Time is right for White Sox to bolster young roster with free agents

Let the chase resume.

When last seen in the offseason, the Chicago White Sox were tripped up and flattened out by star free-agent Manny Machado, who signed with the Padres for $300 million over 10 years in mid-February.

Before San Diego upped its offer, the Sox believed they had Machado in the bag with an eight-year, $250 million deal that included two option years worth a potential $70 million.

The White Sox were staggered by Machado's decision, but they recovered.

"The money will be spent," general manager Rick Hahn said. "This isn't money sitting around waiting to just accumulate interest. It's money trying to be deployed to put us in best position to win some championships. There certainly was the argument at the start of the (2018) offseason that we were premature, that this was a year too soon.

"It's probably why most people didn't include us as a potential landing spot for the top of the free-agent market. I understand that argument because a year from now, we will be in a better position to know more about our own guys and know more about what's available and where specific needs may lie and what specific needs we may have addressed. When we have that knowledge, that's where this money is going to go."

It's a new year, and the Sox learned quite a bit about their roster this season.

They now know what they have in Tim Anderson, who won the American League batting title. They know what they have in Lucas Giolito, who turned himself into a Cy Young Award candidate.

Ditto for Yoan Moncada, who showed dynamic ability in his second full major-league season, and Eloy Jimenez, who lived up to all the hype and hit for prolific power as a rookie.

Dylan Cease also showed promise in his first year, Michael Kopech is returning from Tommy John surgery in 2020 and high-end prospects Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal are on the way.

After seven straight losing seasons, the White Sox should finally be ready to turn the corner.

They do have some big holes to fill, but as Hahn said, the money is there.

"There's a lot of positive buzz about where this team is headed," the Sox's GM said. "When you are talking to some free agents, last year, we were probably a year too soon. You had to map out what it was going to look like and educate them a little bit about who was coming and how we saw this thing coming together.

"Over the course of this year, we saw a lot of it come together before our eyes and it's fairly easy to project out who is going to be joining us from our system and what that's going to potentially look like. The excitement is there, not just in our clubhouse but around the game right now."

Like most of his peers, Hahn rarely tips his hand when it comes to naming specific players on his wish list.

At the end of the season, Hahn did say the White Sox are going to be looking for outside upgrades in right field and at designated hitter. He's also hoping to add two veteran starters.

There could be another hole at first base if Jose Abreu departs via free agency, but look for the AL RBI leader to return for at least two more years.

"Everybody knows my wishes and my desire to stay here," Abreu said after the Sox wrapped up the season with a 72-89 record. "This is an organization I respect. This is an organization I really honor. We are open to discuss. I want to be here, I've been telling you that."

While the White Sox ideally want a left-handed power hitter at DH, they are likely to go after J.D. Martinez.

Expected to opt out of the final three years of his contract with the Red Sox, Martinez has averaged 41 home runs and 113 RBI over the last three seasons.

He did play 39 games in right and left field with Boston this year, but the 32-year-old Martinez spent the bulk of his time (107 games) at DH.

If the White Sox want a left-handed hitting designated hitter, they could make a run at free-agent Mike Moustakas.

Kole Calhoun and Corey Dickerson are left-handed hitting options in right field and should be available as free agents.

As for starting pitchers, top free agents Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Madison Bumgarner are likely to sign elsewhere, but the Sox are sure to look at veterans like Hyun-Jin Ryu, Zack Wheeler and Jake Odorizzi.