With Grifol Hired, White Sox Shift Focus To Rearranging The Roster

SportsMoney With Grifol Hired, White Sox Shift Focus To Rearranging The Roster Phil Rogers Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I’ve covered sports forever, based mostly in Chicago and Dallas. Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Nov 3, 2022, 12:48pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 21: Jose Abreu #79 holds back Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox . . .

[+] after a benches-clearing dispute between Yasmani Grandal #24 of the Chicago White Sox and Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Getty Images The White Sox have answered one of the biggest questions of their off-season, hiring Pedro Grifol, an undecorated baseball lifer, to replace Hall of Famer Tony La Russa as their manager. Now comes the hard part.

Grifol, a member of Kansas City’s coaching staff since 2013, knows the White Sox roster as well as anyone from outside the organization. His view of the strengths and weaknesses of players could go a long ways toward the reworking of a payroll that had grown to $193. 4 million, the seventh largest in the majors, on Opening Day last season.

Jerry Reinsdorf’s ownership group allowed the payroll to mushroom in the belief the franchise was knocking on the door of its first trip to the World Series since 2005. But little went right for the team in La Russa’s two seasons, with an ALDS loss to Houston being followed by an 81-81 disappointment that would have been worse without the emergency signings of Johnny Cueto and Elvis Andrus. It seems almost certain the payroll is going to be reduced significantly as a consequence of the negative outcomes.

First baseman Jose Abreu, in his age-35 season the team leader in WAR, looked to be on the way out when the season ended. He is heading into free agency at a point when the front office views shifting Andrew Vaughn from right field to first as the best way to improve a flawed defense. Abreu has been the team’s rock since he arrived from Cuba in 2014.

But the decision appears made to play Vaughn at first base and make injury-prone left fielder Eloy Jimenez the primary designated hitter, leaving Abreu to explore his options elsewhere. MORE FOR YOU The Inside Story Of Papa John’s Toxic Culture Lyft Cuts 13% Of Its Staff While Stripe Slashes 14%—Here Are The Biggest U. S.

Layoffs This Year Scientists Warn Dangerous Monkeypox Variant Circulating In Central Africa Could Fuel New Outbreaks Jimenez is one of 14 veterans the Sox have signed to guaranteed contracts totaling $142. 7 million. Along with eight arbitration-eligible players, they form the core of a payroll that has a running total projected to be $172.

3 million. There are many scenarios where the front office could reduce the total further or grow it back close to where it was last season. Among the issues in play: — Retaining shortstop Tim Anderson or seeking an upgrade? Anderson has been a bargain since signing a six-year, $25 million deal at the start of his major-league career.

The next two seasons are club options ($12. 5 million with a $1 million buyout this year) and the team is making Anderson sweat. The deadline is five days after the end of the World Series but it could be exercised at any point.

Anderson seemed angry last season, then missed the last 55 games with torn ligaments in his left hand. The easiest decision by the front office is to retain Anderson but then why not exercise that option a month ago? If the White Sox cut ties with Anderson, they could seek to reinvest the Abreu/Anderson money in one of the big-ticket shortstops expected to be available in free agency. The list is headed by Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

It’s a bold option, and under Jerry Reinsdorf the Sox have often explored bold options. Andrus played well while replacing Anderson and could be resigned given his stated willingness to move to the vacancy at second base if he isn’t the shortstop. — Lucas Giolito is unsigned and only a season away from free agency.

Is it time to trade him and ride behind Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech and the much improved Reynaldo Lopez? Giolito is projected by the website MLB Trade Rumors to be valued at $10. 45 million and had a 4. 90 ERA in 30 starts last season.

— Cueto is unsigned after reviving his career in his age-36 season. The Sox signed him for only $4. 25 million when he was available after the lockout last spring, and he was their second best pitcher (8-10, 3.

35, average of 6 1/3 innings per appearance). He’ll seek a multi-year contract in free agency. It would be easier for the Sox to trade Giolito if they kept Cueto.

Grifol knows Cueto well from Kansas City, which could work in favor of keeping him. — Josh Harrison, solid at second base and valuable as a utility man, is in an option year. The White Sox must decide whether to keep him for $5.

5 million or give him a $1. 5 million buyout. — Top prospect Oscar Colas is close to forcing his way into a regular role in right field.

Signed out of Cuba for $2. 7 million last January, the power-hitting Colas delivered 23 homers and an . 895 OPS over 117 games in his first minor-league season.

He’s barely played above Triple-A but will be in his age-24 season and projects to be a strong two-way player. It’s going to be an interesting off-season. Follow me on Twitter .

Phil Rogers Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.