Who should return from the 2023 Chicago White Sox 40-man roster
By Todd Welter
The Chicago White Sox had a miserable 2023 season.
The team lost 100 games, fired long-time executives Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, and owner Jerry Reinsndorf replaced them with Chris Getz in the laziest GM search ever.
Getz is not only unqualified, but he was another internal hire when this franchise desperately needs to stop being so insular.
One reason Getz got the job is because Reinsdorf is not interested in another long-term rebuild. He thinks Getz can turn the team’s fortunes around quickly.
"The conclusion I came to is what we owe our fans and ourselves is to not waste any time."
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 31, 2023
Jerry Reinsdorf explains why he ultimately decided to hire an internal candidate after considering multiple people outside of the organization for the job. pic.twitter.com/OhrNlwGMun
He does not have a lot to work with internally. The roster was poorly constructed by his predecessors.
Although, the front office thinks they have some players on the roster whom they can build a playoff contender around.
New director of player personnel Gene Watson on #WhiteSox: "We've got stars. We've got stars on the field. We've got to put players around them that love to play the game with them and know how to play and that's what we're going to work for."
— Scot Gregor (@scotgregor) September 29, 2023
Getz will have money to spend in the offseason since the Chicago White Sox have around $120 million committed in payroll next season. That number will go up once the team gets contracts sorted out for their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players.
That is why Getz must make the correct decision on who he should bring back from a roster that lost 100 games.
Starting pitchers
Keep on the 26-man roster: Dylan Cease, Mike Clevinger
Keep on the 40-man roster: Davis Martin, Jesse Scholtens
Non-tender: Touki Toussaint
Let them walk in free agency: José Ureña
26-man roster spots to fill: Three
The rotation was reduced to Dylan Cease and a bunch of guys after Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn were traded at the deadline. Michael Kopech struggled so badly that he was banished to the bullpen.
Ideally, the Chicago White Sox would trade Cease for a haul of prospects. The directive is to be competitive again as soon as possible. That is why Clevinger should be brought back.
His character is certainly questionable, but he did produce for a No. 5 starter. He can return for a reasonable $12 million mutual option.
Plus, if the Chicago White Sox let him leave they would need to replace up to four starting pitchers. Trying to add that many starters with an owner who despises paying pitchers is probably not going to accomplish the goal of getting better in a hurry.
Scholtens should return as a depth starter you can stash in Triple-A or have him compete for a long relief/spot-starter spot on the roster.
Davis Martin will spend the season rehabbing after having Tommy John surgery.
Toussaint had his moments this season, but he struggles to command his pitches. Ureña was on the team at the end of the season solely to eat innings.