REWIND AND RE-DO

This is a t-shirt (sans Sox logo) that is available at Cotton Bureau.

The Sox are in first place. They are in the conversation as the best team in the AL, and record-wise are up there with the best in the MLB. Not much to complain about, but being from Chicago, it’s a citywide pastime and one indulges in such things from time to time.

They could be better. Really. Had they made a couple of different decisions in the off-season the Sox could be even better. They’ll probably rectify some things at the deadline and guys like Jace Fry and Adam Engel returning (Eloy and Luis too) will help. Still, the Sox current state is tied to the Sox off-season in many ways. Let’s look at what they did and what they shoulda did. But note, this won’t involve spending more money or making moves for guys that didn’t move in the off-season. These are things that happened.

Trade they made: Dane Dunning and Austin Weems for Lance Lynn.

They should have: Made the trade and signed Lynn to an extension immediately.

Signing they made: Adam Eaton to play RF. His $8 million or so salary was reasonable.

They should have: Made the trade for Andrew Benintendi. The Royals gave up Franchy Cordero, Khalil Lee and two players to be named later to get Benintendi. That maybe equates to Adam Engel, who the Sox need now but have lived without, OF Luis Gonzalez, who is a better all around prospect than Lee, and maybe instead of Gonzalez the Sox have a pitcher equivalent to what the Mets sent Boston in the trade. Benintendi has rediscovered himself in KC, looking like his 2018 self. At 26 and costing all of $5 million each this year and next year, he would have been worth Engel. He’s absolutely mashing righties to a .319 avg. and .868 OPS, his overall .289/.762 is worlds better than what the creaky Eaton has done. Since Eaton hasn’t played any CF, to the extent that Benintendi might have slid over to CF (71 career games there) it would mean more Jake Lamb in LF with Andrew Vaughn in RF, where after this year he’ll probably take over.

Signing they made: Carlos Rodón (1 year $3 million).

They should have: Done everything the same. Maybe added an option year. Rodón has been one of their best in the early going, putting injuries and ineffectiveness behind him. His results were insane early and more “really good” as of late. Still, with Lynn and Rodón as free agents it’ll be rough if the Sox lose both next year.

Signing they made: Liam Hendriks.

They should have: Samesies. Hendriks has taken a couple of losses and blown a couple saves, but no one is perfect.

Signing they made: Evan Marshall (1 yr. $2 million).

They should have: Non-tendered him. No one knew he’d be as bad as he’s been and for a hot minute there was talk he would close. Instead they could have signed Yusmeiro Petit (1 yr. $2.55 million) or Ryne Stanek 1 yr. $1.1 million) or Mark Melancon (1 yr. $2 million base salary). Just to name a few guys.

Moves the Sox made that are keepers: Jake Lamb and Billy Hamilton signed during spring training. Re-signed Lucas Giolito to avoid arb.

Moves the Sox should have skipped: re-signed Reynaldo Lopez. That’s $2 million wasted when a non-tender would have been appropriate.

Let’s assume that they traded for Benintendi and signed Stanek. That’s $2.9 million-$6.275 million lower in payroll (assuming Engel and Lopez are gone) with better results overall from two players who have grossly underperformed in Eaton and Marshall. So what could the Sox have for $6.275 million?

The answer is one of the other relievers mentioned, a guy like Hunter Renfroe ($3.1 million) who is doing decent for the Red Sox but wouldn’t have had a role to start the season here, C Mike Zunino ($2 million)and his 12 HR (avg. is sub-Mendoza like Yas and Zack though), or Tyler Naquin ($1.5 million), who has 10 bombs and an .853 OPS against righties and might have been a Jake Lamb-type bench option to start the season.

Or, Rick would have that much more in the hopper to get a guy at the deadline.

SPEAKING OF THE DEADLINE

Here are four names to ponder, true rentals edition:

Relief – Ian Kennedy, Texas (2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 12 saves). The former starter has been a pretty steady reliever for the Royals and Rangers, and is on a one-year deal with a Texas team that is rebuilding. He’s the ideal candidate for the trade deadline but there could be a decent market for him, especially if there’s a contender that has a closer issue.

Relief – Mychal Givens, Colorado (3.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). A one-time closer of the future for Baltimore, it would be charitable to let Givens pitch for a good team. He’s on a 1-year deal with the Rockies as a prove-it and he’s been better than Rockies closer Daniel Bard.

OF – Corey Dickerson, Miami (.264 avg. .704 OPS). Not his best year but better than Adam Eaton, Dickerson might be squeezed from the Marlins OF if Jesus Sanchez rises to join guys like Garrett Cooper, Starlin Marte, and Adam Duvall. But he’s a true rental and a pro bat that shouldn’t be as big a hole as the Sox have had.

OF – Josh Reddick, Arizona (.328 avg. .816 OPS). Honestly this guy was out there for the Sox but they passed, for decent reasons. Reddick’s heyday is in the past but he’s been on a heater for the D-Backs and the Sox could do worse. He’s cheap and has a World Series ring, and eventually Arizona will want to play Pavin Smith, Ketel Marte, David Peralta, Christian Walker and Josh Rojas together, not to mention Daulton Varsho waiting at AAA.

The Sweat Meter, a system to manage your White Sox Worries.

As the Sox season carries on, concerns will pop up. Here, weekly, Sox in The Basement and Mismatched Sox will measure the concerning stuff, big and small, and determine whether to sweat it at all. The range runs from five Sweaty Freddies to one, five being sheer panic and one being nothing to worry about at all.

Desert: Tony bunting. His explanation was sound and he’s earned the right to make that choice. If Mendick gets the sac done right, and the rally is successful, TLR’s a genius.