The White Sox need to respond to Royals/Tigers
What are the White Sox doing? Currently, they’re doing nothing.
Last week, I discussed why Dexter Fowler would make sense for the team on the South Side. In short, placing him in right field and moving Avi Garcia to the bench increases the offensive output from the position and the defense improves dramatically.
The Sox made a splash when they acquired Todd Frazier from the Reds in exchange for some prospects (that they actually sent to the Dodgers, and they sent prospects to Cincy…make sense?).
However, since then the Royals have re-signed Alex Gordon and added Ian Kennedy to their rotation. The Tigers – over the course of the off-season – have signed Jordan Zimmermann and traded for K-Rod. Oh, and they did this last night:
Upton six-year deal with #Tigers includes opt-out (not sure after which year). Six years, $132.75M, per @BNightengale.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 19, 2016
Yes. Justin Upton. What. A. Steal.
In 2015, Upton accumulated a 3.6 fWAR after 26 home runs, 81 runs batted in, 85 runs scored, and stealing 19 bases (the most since 2011). If you do the math at home, this AAV is a tad over $22 million per season. Mind you, he’s only 28. If he chooses to opt-out like he can after two seasons, he will be entering his age-30 season in 2018 with a newer, bigger contract.
To recap: the team that lost in the 2014 World Series and won the 2015 classic re-signed a guy who’s been a OBP machine and gold-glover. And they added a starting pitcher who’s shown some struggles recently, but has proven he can have a bounce back season. The Royals only lost Johnny Cueto, who was pretty bad for them overall.
To recap: the team who, offensively, has been really good, but struggled on the mound added a quality SP in Zimmermann, an underrated closer in K-Rod, and improved the offense by adding J-Up.
To recap: the White Sox have added a good offensive third baseman to a pretty poor offensive team.
Do the White Sox need to respond to the intra-division activity? YES. At least in some way.
Reports are still coming out that Yoenis Cespedes is interested in taking a one-year deal for 2016. Have the Sox been rumored? No. He would be an upgrade over Fowler for that one season, but he would be a massive upgrade over the current roster. The White Sox have two options: sign Fowler and a starting pitcher for depth OR sign Cespedes and a starting pitcher for depth.
Cespedes is coming off the best season of his career: 35 home runs, 42 doubles, 137 OPS+, and a gold glove. Do I need to say more? This was in a “walk year” for all those people who think that affects how players perform. With a one year deal, it’d be the same situation the Cuban outfielder was in a year ago.
The Sox made a flurry of moves after the 2014 season to compete for 2015, but it didn’t work out. Now other teams are making moves, and they’re sitting back. With the current makeup of this roster, the moves they made over a year ago are still not going to work for 2016.
Doug Fister is reportedly looking for a two year deal for about $22 million. Sliding him in to that rotation with Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, and John Danks, would make the Sox have a rotation that has the potential to surprise some people in 2016. Fister’s 2014 was very encouraging as he produced a 2.41 ERA despite a FIP of 3.93. The latter number could be a little discouraging, especially with a heightened one in 2015, but he’s more or less a consistent contact pitcher who can give the team quality innings if he sees some early success.
I still maintain the White Sox would be smart to make a play on Dexter Fowler, but after the Tigers’ acquisition of Upton, they need to make some kind of splash. That lineup in Detroit isn’t messing around. Because of the corner OF need right now, Cespedes potentially makes more sense for the South Siders.
Another option for the Sox to upgrade is through trade, like they added Frazier. However, I’m not sure of a good trade partner for them with their current needs. Their prospect pool isn’t something to swim in, so the only way they would be able to match up with a team is for a lower-level guy (think Giants adding Marlon Byrd last season). No response would be better than making a move just to simply make a move.
Yes, adding Cespedes/Fowler and a Fister-type would cost some money. But, that’s what they need to. Standing pat puts them possibly in last place for 2016 as they would go in with one upgrade over a year ago. The starting pitching isn’t great, despite Sale and Rodon’s potential, and they need depth there.
One year for Cespedes or four years for Fowler? If you had to pick, what would you do?
*picture is courtesy of chicago.cbslocal.com
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