Along with this post, Tim Dierkes is holding a live White Sox-centric chat on Wednesday at 11am central time. Use this link to ask a question in advance, participate in the live event, and read the transcript afterward.
New White Sox GM Chris Getz will have to be a miracle worker to turn this 61-win team into a 2024 contender, as the team severely lacks both talent and depth.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Yoan Moncada, 3B: $29MM through 2024. Includes $25MM club option ($5MM buyout) for 2025
- Eloy Jimenez, DH: $16MM through 2024. Includes $16.5MM club option for 2025 ($3MM buyout) and $18.5MM club option for 2026 ($3MM buyout)
- Luis Robert, CF: $29.5MM through 2025. Includes $20MM club option for 2026 ($2MM buyout) and $20MM club option for 2027 ($2MM buyout)
- Andrew Benintendi, LF: $64MM through 2027
- Aaron Bummer, RP: $6.75MM through 2024. Includes $7.25MM club option with 2025 ($1.25MM buyout) and $7.5MM club option for 2026 ($1.25MM buyout)
Option Decisions
- Liam Hendriks, RP: $15MM club option with a $15MM buyout. If declined, buyout is paid in 10 annual installments of $1.5M from 2024-33
- Tim Anderson, SS: $14MM club option with a $1MM buyout
- Mike Clevinger, SP: $12MM mutual option with a $4MM buyout
2024 commitments: $84.5MM
Total future commitments: $165.25MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parantheses; salary projections via Matt Swartz)
- Clint Frazier (4.098): $900K
- Dylan Cease (4.089): $8.8MM
- Michael Kopech (4.041): $3.6MM
- Trayce Thompson (4.010): $1.7MM
- Matt Foster (3.093): $740K
- Touki Toussaint (3.071): $1.7MM
- Garrett Crochet (3.028): $900K
- Andrew Vaughn (3.000): $3.7MM
- Non-tender candidates: Frazier, Thompson, Foster, Toussaint
Free Agents
“If I had brought somebody in from the outside, just to repeat, it would have taken a year. I could’ve brought Branch Rickey back, and it would’ve taken him a year to evaluate the organization. So even though I had a list of outside people who I felt could do the job, I also had a list of one among the inside people who I felt could do the job as well as anybody I was going to interview. I didn’t have to interview these people, because I knew them all. And I knew that they were qualified but what I did know is that I had somebody inside who could start right away making things happen, and that’s the reason why Chris was selected.”
That’s White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, making rare public comments about a month ago in introducing new GM Chris Getz. The ever-loyal Reinsdorf had fired team president Kenny Williams and GM Rick Hahn about a week prior. Williams had become GM in 2001, moving above that position when Hahn became GM in 2012. That quote from Reinsdorf tells you all you need to know about the GM hiring process that led to Getz. Getz’s early front office hires include Brian Bannister, Josh Barfield, and Gene Watson.
Getz spent seven seasons as an MLB player, mostly for the White Sox and Royals, before taking on a player development role with Kansas City. He then spent seven seasons in charge of minor league operations and player development for the White Sox, picking up an assistant GM title along the way.
To be frank, it’s not clear what specific skills or successes made Getz qualified to be the GM of the White Sox in Reinsdorf’s eyes. Negatives include the Omar Vizquel-Wes Helms situation, and a generally poor record of White Sox minor leaguers meeting or exceeding expectations. Getz kicked off his tenure by committing to manager Pedro Grifol for next year, despite the club’s massively disappointing 61-101 record and several examples of clubhouse problems. Reliever Keynan Middleton, for example, spoke of “no rules or guidelines to follow,” later backed up by Lance Lynn.
From ownership to GM to manager, there is little to inspire confidence in the quick White Sox resurgence of which Reinsdorf spoke. However, we are mainly here to discuss how Getz might address the team’s many shortcomings in his first offseason. Reinsdorf said, “We want to get better as fast as we possibly can,” so we’ll take him at his word even though the Sox would need a lot to compete in 2024. This post also takes under consideration that the White Sox have never paid the competitive balance tax, have never committed more than $75MM to a player, and have never paid a player $20MM per year.
Most of the team’s current catching depth was added by Hahn in a three-day span in late July, as a Kendall Graveman trade brought Korey Lee from the Astros and Edgar Quero was the key return in shipping Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels. MLB catchers averaged a 90 wRC+ this year as hitters, and neither the defensively-minded Lee nor the bat-first Quero seems capable of that in 2024. A veteran backstop in the Victor Caratini/Tom Murphy mold would make sense here.
Andrew Vaughn, 26 in April, was used at first base this year after being previously miscast as a corner outfielder based on the team’s needs. But the bar for offense is higher at first base, and Vaughn’s wRC+ dropped from 113 to 103 this year. A replacement level first baseman is hardly a win for the club, but the other holes seem more pressing so Vaughn’s job is likely secure.
In particular, the White Sox don’t have much going on in the middle infield for 2024. They ran through Elvis Andrus, Lenyn Sosa, Zach Remillard, and Romy Gonzalez at second base this year. The result was some of the worst production in baseball at the position. Prospect Jose Rodriguez, who spent most of the year at Double-A, reached the majors this year and will be an option. Adam Frazier could represent an affordable veteran free agent pickup, though for a team that seems oddly obsessed with the Royals, Whit Merrifield may be tempting to the front office. On the trade market, Jonathan India, Gleyber Torres, or Brandon Drury could be available.
Top prospect Colson Montgomery had his season debut delayed until mid-June with oblique and back injuries but acquitted himself well at High-A and Double-A. His likely MLB debut next year will be a bright spot for White Sox fans, and hopefully he’ll have shortstop locked up for the foreseeable future.
The White Sox hold a $14MM club option with a $1MM buyout on longtime shortstop Tim Anderson. Anderson sounds willing to play some second base, and could serve as a bridge to Montgomery next year. But given an abysmal 60 wRC+ this year, a lengthy injury history, and a complicated legacy, Anderson does not make sense at his option price. The loyal-to-a-fault White Sox could bring him back at a lower rate, but moving on entirely might be helpful in rebooting the clubhouse. A shortstop-capable addition such as Amed Rosario could be helpful in keeping the seat warm for Montgomery and adding middle infield depth.
With Hahn having shipped off Jake Burger to the Marlins, Yoan Moncada remains the primary option at third base for the White Sox. Moncada, 29 in May, offered a glimmer of promise with a 125 wRC+ over the final two months, though that included striking out a third of the time. There’s too much money owed to Moncada to trade him in anything other than a bad contract swap. If Getz is able to find a way out of Moncada’s contract via trade, he could turn to free agency to fill the void. If Jeimer Candelario isn’t in the team’s price range, perhaps Gio Urshela could be. Perhaps more likely, the Sox will look to promote prospect Bryan Ramos early in the season after a solid year at Double-A.
Eloy Jimenez had one of his healthiest seasons in a years, but also slipped to a 105 wRC+ mostly out of the DH spot. Getz hasn’t said much to indicate his offseason plans, but his mention of getting more athletic has led some to speculate that Jimenez could be on the trading block. With DH being a relatively easy spot to fill, trading Jimenez for pitching could help with the team’s threadbare rotation. Jimenez will turn 27 in November and has club options for 2025 and ’26, and perhaps Getz can find a club enticed by his solid Statcast marks and 2020/2022 levels of offense.
Left field is a bit like first base for the White Sox: it’s hard to be happy with Andrew Benintendi’s replacement-level work out there this year, but the team has bigger fish to fry. Benintendi, signed through 2027, dropped to a career-worst 87 wRC+ at the plate and also alarmingly struggled defensively. There’s not much to do here beyond putting in offseason work for a hopeful bounceback.
Center fielder Luis Robert is the best reason to watch the 2024 White Sox. The 26-year-old managed to stay healthy this year with 145 games played, putting up 38 home runs and a 128 wRC+ with strong center field defense. Robert’s 5-WAR potential was finally realized in 2023, and the Sox have him under control through 2027.
Right field, on the other hand, continues to befuddle the White Sox. The team mostly turned to Oscar Colas and Gavin Sheets this year, to disastrous results. Despite coming off a down year, a free agent like Teoscar Hernandez might require topping the largest contract in White Sox history (currently Benintendi’s $75MM). Even a bargain bin Hunter Renfroe or Chicago return for Jason Heyward would be an upgrade over what the Sox had in ’23. Given the way Merrifield’s defensive homes match up with the club’s biggest needs at second base and right field and the team’s attraction toward Royals connections, is there any way this match doesn’t happen?
We’ve established that the White Sox have four major holes position-wise, even if we pencil in their mostly-questionable incumbents. You might already be covering your eyes, but we have to talk about the rotation.
Dylan Cease offered up roughly similar strikeout, walk, and groundball rates as last year, but his ERA ballooned from 2.20 to 4.58. Hot take: it’ll land between those figures next year. The bigger question is whether Cease should be traded with two years of control remaining, which most teams would be taking a hard look at given the lack of talent on hand. But again, Reinsdorf says he’s seeking a quick turnaround (that’s why he didn’t interview any GM candidates other than Getz), in which case the team pretty much has to keep Cease.
Michael Kopech struggled as a starter this season, moving to the bullpen for a few September outings before succumbing to knee surgery. Grifol has already stated Kopech will be viewed as a starter next year. Once Kopech recovers from surgery (a 6-8 week timeline), new hire Brian Bannister will get to work on turning his career around. Presumably pitching coach Ethan Katz will be involved as well.
Former prospect Touki Toussaint picked up 15 starts for the White Sox this year, but he displayed the control problems so prevalent in their rotation. Jesse Scholtens made 11 starts, most of which went poorly after a nice three-start run. Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito were traded, while Mike Clevinger is set for free agency.
Clevinger, 33 in December, will likely seek a two-year deal after posting a 3.77 ERA in 24 starts. Clevinger’s subpar strikeout and groundball rates don’t support that ERA, but it’s possible the White Sox bring him back. The White Sox should add at least three credible starters this winter if they’re looking to contend in 2024.
Assuming the White Sox will not play at the top of the market means ruling out Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Aaron Nola. Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Shota Imanaga are potentially out of their price range as well. Aside from Clevinger, free agents such as Seth Lugo, Kenta Maeda, Michael Wacha, and Michael Lorenzen seem possible here. The club could also take on injury or bounceback cases like Frankie Montas, Kyle Gibson, Jack Flaherty, James Paxton, or Luis Severino. Guaranteed Rate Field is not viewed as a pitcher’s park, so the Sox may have to pay extra to land any somewhat-desirable free agent.
It’s a bit early to predict the trade market, as few if any teams both hold quality starting pitching and have committed to rebuilding for 2024. Starting pitchers were rarely traded last offseason, beyond Pablo Lopez.
Getz knows the farm system well (a key reason he was hired), so it’s safe to assume he’s got internal candidates for the 2024 rotation. The White Sox do not have any major Double or Triple-A successes knocking on the door for next year’s rotation, however. One sleeper could be former first rounder Garrett Crochet, who is is currently healthy after missing most of the season due to April 2022 Tommy John surgery and a subsequent shoulder strain.
The White Sox have an interesting decision to make in the bullpen. When Hahn devised Liam Hendriks’s odd club option for 2024 – $15MM with a $15MM buyout – the pitcher being out for the season was the only possible reason. If the option is declined, that $15MM is paid out in 10 annual installments from 2024-33. Financially, that’s preferable to picking it up paying it out throughout 2024 for a guy who won’t pitch next season due to recent Tommy John surgery. So barring a fresh contract with the White Sox, Hendriks is likely to become a free agent. He seems likely to land a two-year deal with an eye on 2025, so both parties will have to decide whether to pursue that.
The White Sox shed most of their veteran relievers in midseason trades, and holdover Bryan Shaw is a free agent. In terms of relievers the Sox used in high-leverage situations this year, they’re mostly left with Aaron Bummer and Gregory Santos. Bummer, who posted a 6.79 ERA, is under contract through next year. Santos showed promise, and Crochet will be in the bullpen if he’s not used as a starter.
One of Hahn’s faults as GM was using too much of his limited budget on the bullpen, but Getz should probably add veteran relief help this winter. Under the previous regime, the Sox went especially big on the David Robertson (2014-15 offseason) and Hendriks (2020-21) contracts. But with so many needs to fill, it seems unlikely the team springs for a record Josh Hader deal. The club could otherwise consider bringing Reynaldo Lopez back, or explore the remainder of the top of the market for Robert Stephenson, Joe Jimenez, or Jordan Hicks. Aside from those players, we don’t see too many relievers getting three-plus years.
At the least, a competent 2024 White Sox team would seem to need a catcher, second baseman, right fielder, three starting pitchers, and multiple relievers. They’d need Robert to stay healthy again and most of the other holdovers to improve upon 2023. As daunting as that sounds, the White Sox could reasonably add around $75MM in 2024 money without increasing their payroll. If Getz is given that level of spending power, he’ll at least have the chance to remake the team in his image over the winter.
Offseason outlook? Grim with low expectations.
I’m kind of surprised that the White Sox have no non-tender candidates this winter
I’d guess that at least 2 (Clint Frazier and Trayce Thompson) from their list of Arbitration-Eligible Players will be non-tendered this offseason.
My bad, I think Frazier, Thompson, Foster, and Toussaint are non-tender candidates.
It’s all good! I’ve really enjoyed these off-season outlook posts. I enjoy reading them everyday! Thanks to the writers at MLBTR!
All of these poor players the Sox picked up last season should be let go. I’m tired of the patch work at second base, no catcher, a 1b man in RF and a bullpen that blows leads consistently. I’ve been a Sox fan for a long time but I stopped watching when Robert was out for the final few games of the season. It was like watching a bad AA team. It’s time Reinsdorf thought of the fans instead of counting the money he doesn’t spend on quality players like Scrooge McDuck .
Thompson (our Designated Strike Out batter) is a definite goner. Foster and Frazier were virtually invisible except in the list of Negative options but Toussaint might be viewed as ‘salvageable’ (translated as ‘not likely to spontaneously combust on the mound)
I think Foster comes back. Good enough track record at that price point (as long as he looks healthy for the upcoming year – especially as there are more than enough other holes to fill. I’d also be happy to see Toussaint back as long as he occupies a spot starter/long reliever role.
If he’s back as a regular starter in the rotation, it’s an early white flag.
The White Sox will need a ‘Miracle on 35th Street’ to compete in 2024. ⚾️
The only viable long term plan for the White Sox:
1. Wait for Jerry to die, then
2. Sell the team to whichever ownership group doesn’t get an expansion team when MLB expands to 32.
2024, they are going to look like one of those expansion teams. A lot of non-tendered guys with 3-4 years of service time and 1.5 WAR ceilings around a base of Robert, Bennetendi, Moncada, Vaughn, and the young catchers. I think both Cease and Jimenez get traded to try and get a couple of reasonable prospects who can contribute and a handful of lottery tickets.
Meanwhile, they have the #4 draft pick, and given that Jerry doesn’t like giving long term FA pitching contracts, I expect that they will take the best college pitcher available and hope for a late 2025 arrival.
Could still get the #1 overall pick.
Yeah I forgot about the lottery. If they get the #1 pick I think they go best college player overall.
Brick House: Do you think they would even know the best college player?
I keep remembering Carson Fulmer. Wasn’t he a #4 pick?
Avenger, they will just read whatever Jim Bowden puts in the Athletic, assuming Jerry will let Getz buy a subscription.
Most White Sox fans won’t like your #2 proposal. That could lead to the team leaving the Chicago metro area. There are plenty of billionaires in the area (patch.com/illinois/crystallake/s/isk5q/12-billiona…) with far more wealth than Jerry Reinsdorf who might have an interest in purchasing the team and keeping it local, preferably in a nearby suburb with a brand new state of the art retractable roof stadium.
We don’t need a retractable roof. This isn’t Seattle or Minnesota.
It is in late March, April and much of May. It definitely is not “baseball weather’ in Chicago for the bulk of Spring, especially at night. There’s also plenty of crap weather as October transitions into November, not that White Sox fans have that concern presently.
It’s reassuring to ticket holders that whenever they purchase seats they will be assured of a game and in relative comfort. That can only happen with a retractable roof venue for 81 games and any home postseason contests.
Assured of a game, but what about just the trip in and out of the parking lot?
Being able to have a big, empty space used for something other than bad baseball 81 days a year makes a dome a smart investment. Or you can view it simply that Chicago and Toronto have virtually the same cruddy weather 6 months a year. So why not have a tractor pull championship on the near west side? Or Wrestlemania? Or…dare I say it…World Cup soccer.
In Europe, the soccer season goes from August to May. Unless there is a foot of snow on the pitch, the game will be played. And there are no domed stadiums.
That’s Europe. (And Cardiff is domed, I believe)
If the White Sox were a horror movie they’d be Poltergeist III
There is only one off-season outlook that would give White Sox fans any joy: Hey Jerry, sell the team!
Royals “connection” aside, Whit Merrifield wouldn’t be a bad idea for a couple cheap years of good infield/good hitting. A cheap way to fill one hole and concentrate on others.
I guess you could do worse, but he hasn’t topped a 100 wRC+ since 2020
I dunno. Merrifield has an $18M contract possibility for next season…or do the Jays do the $500K buyout? He’s making some pretty fat bank (by White Sox standards) this year. I’m not sure he comes ‘cheap’.
Unless Jerry makes it mandatory to compete in ’24, there should be little reason to sign anyone to more than a one year contract in FA. The answers aren’t out there. Just need to fill in the holes until some of the prospects can fill in a few of them.
Yeah Sorry Timmy we are not hiring..I did hear the circus is hiring and the US Tour starts soon! Sure, we ll give you a good reference!
Offseason outlook?
In a word, f****d
Sell the team
I see no answers. Outside of Robert, there is precious little to trade. This is one of those unique cases where they cannot even tank. Even Cease doesn’t have the value he once had.
Sure they can tank. Play until the deadline and ship out some of their bigger contracts (with money) for prospects. Cease will be worth his arb salary next season. Jimenez was solid until he got hurt. I’d move everyone except Roberts and Beni. Their best bet is to sign some bounceback candidate pitchers this offseason.
Why would they need to tank? They need big time improvements just to get to the level of “We suck.”
Fair point, but they still have 5 more games to go before they catch the Royals.
Too many holes to even think about competing before 2026.
I would have faith that Getz will do a good job. He was a smart player that got the most out of his skill set. He knows the game and he knows what a major league player looks like and the skill sets it takes to play at a championship level. Copy the Rays, they have athleticism at every position and pitchers that can perform in various roles.
Look away. This is not going to be pretty. Remember dumb and dumber? Well, this is the sequel.
A “quick turnaround” will simply prolong the pain.
If I were the White Sox I would just sign bounceback candidates and flip them at the deadline for the next two years and hope the next two draft picks yield top tier talent.
Should be a done deal, no real contender in years. I think they’re hoping for a pipe dream championship or just trying to maintain profitability $. Chi Sox don’t like to spend or make enough favorable decisions to see it on the field on a consistent basis. I think we all see the entire product needs fixing besides the product on the field.
I can see the Sox improving next year but maybe not to the extent of a playoff run. It all depends on how Getz approaches the off season with free agency and trades. Wish I could at least be cautiously optimistic but even that’s asking a lot.To be vastly better and competitive as soon as next year is a big challenge for any GM let alone an inexperienced one.
It actually gets worse. Rumors has it Resindorf wants a new 100% funded taxpayer stadium. Comiskey park II was a bad deal from day one. Their fan base from the area is long gone, let them walk to Berwyn or move to nashville.
Is the $75M in budget before or after (estimated) arbitration signings?
After
I think their arb class will cost about $17MM in total.
THank you
There’s no way they are going to compete in 2024. The Twins are easily the strongest team in the AL Central and way better than the White Sox with good depth. Cleveland and Detroit have more talent are trending up for 2024.
This whole thing has been handled poorly. They should have fired a GM from outside the organization and canned the entire coaching staff. Trade Robert and Cease. Attempt to trade anyone else. They have too many bad contracts (and options) with underperforming players.
Good article.
There must be some GM out there who’s marginally more delusional than Getz who’d be willing to take Eloy off our payroll. Last time I checked ‘Mugging to the Camera’ wasn’t a position on the roster. An occasional mammoth home run doesn’t negate the dead weight he provides.
Maybe Miami if they lose Soler, but Chicago would have to cover some of the salary.
Trade Robert and start building this winter
Hahn didn’t trade Jake Burger, Williams did without consulting Hahn or Jerry. And from what ive been told buy a whitesox front office employee, that was the deal that got them both fired. I hated to see burger gone but if that’s what got Jerry to pull their plug, thank you very much, FINALLY