracts. I’m also going to lock in these eight players:
Yoan Moncada
Lucas Giolito
Eloy Jimenez
Luis Robert
Michael Kopech
Nick Madrigal
Tim Anderson
Dylan Cease
That leaves four spots for the following 14 players:
Carlos Rodon
Nomar Mazara
Evan Marshall
Reynaldo Lopez
Adam Engel
Jace Fry
Aaron Bummer
Carson Fulmer
Jose Ruiz
Jimmy Cordero
Zack Collins
Ian Hamilton
Danny Mendick
Seby Zavala
With that, we turn it over to the MLBTR readership! In the poll below, select exactly four players you think the White Sox should protect in our upcoming mock expansion draft. Click here to view the results.
You’ve got Kopech protected twice…
Maybe Kopech is that good?
My bad. Should be fine now.
Dodgers need to offer the expansion team something good for Bummer.
Bummer, Lopez, Mazara
Maybe Hamilton over Mazara…
You can do all 4.
Bummer should be a lock, barring sudden regression
I picked 4 because Kopech is in there twice.
Rodon, Bummer, and Collins. Tough decision for me between Lopez or Mazara, but I went with Lopez
Why would anyone protect Mazara a year from free agency? Same with Rodón for that matter.
I went with Bummer and López (easy choices), plus Collins and Mendick. Those last two are likely role players, but they’ll also be around much longer.
Because a year is still valuable, especially for a team trying to break out of a rebuild and into contention.
There’s the possibility of a trade and getting something back in return as well, if they find an upgrade elsewhere.
Sure, but we’re not talking about Mookie Betts here. Mazara has a long track record as a 1 WAR player and Rodón is too injury prone to be of any real value at this point.
I got Bummer and Lopez as a lock. I know Lopez has been going through some growing pains but I have a feeling he will put it together rest of this year or next. Final 2 would be Jimmy Cordero given his potential to be a great arm out of the pen, and lastly a toss up between Mazara and Rodon. Rodon does have Boras as an agent so there is always that looming possibility that he tests free agency however the White Sox may have some leverage to re sign him for something lower given his inability to stay healthy giving them some leverage. Same goes for Mazara for performance reasons. I’m higher on Mazara than Rodon at this point.
On second thought, forget Cordero and grab Collins to replace McCann.
Here we go, the White Sox have a lot of talent to offer, but you can’t pick them all. Here’s mine:
Mazara
Collins
Lopez
Bummer
Maz has the potential, and even if he doesn’t breakout, he’s still an average player, which can help the team. Collins has been a top (catching) prospect in their system for a while, and even though the Sox have Mccann and Grandal, catchers can still bring in a lot of value through trade (Mccann is a FA this off-season anyways). Lopez and Rodon were two people I was stuck on, but I chose Lopez because he hasn’t had TJ, plus he’s a year younger. Bummer is a left handed reliver, who is quietly, really good.
I say Bummer, Engel, Fry and Hamilton.
Not sure I understand Engel or Fry. Fry probably has LOOGY as an upside, and, well, that’s going the way of the dodo; and Engel barely has a roster spot, might well lose it when we promote Madrigal, or if not, when Basabe/Adolfo/Rutherford/??? many other OF prospects make it up.
Fry because of him being a lefty and he is still young. Engel is because yes we have young outfield prospects but none have made it or proven themselves yet. Engel is kinda like Mr. Consistent. Great glove and good for 6 homers a year. Late game situation you can plug him in for Jimenez.
6 homers a year? thats peanuts. even in the deadball era you might not have won the HR title with 6.
It was kinda a joke Darkside.
I get the value of Engel as a defensive replacement, but would a team really use on of their precious picks taking that weak a hitter? I think there would be better OF options out there, so I’d leave him unprotected. If they did, the White Sox would probably be able to keep him anyway.
I think that Bummer. Collins, and Lopez are basically locks (Yes, Collins may not have a spot at C, but he’s got way too much upside in the bat to not protect). I don’t really see a solid fourth answer, so I went with Mazara; he has significant upside if he shows that in 2020, and could merit a long term extension at a reduced price if so.
Rodon is a no – he’s too injury prone; I love him as a player when he’s on the field, but I think he was a borderline non-tender this year, and barring a great season will be one next year.
I could see an argument for Hamilton, Cordero, or Marshall, but I think I’m happy with Mazara as a fourth.
shocked…..just shocked…….Chicago had a AL Team !
You must work for ESPN.
Bucky Dent
Richie Allen
Richie Zisk
Brian Downing
that is my Four !
No Oscar Gamble? Ralph Garr??
I was going to say Ralph Garr, but thought of Downing.
Wow man not even Eric Soderholm or Steve Stone
once again a one year wonder RP fools everyone. Bummer is not more worth protecting than Collins, Lopez, Rondon, or Mazara
This comment will not age well.
Collins is legimately trade bait at this point. I love Rodón, but he is another injury away from hanging them up. Bummer showed consistency all season long, and is a young, left-handed, high leverage pitcher.
based on talent (numbers don’t lie, typically) Bummer, Marshall, Cordero, Mazara
As a Phillies fan, i can tell you Cordero isnt worth protecting. he’s so erratic from year to year he’ll probably crater this year.
As a Phillies fan? He was in the minors for the Phillies for a year and was terrible, how does that equate to anything he did last year? He had a .97 WHIP in 36 innings and consistently hit 100 with a nasty sinker. You may not think that’s sustainable, but what he did in the Phillies AA team in 2016 doesn’t seem to have any relevance.
It was difficult to name four . . . they all basically stink . . .
uhh… have you seen Aaron Bummer pitch?
I picked Collins over Rodon because I think there’s a possibility an expansion team might avoid a guy coming off TJ surgery, even if big potential is still there.
I kinda feel like that too.
Making Mt Rushmore of the White Sox……starting from 1970……
these four would be,,,,,,,,,
Ozzie Gullien
Frank Thomas
Harold Baines
Mark Burhle
I like your 4 except konerko over guillen.
I’m primarily protecting pitchers for the White Sox. I have RP Aaron Bummer, SP Reynaldo Lopez and SP Carlos Rodon as locks. My fourth choice came down to C Zack Collins and OF Nomar Mazara. I went with Collins due to his team control and the fact the White Sox will need a backup for Yasmani Grandal with James McCann eligible for free agency following the upcoming season. The White Sox have more system depth in the OF than at C.
Of course, all this is dependent on the performance and health of each of these players in an abbreviated 2020 season.
All these people protecting Mazara….
Lopez, Bummer, Mendick … Marshall or Hamilton for last spot
I’m done with Rodon and his injuries. Let’s go with Bummer, Hamilton, Lopez and Mazara-although the latter has not played a game for the Sox.
Looks like we’re gonna have to wait like 2 weeks for them to get to the NL West. I posted one of these for the Padres on reddit but rather than actually answering, everyone just got mad at me for saying that if we managed to convince Manny Machado to let us leave him unprotected, no one would ever take him. Then they all went into hiding when I asked them why no one offered him more money than we did if that was the case. Laughable.
Oh and as for the White Sox, I’d keep Aaron Bummer, Reynaldo Lopez, Jace Fry and Zack Collins.
I would think Lopez and Bummer are locks also.
Even if Lopez can’t cut it as a starter, he may develop into an elite reliever/closer, and with most of these guys you’re looking at potential, Lopez easily has the most potential of the group.
Bummer, obviously because of the extension he just signed. Why bother extending him like that if you’re just going to give him away a couple months later?
The other two, I’d go with Collins and Hamilton.
Offensively Collins has the most potential (of the prospects). I’m not saying the Sox should never part with Collins, but they shouldn’t just give him to another team.
As for Hamilton, like Lopez, he has the potential of a strong back-end reliever/closer. And if they want to be a serious contender the next 5 years, they need a strong pen. I’d take Hamilton’s upside over guys like Cordero, Fry, and Ruiz. Honestly I’d roll the dice with Fulmer before those 3 (and it’s a no-brainer going with Hamilton over Fulmer right now).
Bummer for certain, especially after locking in a team-friendly deal. I picked Lopez as well, but I’m not sure he’s a lock. He was solid in 2018, but so inconsistent last year. He has 14 quality starts last year, but still had an ERA of 5.38. Worth taking a chance on, but not a lock.
Collins, Bummer, Rondon, Lopez
Mendick and Fulmer r my next 2. Then Hamilton.
It’s tough with the young talent the South Siders have right now. But if they left Collins open he’s getting snagged with the hope he can become a young building block for an expansion team in this scenario. Even if he becomes a firstbasemen moving forward.
Sorry I’m late to the party on this, but I don’t think TA belongs on the automatically protected list. There are a TON of free agent short stops available this off-season. Of course, if TA wins another batting title, then it’s no-brainer but I wouldn’t say he would 100% be protected.
If I was making the decision today, yeah I’m protecting him. But he’s at the point in his contract where the money starts escalating to the point he might not be worth it.
Lol, you serious? Not everyday you can have a batting champ secured to a sweetheart deal he is on. Sure there may be some ss coming to FA, but they will command 3x the money.
There are prospects that are closer to MLB who should likely also be part of this list as well. We could have easily seen Vaughn & Sheets on this list due to the age of our 1b &dh this year. Stiever, Dunning, and Burdi shouldn’t be far off as well. I could see all of them getting a shot before a blocked Zack Collins and Seby Zavala.
I can only assume that guys like Vaughn, Dunning, etc aren’t on the list is because they don’t qualify for selection by whatever rules are typical for expansion drafts.
The one thing to remember about TA is this hypothetical expansion draft would be after this season, not now. So Anderson would have three years of control left at $7,250,000, $9,500,000 and $12,500,000.
On the face, he’s an obvious keeper but look a little deeper. Hypothetically, let’s just say you have to submit keepers by December 1st, You could very easily work out a deal with Lindor, Correra, or Story and leave TA unprotected.
There are only a few ways left for the White Sox to improve their club and short stop has to be considered one of the weak spots assuming Madrigal is the real deal. Right field is the weakest, and SS is the second weakest spot.
This would all depend on TS’s 2020 season (if there is one). Most experts are expecting regression. Do you want to pay TA 10 mil a year for the next three years when you can upgrade to Lindor, Correra or Story?
Just saying, it’s possible.
Do you see the white Sox paying top dollar for a premier SS you listed when they likely feel that they have one(at least with the bat)?
Yea… me neither…
Tbh, if they signed Machado they may have moved TA to a different position anyway. What’s to say they couldn’t do that again if Madrigal pans out defensively as expected?
He’s on a cheap contract and, when he decides to run, is among the fastest guys in baseball. He won’t repeat last year, but his speed does make it likely his BABIP is higher than it otherwise would be. I think he hits between .280 and .290 this year, steals 20 bases, and improves his defense, though is still pretty bad with the glove. If you don’t protect him, you almost definitely lose him.
.280 or.290 sounds great, but not considering his walk rate. His BA likely won’t make up for his walk rate and his SBs don’t make up for his poor defense.
Couple that with an average price tag of 10 mil per… just saying that’s it’s not a 100% given that he should be protected. He should more than likely be protected but if you gave 30 real GMs this decision, they would look hard at this.
Yea I really doubt that other real GMs would consider leaving him unprotected, especially the Sox.
Keep in mind that rarely Sox ownership forks over $$$ for top prize players. Do you see the Sox realistically targeting Story, Correa, or Lindor when there are other needs?
If they had signed Machado, it’s possible that TA could have changed positions. What’s not to say that can’t happen again if Madrigal proves significantly better?
Lopez, Bummer, Fry, Collins.
Mazara and Rodon are impending free agents, and of the rest, you have a lot of dime-a-dozen right-handed relievers.
Don’t have much faith in Collins sticking at catcher, but there is a potential key contributor there if he does.
Give me Bummer, ReyLo, Mazara, and Other (Vaughn)
Bummer is/will be a stud, Lopez stock will only go up once he starts to show maturity, Mazara is serviceable in the outfield and I can only see his stock rising hitting in GR. Vaughn could easily see time as he is a very polished bat that would have likely contributed this year at the bigs. Have to remember, Abreu is aging and they just signed an old, perhaps oldest, dh in the league. Expecting everyday play and an injury free year from both is unlikely. I’d rather have Vaughn in a lineup more than Mendick. Mendick’s potential is a super utility ala Yolmer Sanchez. Not worth protecting, even if he is projected to start the year at 2b. Madrigal would have already been penciled in as the starting 2b if the season started on time.
Vaughn isn’t eligible as he doesn’t have enough service time in the minors to be picked.
I took ReyLo, Bummer, Mendick, and Collins, though I can see the argument for Mazara, given their lack of in-house replacements. I just feel like Mazara’s been in the league for four years and hasn’t improved at all, while Collins still has time to develop into a good player and they’ll need a backup C next year.
And yes, Mendick, was a pick more for fun, but for guys more people picked, Rodon can’t stay healthy and is nearing FA anyway, Fulmer flat out sucks, and I don’t think Fry’s worth protecting.
While Mazara has regressed somewhat from what Texas initially expected him to be, he is still very young. Hell, he’s only a year older than a Steele Walker they traded to get him. There are numerous cases of guys needing time to put it all together. I just don’t see his sun setting just yet, or even anytime soon for that matter. If I had to put money on a guy to take a step forward with the bat, I’d strongly consider him to be of significant improvement in a young, yet seemingly stacked lineup.
We’ll see, one way or the other. I hope I’m wrong and he does break out, but I’m a little salty still over them trading away Walker for an underperforming player with only 2 years of control left when they could have had Castellanos for four years without even giving up a draft pick. Neither is that good with the glove, but Castellanos has proven himself with the bat. As for Mazara vs Mendick, maybe Mazara’s the right answer, but just as many guys are late bloomers, many more never bloom at all.
I think if choosing to sign Castellanos meant not locking up Yoan or Robert, I’d personally be pretty pissed.
Castellanos is also a regression from Mazara defensively. While Mazara is about a slightly below avg fielder, he does possess an arm for RF. While not crazy about giving up walker, it’s important to note that he was old for his assignment in the organization. With a wealth of OF prospects, it’s unlikely he would actually have made it here. Give me something high upside short term to try and convert into trade pieces. If he blows up the next year or 2, maybe revisit keeping him.
Tbh, Walker was likely behind/ competing internally against Gonzalez, Basabe, Adolfo, Rutherford, and likely Beard
I can’t believe how under appreciated Evan Marshall is when you look at his results last year, plus he’s got several more years of club control. I protected Marshall, Bummer, Rodon & the tough choice for me was between Collins & Mazara, but I went Collins due to youth, positional scarcity (ie Collins might be one of the best available catchers, but Mazara likely wouldn’t be one of the best available OFs) & team control . I like Lopez a lot, but I don’t think we’d need to worry about him getting picked by someone else.
For me its Bummer, Lopez, Fry, Mazara. I don’t think Collins is anything other than trade bait at this point, Cordero, Hamilton, Marshall are all very risky picks, as is Fry, but Fry, if he every consistently pitches with command is incredible. Rodon is too often injured, Mendick and Engel i love, but not better than others on this list. Fulmer, Ruiz, Zavala have shown absolutely nothing worth keeping them (I understand Seby’s situation was brief)
My 4 are bummer, Lopez, Hamilton and zavala. Collins trade bait, Hamilton lots of upside
Just curious, why Zavala?
Zavala is trash. Nobody would take him.
Bummer and Lopez are no brainers. Collins makes sense with how they’re trying to devalue catcher defense. Then it comes down to Mazara or Cordero. I like Cordero a lot, but I think they’d probably lean Mazara due to the facts that Cordero is a righty and they just gave up an asset to obtain Mazara.
As a Sox fan, I’m kind of surprised by how easy this is. There are three locks: Aaron Bummer, Reynaldo Lopez, and Zack Collins.
Aaron Bummer should be close to 100% from anyone who knows anything about the South Siders. Lopez, while disappointing and very spotty, has enough control and the upside and tools to still live up to his high-end #3 or #4 starter projection. I think there would be more hype surrounding Zack Collins if we didn’t sign BOTH of Yasmani Grandal AND Edwin Encarnacion, he’s developing behind the plate and looks to be on his way to becoming a possible Mitch Garver-type except from the left side.
The last spot is highly debatable. I’m sure most would blindly choose Carlos Rodon based on name value but he’s running out of chances to stay healthy here and is a free agent after 2021. He’s a well-defined no from me. Jace Fry is a very promising lefty but he looked overmatched at times last year in an expanded role. I think there’s a chance he’d get taken but ultimately, this last spot comes down to Ian Hamilton or Jimmy Cordero.
With that said, I’d personally go with Cordero. He’s got the stuff, he always bounces back from bad outings and is someone we can depend on. I loved what I’ve seen from Hamilton back in ‘18 but I’m willing to gamble a bit here and hopefully we can get both back.
Oh, and to those of you voting for Mazara… STOP! I like Mazara but he’s a free agent in 2021 and if he has a bad year, he’s a non-tender candidate. The Sox WOULD NOT protect him barring an absolute bonkers breakout season.