I wouldn't even give that Indiana douchebag aka baseball's version of Jay Cutler a qualifying offer. I'd rather they use the money saved from not trying to bring back fuckface and giving Alexei well wishes and going on the market for a 3rd baseman, possibly a corner outfielder who can hit for power (SLG >.450), and maybe a SS if Hahn and company don't have confidence in Saladino holding that fort until Tim Anderson is ready. Of course, Trayce Thompson might be that corner outfield guy which if he can keep producing while getting more plate appearances that means you're not stuck with Avi since he has not displayed any improvement that was expected this year.
I want to see if talented guys like Eaton, Melky, Micah Johnson, and others can play in a non-Romper Room fashion once Special person Robin and every coach not named Don Cooper (though I don't care if they find another pitching coach as well) is fired (I'm assuming this has to be his last year). I mean all the butchered fielding plays combined with numerous caught stealing attempts and other examples of horrible base running blunders indicate lack of teaching and coaching far more than a lack of major league talent.
For manager PLEASE hire one of these names
1. Bud Black: He got a raw deal in San Diego and he would be like Gene Lamont. He won't win you more than two or three more games per year, but unlike Special person Ventura and post-2008 Ozzie he won't lose you a bunch either.
2. Dave Martinez: He's been ready for awhile and he's learned from Maddon, so he's SABR friendly which means dumb ideas like batting Tyler Saladino 2nd would be kept to a minimum or just never allowed completely. Also, if Ryno is hired in some ambassador role for the North Siders, I'm pretty sure he won't want to work in the same environment as one of the guys who supposedly cuckolded him.
3. Sandy Alomar: Former catcher, smart guy with a baseball pedigree and is the son of a former manager/coach. Also, he caught games for the Sox so he fills the former player quota that Reinsdorf seems to love for some reason.
4. Ron Gardenhire: I'm not as high on him as some others are here because I don't want to see more ill advised bunts, excuse me "Ozzieball" and while the Twins did win the Central almost every year that he managed them they only won one playoff series in that entire span. However, he does emphasize fundamentals and that means fielding and base running would improve immediately and exponentially. If Hahn is as analytical as his reputation suggests and Ron would listen to him (and not say, "I make the fucking lineups" like Ozzie) and not act like an arrogant prick, then I think bunts would be laid down at the appropriate times, especially since advanced stats usually prove that bunting not only gives away outs; it decreases the chance of scoring one run or more with anyone in scoring position and that assumes that the bunt is successful.
Finally, I really hope Williams takes the Toronto President job. I'll drive him to O' Hare if that happens. He's the main reason this team is in its current situation and while I'm grateful for 2005 he hasn't done much good since then and Jerry should have fired him after the Dave Wilder fiasco.