After the Chicago White Sox acquired third baseman Todd Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds, rumors suggested the club might go after a high-profile free-agent outfielder since they could use an upgrade in left field and have over $30 million coming off the books after the 2016 MLB season.
Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon have been considered candidates for Chicago, but the team is apparently going to take their time after Gordon inked a four-year, $72 million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The White Sox were reportedly in the running for Gordon, but were unwilling to offer him a fourth year in the contract talks.
Scott Merkin of MLB.com believes Chicago could be holding out in the event Cespedes and Upton stay on the market longer than expected, which may result in a drop in their price tags.
"Perhaps the fact that Cespedes is 30 and Upton is 28 could alter the White Sox view. Whether or not that is the case, the White Sox seem content to wait and ensure that any free-agent deal would fit their need and parameters. Getting bid up to extra years or dollars is not something that works for the organization...
"It seems likely that one, or both, of those players will be offered more years or dollars elsewhere, but the fact that they're still on the market in January raises the possibility that maybe one will opt for a shorter deal to re-establish his worth and hit the market again next winter, when the free-agent crop is much leaner."
This was first speculated by ESPN's Buster Olney, who specifically mentioned Upton as the highest-profile candidate that could possibly consider a one-year deal due to the crowded outfield market this year and the dearth of talent available in next year's free agent class. Still, Upton is coming off a solid season and is just 28 years old, so it's hard to see him taking such a considerable gamble when starter Jeff Samardzija just landed a $90 million deal coming off a season in which he posted a 4.96 ERA.
Additionally, after Gordon signed, it was reported the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers had some level of interest in Upton.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal also wonders if the White Sox might change their stance on Upton or Cespedes since both are younger than Gordon. They wouldn't offer the fourth year to Gordon probably because the veteran will be 32 before the upcoming season and didn't possess the type of middle-of-the-order power they are looking for.
Chicago's payroll could reach $119 million for the 2016 season, so the team doesn't have much room to work with since that will be their largest payroll since the 2011 season ($127 million). Perhaps they can get creative with the first year of any potential contract in order to keep the payroll at bay.
Otherwise, expect the White Sox to take their time on this front. They aren't necessarily in any rush to sign a top-tier outfielder, but an upgrade at the right price is likely something that appeals to general manager Rick Hahn.
