MLB Offseason Primer: AL Central

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 28, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

OFFSEASON PRIMERS
AL EAST | AL CENTRAL | AL WEST | NL EAST | NL CENTRAL | NL WEST

Chicago White Sox

Projected 40-Man CBT: $75.3M (29th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 2 ($23.3M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($19.95M)
The 41-121 White Sox have nowhere to go but up - unless they don’t. SP Garrett Crochet will remain one of the hottest trade names all winter, while outfielders Andrew Benintendi & Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago’s only guaranteed salary), could very well hear their names in trade talks as well. There’s talent in the farm system, but the White Sox need to give that process time to properly develop before they try to build around it at the major league level.

Notable Options
Yoan Moncada (3B, $25M Club), Max Stassi (C, $7.5M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Chris Flexen (SP), Michael Soroka (SP), Mike Clevinger (SP)

Cleveland Guardians

Projected 40-Man CBT: $114.2M (21st)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($41.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($38.7M)
Despite one of the youngest rosters in MLB, the Guardians found themselves in a slugfest with the Yankees this past ALCS. Cleveland prefers to operate somewhere in the middle 20 payroll rank range, so an early projection near the Top 20 likely means something stands to give. That something may be 1B Josh Naylor, who projects to carry a $14M+ arbitration salary in 2025, and could bring back a nice trade return for Cleveland this winter. With that said, this is a team that needs to aggressively find starting pitching this offseason.

Notable Free Agents
Shane Bieber (SP), Matt Boyd (SP), Alex Cobb (SP)

Detroit Tigers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $99.4M (25th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 3 ($40M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($25.6M)
One of the bigger surprises of 2024 now turn the page knowing that SP Tarik Skubal (obviously), & OF Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter represent a legitimate young core going forward. Will the Tigers aggressively reshape their infield this winter? Will top prospect Jackson Jobe join the rotation out of camp? This is easily one of the more fun teams to watch over the course of the next few months.

Notable Options
Casey Mize (SP, $3.1M Club)

Kansas City Royals

Projected 40-Man CBT: $126.1M (20th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 3 ($61.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($24.1M)
KC added roster pieces in volume last winter, then locked in their cornerstone piece Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11 year, $288M extension. He and 1B Vinnie Pasquantino represent the young core, but it’s a bit of a checkers board elsewhere. Will this front office be as aggressive in added veteran depth, or will this be a team that looks to its youth to develop into a winning group sooner rather than later? Outfield and Starting Pitching top the offseason needs list.

Notable Options
Michael Wacha (SP, $16M Player), Adam Frazier (INF, $8.5M Mutual), Hunter Renfroe (OF, $7.5M Player), Chris Stratton (RP, $4.5M Player)

Notable Free Agents
Michael Lorenzen (SP), Garrett Hampson (SS), Paul DeJong (SS), Tommy Pham (OF), Yulieski Gurriel (1B)

Minnesota Twins

Projected 40-Man CBT: $144.9M (18th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($82M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 13 ($35.4M)
The pieces are all there, but health issues plus a brutal stretch of baseball to finish off 2024 kept this franchise out of the postseason. Baseball’s #2 farm system (MLB Pipeline) could help fill in some of the holes, but a splashy signing at first base plus a veteran rotation piece or two seem the most likely paths forward this winter.

Notable Options
Manuel Margot (OF, $12M Mutual), Kyle Farmer (SS, $6.25M Mutual)

Notable Free Agents
Carlos Santana (1B), Max Kepler (OF)


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