CHICAGO -- The White Sox agreed to terms with left-handed hurler Derek Holland on a one-year, $6 million contract Wednesday.

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF DECEMBER 15, 2016 White Sox strike 1-year deal with Holland Scott Merkin, MLB.com Derek Holland looks to get back on track with White Sox Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago White Sox sign free-agent pitcher Derek Holland Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Who might be the next player traded away from White Sox? Staff, CSN Chicago Does new White Sox pitcher Derek Holland have the best nickname in Chicago sports? Staff, CSN Chicago White Sox reach deal with starter Derek Holland Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune Will reality star Brielle Biermann move to Chicago for her White Sox beau? Tracy Swartz, Chicago Tribune White Sox sign Derek Holland to 1-year, $6 million deal Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Why White Sox signed veteran starter Holland Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Is Derek Holland a risk worth taking for White Sox? James Fegan, The Athletic White Sox sign lefty Derek Holland to one-year deal Lauren Comitor, The Athletic White Sox sign Derek Holland to 1-year deal James Neveau, NBC Chicago White Sox, LHP Derek Holland agree on 1-year deal Staff, CBS Chicago Who and when will the very busy White Sox look to trade next? Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports Wait a minute did the Nats really get robbed? Maybe not David Schoenfield, ESPN.com As Sale trade unfolded, players involved could only stand by Alex Speier, Boston Globe Derek Holland agrees to $6M, 1-year contract with White Sox Associated Press White Sox strike 1-year deal with Holland By Scott Merkin / MLB.com December 14th, 2016 CHICAGO -- The White Sox agreed to terms with left-handed hurler Derek Holland on a one-year, $6 million contract Wednesday. Holland, who turned 30 in October, mentioned the White Sox as a team with strong interest from the outset of his free agency. This comment, among many others, came during a Wednesday conference call taking place as Holland was driving one of his five lizards to the vet. "One of the greatest things about this whole process is how the White Sox came at me," said Holland, who also owns a dog and a chinchilla. "I got to speak to both [White Sox manager Rick] Renteria and [pitching coach Don] Cooper and we just got to touch base. "That was pretty cool for them to reach out and connect with me and show the interest. Seeing Cooper has had a lot of success with some left-handers and getting them back to where they need to be and helping them be successful played a huge role in my decision to go forward." Texas was home for Holland during the first eight seasons of his career with the Rangers. He finished with a 7-9 record and a 4.95 ERA over 22 games and 20 starts during the 2016 campaign. Holland opened the season in the starting rotation, going 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in April, before being placed on the disabled list on June 22 with left shoulder inflammation.

2 In 2011, Holland posted a 16-5 mark with a 3.95 ERA, and in 2013, he struck out a career-high 189 over a career-high 213 innings pitched. Texas declined an $11 million option for the 2017 season on Holland on Nov. 17, using the $1.5 million buyout to make him a free agent. Adding Holland helps fill out the White Sox starting rotation after the departure of Chris Sale via a trade with Boston. Carlos Rodon, Miguel Gonzalez and James Shields appear to be in place, while Jose Quintana certainly sits at the No. 1 spot and would be the odds-on favorite as the Opening Day starter. But in this highly publicized rebuild that netted the White Sox seven prospects through two trades last week, Quintana could add to that haul if the team's lofty demands are met by another club looking to acquire his services. Carson Fulmer -- the White Sox top prospect per MLBPipeline.com before the additions of Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez via trade -- will be used as a starter during Spring Training. However, Fulmer still could be better served getting greater experience at the outset of 2017 as part of Triple-A Charlotte's rotation. Holland has an 0-2 record with a 7.20 ERA over three starts at U.S. Cellular Field. He holds a 10-5 overall record against the American League Central, including a 5-1 mark against Cleveland and a 3-0 record with a 1.23 ERA at Progressive Field. Only his dog will make the trip to Chicago. But Holland is looking forward to working with Cooper and getting back on track for at least this one year, making new memories even in the midst of a rebuild. "You never know what's going to lie ahead," Holland said. "I could go out there and have an unbelievable year and end up staying with Chicago and end up being a part of the process and what they're trying to do. "I know there's a strong group of guys there already. I've talked to a few of them, and I know that their mindset is to win. Obviously, they got rid of a few pieces, but the main thing is you've got to turn the page and train for what lies ahead." To make room for Holland on the 40-man roster, which now sits at 40, the White Sox designated lefthander Matt Purke for assignment. Derek Holland looks to get back on track with White Sox By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago December 14th, 2016 After he experienced three seasons of frustrating injuries, Derek Holland is hopeful to rediscover health and success with the White Sox. Holland cited the team s enthusiastic recruitment of him as well as an optimistic discussion with pitching coach Don Cooper as reasons why he joined the White Sox on a one-year, $6-million deal on Wednesday. The length of the deal also was a selling point for the former Texas Rangers pitcher, who also was reportedly in talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Holland went 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) for the Texas Rangers last season. I thought the one-year deal was perfect, especially being with Cooper and getting back on track, Holland said. It helps me to be successful again and get out there and helps the team to win. I thought that was huge. Like I said, we ll see what happens in the future. But the main thing is we ve got to focus on the now and the one-year deal and staying healthy, get out on that field and give the White Sox a chance to win every time I go out there. Knee and shoulder injuries have limited Holland to 203 innings pitched over the past three seasons. He had knee surgery before the 2014 season began, which limited him to six September starts. Shoulder issues in 2015 kept him inactive from April to August and he finished the season with 58 2/3 innings.

3 Shoulder inflammation sidelined Holland for two months last season, when he posted a 4.95 ERA in 107 1/3 innings. But Holland said his knees are fine and his shoulder has made steady progress the past two seasons that has him optimistic about The past three years has been a little frustrating, Holland said. My shoulder has been getting better each year. Obviously, I ve had the injuries but I saw a few things and me and Cooper actually talked about it as well. I thought each year from the two shoulder injuries, I felt like progressed big time with innings pitched and getting myself back to where I need to be. Obviously, some of the results weren t the way I wanted them but the main thing was to get back on the field and be healthy. Holland s signing became a necessity after the White Sox traded Chris Sale to Boston last week. The club also traded Adam Eaton last week and has entertained offers for Jose Quintana this offseason as it undergoes its first rebuild since Holland averaged 195 innings per year from , a span in which he went with a 3.98 ERA for the Rangers. Were the White Sox to trade both Sale and Quintana they would need to replace a duo that has averaged 393 innings per season since 2012, including 434 2/3 innings in The White Sox acquired several young arms in the deals for Sale and Eaton. Even though Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez reached the big leagues last season, general manager Rick Hahn said the White Sox want to be patient with their young pitchers, a group that also includes Michael Kopech, among others. Holland said both manager Rick Renteria and Cooper called him to discuss pitching for the White Sox. Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games, Hahn said. This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation. The White Sox designated pitcher Matt Purke for assignment to make room for Holland, who pitched in parts of eight seasons for Texas. White Sox sign free-agent pitcher Derek Holland By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago December 14th, 2016 Derek Holland will take the spot vacated by Chris Sale in the White Sox rotation. The left-hander signed a one-year deal worth $6 million with the White Sox on Wednesday. Holland went 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) for the Texas Rangers last season. To make room for Holland on the 40-man roster the White Sox designated pitcher Matt Purke for assignment. Holland s signing became a necessity after the White Sox traded Sale to Boston last week. The club also traded Adam Eaton last week and has entertained offers for Jose Quintana this offseason as it undergoes its first rebuild since Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games," White Sox senior vice president/general manager Rick Hahn said. This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation. Holland, who has dealt with knee and shoulder injuries the past three seasons, averaged 195 innings per year from , a span in which he went with a 3.98 ERA for the Rangers. Were the White Sox to trade both Sale and Quintana they would need to replace a duo that has averaged 393 innings per season since 2012, including 434 2/3 innings in 2016.

4 The White Sox acquired several young arms in the deals for Sale and Eaton. Even though Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez reached the big leagues last season, general manager Rick Hahn said the White Sox want to be patient with their young pitchers, a group that also includes Michael Kopech, among others. MLB.com s Scott Merkin was the first to report the sides were close. USA Today s Bob Nightengale reported the terms of the deal. Who might be the next player traded away from White Sox? By Staff / CSN Chicago December 14th, 2016 The White Sox have made it clear they're willing to part with anyone for the right price, trading away Chris Sale and Adam Eaton already this offseason. So who could be the next to go? Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal looked at the potential future of the White Sox busy offseason Wednesday and pointed to Jose Quintana and David Robertson as two of the most intriguing trade candidates though he was sure to mention that those deals might not come right away. Quintana has obvious value as an All-Star starting pitcher, but Rosenthal wrote that the White Sox could hold onto him and find a partner willing to pay their price come the trade deadline or even next offseason, given how long Quintana remains under club control. As for Robertson, Rosenthal said the closer "remains in demand," listing the Washington Nationals who just sent a huge prospect package to the South Side in exchange for Eaton as a team in need of a ninth-inning arm. But Rosenthal said Robertson, too, could be a guy that doesn't get moved until the deadline, potentially fetching a huge return like a few big-name relievers did last season. Rosenthal also listed Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier as players that might not be in as much demand as the two aforementioned pitchers. Does new White Sox pitcher Derek Holland have the best nickname in Chicago sports? By Staff / CSN Chicago December 14th, 2016 There've been a whole ton of nicknames in Chicago sports history, but the White Sox might have acquired the new best one. Derek Holland, who the White Sox inked to a one-year deal on Wednesday, goes by "The Dutch Oven," a moniker bestowed on him by a Dallas radio station. Now he's bringing that nickname to the South Side, and it ranks up there with some of the best. What are some of the best? In The Loop took a look on Wednesday night, picking out the top nicknames from across the world of Chicago sports. Check out the list in the video above. White Sox reach deal with starter Derek Holland By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune December 14th, 2016 Derek Holland was taking one of his five pet lizards to a veterinarian in Texas on Wednesday when he was being introduced to media as the newest member of the White Sox. A little more than a week after trading ace left-hander Chris Sale to the Red Sox, the rebuilding South Siders reached a one-year, $6 million deal with the 30-year-old free-agent left-handed starter.

5 Holland, who also owns a dog and a chinchilla, said the lizard is fine now after it had stopped breathing for a time Tuesday night. As for his decision to sign with the Sox after eight seasons with the Rangers, Holland hopes to breathe some life into his injury-hindered career and his new team. Holland missed half of the 2014 season after tearing cartilage in his knee while playing with his dog. He pitched one inning in the Rangers' home opener in 2015 before a strained left shoulder kept him on the disabled list until the end of August. He spent July and most of August last season on the DL with an injured right shoulder. The Rangers chose not to exercise their $11 million option on him, allowing him to become a free agent. Holland said he's looking forward to working with Sox pitching coach Don Cooper no matter where he falls in the Sox rotation. "When it's my day to pitch, I'm the No. 1 that day," Holland said. "The past few years have been a little frustrating with injuries." White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the move allows the Sox some flexibility and depth in their rotation. "Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games," Hahn said. Holland was 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 appearances, including 20 starts, and 107 1/3 innings last season for the Rangers. Holland's four shutouts led the American League in 2011 when he went 16-5 and he struck out a careerbest 189 in 213 innings in Overall, he's with a 4.35 ERA in 985 innings. Barring more trades, Holland likely will join Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Miguel Gonzalez and James Shields in the Sox rotation, though Quintana's name has been linked to trade rumors with the Astros. Holland said he isn't concerned the Sox are starting a rebuild. "The whole thing is a process," he said. "Whoever is there is going to play to win. Who know what lies ahead? I could have an unbelievable year and stay with Chicago." Or, if he has success and the White Sox don't, he could be used as trade bait at the July 31 deadline to acquire more young talent for the future. To make room for Holland on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated left-handed reliever Matt Purke for assignment. Will reality star Brielle Biermann move to Chicago for her White Sox beau? By Tracy Swartz / Chicago Tribune December 14th, 2016 t Be Tardy" star Brielle Biermann was coy Wednesday about whether she will move to Chicago to be near her boyfriend, new White Sox prospect Michael Kopech. "Brielle is not allowed to move anywhere that Michael is until she has a ring on her finger," Biermann's mother, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, said Wednesday on "Watch What Happens Live." "OK, well, I agree with that, but I am 19, almost 20, so if I want to leave..." Biermann said.

6 "Nobody's holding her, but I don't think it's a good idea to move in with her boyfriend until she has a ring. Like, why?" Zolciak-Biermann said. "I agree with that. I told him that," Biermann said. The Sox acquired Kopech, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher, from the Boston Red Sox last week as part of a deal for ace Chris Sale. Red Sox minor leaguer Michael Kopech pitches with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League in Peoria, Ariz., on Nov. 2, (Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images) Kopech made his "Don't Be Tardy" debut on Wednesday's Season 5 finale. He appeared via video call and wasn't on the screen long. Biermann said she met Kopech earlier this year by phone. "I watched eight videos on 'how to baseball,'" Biermann said in the finale. Biermann has been in the spotlight since "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" premiered on the Bravo network in Her mother was an original cast member. The "Don't Be Tardy" spinoff premiered in 2012 after her mother married NFL linebacker Kroy Biermann. White Sox sign Derek Holland to 1-year, $6 million deal By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times December 14th, 2016 The White Sox signed left-handed starter Derek Holland to a one-year, $6 million contract, the club announced Wednesday. Holland, 30, who has dealt with knee and shoulder injuries over the last three seasons, posted a 4.95 ERA over 107 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers last year. The Rangers declined his $11.5 million option for 2017 and paid him a $1.5 million buyout. Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation. So just how does signing a 30-year-old veteran fit into a rebuild plan? Depending on his performance, Holland could be flipped to a contending team for prospects during the season in the same way, for example, the Cubs signed 30-year-old right-hander Scott Feldman for an almost identical $6 million plus incentives in the 2013 offseason before dealing him and Steve Clevenger to the Orioles for Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop and cash in July. You never know what s going to lie ahead, Holland said. I could go out there and have an unbelievable year and end up staying with Chicago and end up staying with Chicago and end up being a part of the process and what they re trying to do. Holland is with a 4.35 ERA in eight career seasons, his best in 2011 when he went 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA. He pitched a career high 213 innings with a career-best 3.42 ERA in 2013, but was limited to 37 innings in 2014 and 58 2/3 in He opened the 2016 season in the Rangers rotation, going 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in April before going on the disabled list on June 22 with left shoulder inflammation. Holland had other teams interest, most notably the Pirates. After talking to first-year Sox manager Rick Renteria and veteran pitching coach Don Cooper before signing, he said he felt wanted. Cooper has had a lot of success with some left-handers and getting them back to where they need to be, Holland said, and helping them be successful played a huge role in my decision to go forward.

7 Holland, who is expected to bring a likable, veteran presence to the Sox clubhouse, will continue to make his home in Dallas, where he has been active in the community with charity work to combat childhood leukemia. While on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, he shared that he was driving one of his five pet lizards to the vet. The Sox, whose trade of five-time All-Star left-hander Chris Sale to the Red Sox during the Winter Meetings last week started a rebuilding process, may not be done trading from a starting rotation which currently includes Jose Quintana, Miguel Gonzalez, Carlos Rodon and James Shields. Quintana is the most attractive trade piece on the Sox roster, with the Houston Astros perhaps in the best position to deal. The Astros, who would like to add one starter to their rotation, reportedly balked at a package of major-league right-hander Joe Musgrove plus prospects Kyle Tucker and Francis Martes for Quintana. Hahn says he s in no hurry to make more deals. Left-hander Matt Purke was designated for assignment to make room for Holland on the 40-man roster. Holland said the injuries were frustrating. But the main thing was being able to rebound each year and get myself better each time with the process. My knees are great. Everything is good. My shoulder has been getting better each year. I saw a few things and me and Cooper actually talked about it as well. I thought each year from the two shoulder injuries, I felt like progressed big-time with innings pitched and getting myself back to where I need to be. Obviously some of the results weren t the way I wanted them but the main thing was to get back on the field and be healthy. Why White Sox signed veteran starter Holland By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald December 14th, 2016 The Chicago White Sox have already traded veteran ace starting pitcher Chris Sale, to the Boston Red Sox for four prospects. The White Sox are also shopping No. 2 starter Jose Quintana, with the Houston Astros a possible destination. As the Sox launch a roster rebuild, they want to avoid rushing new starters Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Michael Kopech to the majors. That's a big reason why the White Sox signed veteran Derek Holland to a one-year, $6 million contract on Wednesday. "Derek gives us a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation." Holland, 30, has been injury-prone the last three years while pitching for the Texas Rangers. He was limited to 20 starts last season due to left shoulder inflammation and went 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA. If he can stay healthy, Holland can help his own future and also help the White Sox transition to a younger starting rotation.

8 "You never know what's going to lie ahead," Holland said. "I could go out there and have an unbelievable year and end up staying with Chicago and end up being a part of the process and what they're trying to do. "I know there's a strong group of guys there already. I've talked to a few of them, and I know that their mindset is to win. Obviously, they got rid of a few pieces, but the main thing is you've got to turn the page and train for what lies ahead." In eight major-league seasons, all with the Rangers, Holland is with a 4.35 ERA. From , he ranked among American League leaders in complete games (6), winning percentage (.644), wins (38), starts (92) and innings pitched (586⅓). Holland's best season came in 2011, when he went 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA. After stumbling last season while missing over two months with the shoulder issue, Holland is looking forward to working with longtime Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "Seeing Cooper has had a lot of success with some left-handers and getting them back to where they need to be and helping them be successful played a huge role in my decision," he said. Holland had an $11 million club option for 2017 but Texas exercised its $1.5 million buyout to make the pitcher a free agent. To clear a roster spot for Holland, the White Sox designated Matt Purke for assignment. In 12 relief appearances with the Sox last season, the left-hander was 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA. Is Derek Holland a risk worth taking for White Sox? By James Fegan / The Athletic December 15th, 2016 On a chilly day at then-u.s. Cellular Field in April, newly signed White Sox lefty Derek Holland toed the rubber for the Rangers in a 4-1 loss that capped off a three-game sweep for the White Sox. He managed to take the game into the seventh with just three runs allowed, but labored in a way that seemed unfamiliar, especially if your last good look at Holland was when he threw 8 1/3 shutout innings in Game 4 of the 2011 World Series. Cold weather and hard line drives struck right at defenders were better friends to him than any of his offspeed pitches, and even one of his best fastballs got turned around by Dioner Navarro for a no-doubter into the left field seats. After missing most of 2014 and 2015 with knee and shoulder injuries, the spark of a former top-40 prospect, and the architect of a dominant 213-inning campaign in 2013, was missing. April would actually prove to be one of the best months of Holland s 2016 season. After all, he was sitting at mph with his fastball, which was about two mph faster than where it would be after he missed all of July and most of August with more shoulder issues. He was also getting decently deep into games, before ending the season having accumulated just 105 1/3 innings over 20 starts with a 4.95 ERA. Brooks Baseball put Holland s average fastball at 93 mph for the season, a full two mph below where it sat at its peak in That s a normal amount of bleed for a major league pitcher, but is just another sobering detail for a guy who posted a career-worst 14.5 percent strikeout rate in So while the free agent pitching market is full of long shots, you d be forgiven if Holland is not the bet you d take. A three-year stretch of injuries amid steadily waning effectiveness looks a lot like a downward spiral. But the 2017 White Sox who spent last week shipping off their best pitcher and their position player for all of zero humans who will break camp with the big league club next spring did not hold a casting call for a Game 2 starter to make their decision to sign Holland. They looked for someone worth giving an

9 opportunity. Since Scott Merkin reported that Don Cooper has been part of the charge to bring in Holland from the start offseason, it s fair to deduce this is their chosen guy. Somewhere between Esteban Loaiza, Phil Humber and Miguel Gonzalez, the Sox have identified a pitching reclamation project or two. The last time Holland was a healthy pitcher, he was a very good pitcher, and he hasn t even been taught a cutter yet. In a weird wrinkle reflective of the vast gulf between last year s talent-rich free agent crop and this winter s wasteland, Holland s $6 million deal, which could jump up to $8 million if he hits 200 innings, will be the biggest free agent deal the Sox have made in two years. Removed from the AL Central arms race for the next couple seasons, these are the kinds of small risks they can take with their major league roster. It s too soon to think about Holland being a midseason trade chip to further stock the White Sox s already powerful farm system, but then again, maybe it isn t. Dreaming on potential, making grandiose plans; that s the game now on the South Side. White Sox sign lefty Derek Holland to one-year deal By Lauren Comitor / The Athletic December 14th, 2016 It had been a quiet week for the White Sox, who headlined last week s Winter Meetings with two blockbuster deals. But the Sox were back in action on Wednesday, signing left-handed starting pitcher Derek Holland to a one-year, $6 million deal. Holland started 20 games for the Texas Rangers in 2016, posting a 7-9 record with a 4.95 ERA, a 14.5 percent strikeout rate and a 7.6 percent walk rate. Holland missed part of June, all of July and most of August with shoulder inflammation. Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games, said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation. What big games is Hahn speaking of, you ask? Good question. Drafted by the Rangers in the 25th round in 2006, the 30-year-old Holland has a career 4.35 ERA and pitched in the team s 2010 and 2011 World Series losses. As it stands now, the White Sox rotation would be Holland, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, James Shields and Miguel Gonzalez, but after the White Sox traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton last week, it would be a surprise if Quintana were still a White Sox on opening day. White Sox sign Derek Holland to 1-year deal By James Neveau / NBC Chicago December 14th, 2016 The Chicago White Sox have made some big deals this winter, and they ve filled one of the gaps in their roster with a veteran hurler as they ve signed Derek Holland to a one-year contract. Holland, who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers, will make $6 million next season and is expected to slot into the starting rotation after the team traded away Chris Sale in a blockbuster swap at the MLB Winter Meetings. That isn t to say that Holland will be able to replace Sale s production. He did have a monstrous 2011 season with the Rangers, going 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA, but since then his career has been hampered with a series of shoulder issues. In 2016 he dealt with more arm issues as he went 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 20 starts with the Rangers. Holland s arrival not only means that one more roster spot will be filled in the post-sale rotation, but it also means that the White Sox can be patient with some of the young arms that they ve acquired.

10 Players like Carson Fulmer and Lucas Giolito are both projected to be starters at some point with the White Sox, but adding Holland means that those highly-touted players will have the pressure eased on them considerably. White Sox, LHP Derek Holland agree on 1-year deal By Staff / CBS Chicago December 14th, 2016 (CBS) The rebuilding White Sox made a move Wednesday to add to their rotation. Chicago and left-hander Derek Holland agreed to a one-year deal worth $6 million, the team announced. The 30-year-old Holland was 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 5.6 strikeouts/nine innings ratio with the Rangers in 2016, when he appeared in 22 games, making 20 starts. Derek gives a veteran, left-handed presence for our starting rotation with a proven track record of pitching well in big games, general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. This move provides us with additional depth and flexibility in the rotation. Holland has a career 4.35 ERA. Holland is expected to fill a rotation spot following the White Sox s trade of Chris Sale to the Red Sox and a new approach in which the organization is rebuilding, with a stockpile of young, talented arms still developing in the minor leagues. In November, the Rangers declined an $11 million option for 2017 on Holland, making him a free agent. Who and when will the very busy White Sox look to trade next? By Ken Rosenthal / FOX Sports December 14th, 2016 If the White Sox had their druthers, they probably would trade every veteran they could, immediately if not sooner. Their front office never has been shy, neither when buying nor selling. With both the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades, they were typically aggressive, bold and decisive. Here s the thing, though: The market will dictate the White Sox s next set of moves. Their plan, according to major-league sources, is the same as it was with Sale and Eaton: They will trade anyone, but only if they get their price. Maybe that happens this offseason with certain players Jose Quintana? David Robertson? but maybe not. If the White Sox hold Quintana, they can trade him at the non-waiver deadline or even next offseason, when he still will be under three years of control at a total cost of $29.35 million. Robertson, too, remains in demand; the Nationals, in particular, are looking for a closer, though they could turn to free agent Greg Holland or trade for the Athletics Sean Doolittle. Then again, Robertson finished last season strong, with a 1.64 ERA in his final 22 innings. If he builds upon that a decent enough possibility as he comes off surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee his value at the deadline could soar. Maybe not to Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller levels, but above where it is now. With others, the White Sox might have little choice but to wait.

11 Teams likely will not part with significant prospects for first baseman Jose Abreu when they still can buy a free agent such as Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo or Mike Napoli. The same is true with Melky Cabrera, considering the number of outfielders who still are available in trade and free agency. And few clubs need a third baseman such as Todd Frazier; the Dodgers reached agreement with Justin Turner on a surprisingly reasonable four-year, $64 million deal in part because the demand at the position was not all that high. The White Sox will be patient. Unless, as they showed with Sale and Eaton, they are compelled to make a move. THE BRAVES: NOT QUITE THERE The Braves are in a tricky spot. They appear eager to take a step forward in their first season at SunTrust Park. But their farm system, while considered exceptionally deep, was not quite mature enough for them to acquire Sale, and might not be mature enough for them to get, say, the Rays Chris Archer. Such a move hardly is necessary at this stage of the Braves rebuilding process, and might even be premature. On the other hand, the addition of a top-of-the-rotation starter to go with Julio Teheran would make the team that much more intriguing and add to the excitement of the SunTrust opening. A trade for Archer or another Rays pitcher still could happen the Braves and Rays have been talking for most of the offseason, sources say. But the Braves signed a number of veteran starters to one-year deals because their young pitchers were not ready to make an impact. Some rival clubs, meanwhile, view shortstop Dansby Swanson as the only Braves youngster who could "carry" a blockbuster trade. Braves officials dispute that assessment infielder Ozzie Albies, who won the Southern League batting title last season at age 19, is the No. 12 prospect in baseball according to MLBPipeline.com. Club officials also are high on the upside of the Braves bevy of young pitchers, even though some rival executives and prospect analysts view most of those pitchers as high-risk types with ceilings as mid-rotation starters. Time will tell; some prospects will exceed expectations, others will flame out. But a year from now, the Braves should be in better position to make firm evaluations on their youngsters and, if enough of those players progress, better position to get any big piece they need. EE TO ST. LOOIE? NOT SO FAST On the surface, the idea of the Cardinals signing Edwin Encarnacion seems inspired. Dig deeper, and the cracks start to show. If the Cardinals signed Encarnacion, it would cost them only a second-round pick; they already will forfeit the No. 18 overall selection for free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler. The addition of Encarnacion also would help restore the power the team will lose with the departures of Matt Holliday, Brandon Moss and Jeremy Hazelbaker, plus the reduction in playing time for Matt Adams with Matt Carpenter taking over first base. Problem is, Encarnacion was not a full-time first baseman with the Blue Jays, playing only 47 full games at the position last season and 34 the year before. So, as he turns 34, it s a stretch to imagine him playing say, 130 games at first in the National League. Mark Trumbo, who might be a better fit defensively, lacks Encarnacion s on-base skills and offensive track record. There are other complications, too.

12 The Cardinals, if they added a first baseman, would need to trade either second baseman Kolten Wong or third baseman Jhonny Peralta to clear another infield position for Carpenter. They do not want to move Wong, whom they consider pivotal to the improvement of their middle-infield defense. And they probably cannot trade Peralta without assuming a significant portion of his $10 million salary in So, the total cost of Encarnacion would be his contract which likely would be sizable even at a discounted rate plus a draft pick and the Peralta money. Too much for a player who belongs in the AL, and that s without even considering the effect on Carpenter. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak informed Carpenter earlier this offseason that he would be the full-time first baseman; Carpenter had 35 or more starts at first, second and third last season. The Cardinals want him to settle in at first he rates below-average at third and stop being a human yoyo. Bottom line: The Cardinals, if they signed Encarnacion, would create too many moving parts. Consider Jedd Gyorko, who led the team with 30 homers last season and figures to at least alternate with Peralta while also getting at-bats at the other three infield positions. The addition of another infielder would make Gyorko almost an afterthought. Wait a minute did the Nats really get robbed? Maybe not By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com December 14th, 2016 Last week's trade that sent Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox to the Washington Nationals for pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning was met with much criticism, with the belief that the Nationals gave up too much: Giolito is viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in the game, even after a rough initial trial in the majors. Lopez is a power-armed right-hander who struck out 126 in 109 1/3 innings in the upper minors in 2016 and 42 in 44 innings with the Nationals. Dunning was the 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of Florida. In return, the Nationals get five years of team control over Eaton at extremely team-friendly rates. If Eaton's 2020 and 2021 team options are exercised, the Nationals will end up paying $38.4 million for Eaton's ages seasons. Compare that to the recent contracts given to free-agent outfielders Dexter Fowler (five years, $82.5 million) and Ian Desmond (five years, $70 million), who are both older than and not as good as Eaton. Why did so many hate the trade for the Nationals? In part, it's because young players are so valuable due to their low salaries. In this case, however, it was mostly about Giolito's potential to develop into a Cy Young contender and Lopez's potential to develop into a rotation anchor. Here's what's interesting, however: This trade wasn't so shocking in one aspect, as teams appear more willing than ever to deal their top prospects. Eight of MLB.com's current top 20 prospects have been traded: 1. Yoan Moncada (Red Sox to White Sox) 3. Giolito (Nationals to White Sox) 4. Dansby Swanson (Diamondbacks to Braves)

13 13. Anderson Espinoza (Red Sox to Padres) 14. Lewis Brinson (Rangers to Brewers) 15. Clint Frazier (Indians to Yankees) 17. Gleyber Torres (Cubs to Yankees) 19. Willy Adames (Tigers to Rays) MLB.com usually reconfigures its list in late January, so maybe the order will change a bit and a couple of these guys will drop out of the top 20, but you get the idea: Prospects are hot currency these days, and teams are willing to deal that currency. Are front offices doing the right thing? I think so. Teams know their players better than anyone else. You can scout the player and analyze the statistics, but there is much that goes unseen outside the lines. The track record of teams trading away highly rated prospects is actually very good for the team and very poor for the players traded. I went back and looked through Baseball America's archive of top 100 prospects. You can get the all-time year-by-year rankings here. I picked a few years and separated the top 25 prospects into "kept" and "traded," with traded meaning the player was moved before he established himself in the major leagues. This is just a sample of four years, but it serves as a reasonable proxy in lieu of a more in-depth study. Notes: In general, you can see the risk involved with prospects. As much as we love them, a top-25 prospect doesn't automatically equate to a future All-Star (although Domonic Brown was an All-Star!). Jesus Montero, traded to the Mariners for Michael Pineda (after Pineda's rookie season) is one of the alltime great prospect flops, projected to hit like Miguel Cabrera when he didn't even hit like Melky Cabrera. Of the five prospects traded away, only Wil Myers has done much so far, though his career WAR is just 5.3 through four seasons. Mike Montgomery is with his fourth organization and might turn into a late bloomer. Notes: I did not include Francisco Liriano in the traded column, though he was traded from the Giants to the Twins while in Class A. He was just a throw-in in that trade and didn't become a top prospect until he blossomed in the Twins organization. Lastings Milledge had 391 plate appearances over parts of two seasons with the Mets before he was traded to the Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider, but I included him in the trade column. None of the four traded guys did much, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia the best of the bunch. The Rays traded Delmon Young after his rookie season, and that proved to be a fruitful deal for Tampa Bay, as it netted Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett for a player who compiled a mere 0.7 WAR post-trade. Certainly, there were some big hits in the keeper column, with Justin Verlander still going strong with the Tigers. Notes: Josh Hamilton is a special case here, as the Rays lost him to the Reds in the Rule 5 draft after he had missed three full seasons due to drug suspensions. Pena eventually found success in the majors, but only after the Rangers and A's both traded him and the Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox all released him. The bottom of this top-25 list is a "who's who" of failed prospects. The Cubs made a great trade in sending Choi to the Marlins for Derrek Lee. Perez, once part of the Ken Griffey Jr. trade with the Reds, was later traded with manager Lou Piniella to the Rays for Randy Winn in the rarely seen manager-player swap. Notes: Jason Schmidt went from the Braves to the Pirates for Denny Neagle, though he really blossomed with the Giants after he was traded for Ryan Vogelsong. Cruz was slugging.541 as a rookie for the Mariners in 1997 when they traded him, shockingly, to the Blue Jays for relievers Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric. The same day, Mariners general manager Woody Woodward traded Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb. That's a bad day. You can argue Cruz had already established himself, but I counted him in the traded column. Ruben Rivera was one of the great overhypes in prospect history. He

14 made the Baseball American top 100 list five times, including three times in the top 10. The Yankees traded him to the Padres in the Hideki Irabu deal. In this little study, we get 21 top-25 prospects who were traded. The success stories -- that is, success for the teams that acquired the prospects -- are Schmidt, Jose Cruz Jr. and maybe Myers. Hamilton and Carlos Pena don't really fit what we're talking about. There's another way to approach this. I checked the top 50 position players and top 50 pitchers from 2016 via FanGraphs WAR to see how many were traded as prospects. Here they are, with their peak prospect ratings from Baseball America. Position players Josh Donaldson (never a top-100 prospect): The A's acquired him from the Cubs as part of the Rich Harden trade. He blossomed in the majors after giving up catching. Justin Turner (never top-100): Drafted and traded by the Reds, Turner was let go by the Orioles and Mets before he signed with the Dodgers, with whom he went from backup infielder to $64 million third baseman. Anthony Rizzo (No. 47): The Red Sox traded him to the Padres in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, and the Cubs got him for Andrew Cashner. Jean Segura (No. 55): He went from the Angels to the Brewers for Zack Greinke. David Ortiz (No. 84): The Mariners traded him to the Twins for Dave Hollins in 1996, when he was a 20- year-old in Class A. Ortiz became a top-100 prospect before the 1998 season. Nelson Cruz (never top-100): Cruz was originally signed by the Mets. The Mets, A's and Brewers all traded him away as a minor leaguer, and the Rangers took him off their 40-man roster at one point. DJ LeMahieu (never top-100): This is one of the rare missteps by Theo Epstein's Cubs regime. In one of Theo's first moves, LeMahieu was traded to the Rockies with Tyler Colvin for Casey Weathers and Ian Stewart. Ben Zobrist (never top-100): The Rays stole him from the Astros for Aubrey Huff. Addison Russell (No. 3): Russell was part of the Jeff Samardzija trade between the A's and Cubs. Odubel Herrera (never top-100): He was not traded, but the Phillies got him from the Rangers in the Rule 5 draft. Wil Myers (No. 4): Royals GM Dayton Moore was ripped off in this trade with the Rays, but he got James Shields and Wade Davis, and Myers hasn't turned into a big star. Not including Herrera, 10 of the top 50 position players were traded as minor leaguers. Five of the 10 were never top-100 prospects. Only two were top-25 prospects. Pitchers Noah Syndergaard (No. 11): Syndergaard was the No. 54 prospect when the Mets got him from the Blue Jays. Corey Kluber (never top-100): He was part of a three-way deal in which the Indians traded Jake Westbrook.

15 Jose Quintana (never top-100): The White Sox signed him as a minor league free agent from the Yankees. Kyle Hendricks (never top-100): The Cubs acquired Hendricks from the Rangers for Ryan Dempster. Tanner Roark (never top-100): The Nats acquired Roark from the Rangers for Cristian Guzman. Chris Archer (No. 27): Originally drafted by the Indians, Archer went to the Cubs for Mark DeRosa and then to the Rays as part of the Garza trade. Collin McHugh (never top-100): The Mets traded him to the Rockies, and the Astros acquired him off waivers from the Rockies. Robbie Ray (No. 97): Ray went from the Nationals to the Tigers in the Doug Fister deal and then to the Diamondbacks in a three-way trade in which Arizona gave up Didi Gregorius. Marco Estrada (never top-100): Estrada was drafted by the Nationals, and the Brewers got him on waivers. Drew Pomeranz (No. 30): The Indians drafted him fifth overall in 2010 and traded him to the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez the next summer. Michael Fulmer (No. 47): The Tigers acquired Fulmer from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes. Adam Wainwright (No. 18): Remember the J.D. Drew trade? Wainwright peaked at No. 18 but had fallen to No. 49 when the Cardinals got him. Jerad Eickhoff (never top-100): Eickhoff was part of the Cole Hamels trade between the Phillies and Rangers last year. Gio Gonzalez (No. 26): He went from the White Sox to the Phillies back to the White Sox and finally reached the majors with the A's, who got him in the Nick Swisher trade. We end up with 14 pitchers on our list, seven of whom were never regarded as top-100 prospects and only two of whom -- Syndergaard and Wainwright -- were top-25 guys. Odds are, however, that the Nationals will win this trade. I'd bet on GM Mike Rizzo and his staff making the correct evaluation on Giolito and Lopez over the industry's evaluation. The takeaway here is not that teams should always trade their prospects but that they should know which prospects to trade, and history suggests front offices are pretty good at evaluating their own prospects. That's why I have suggested that front offices have to be bold, as Rizzo just was for the Nationals. You're more likely to find a future star in a hidden gem such as Donaldson or Zobrist or Quintana or Hendricks than you are to acquire one via trading for a prized prospect. Of course, it's possible the White Sox just acquired the next Syndergaard and Wainwright. If that's the case, the Nationals will regret the trade -- unless, of course, Eaton helps deliver a World Series title. As Sale trade unfolded, players involved could only stand by By Alex Speier / Boston Globe December 14th, 2016 It was a night of celebration. On Sunday, Dec. 4, Yoan Moncada arrived at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings for an awards banquet where he would be recognized as the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year.

16 A trio of Red Sox officials including assistant GM Eddie Romero, who d been in charge of Moncada s signing process sat with Moncada, who was also joined by David and Jo Hastings, who serve both as Moncada s agents and, informally, as surrogate parents for him in the States. David Hastings passed Moncada cue cards to help him deliver a brief thank you for the award in English, mindful that Moncada had frozen when trying to deliver brief remarks in English while accepting another award 11 months earlier in Boston. As Moncada prepared to accept his award, he left the cue cards behind. I got this, he told the Hastings, before thanking Baseball America and the Red Sox organization in remarks he d rehearsed several times in the preceding days. When Moncada returned to the table, he was beaming with a sense of accomplishment following what would prove his final official act as a Red Sox. He was unaware that talks were already underway that would soon ship him out of the organization as the centerpiece of a deal that brought Chris Sale to Boston. While making the deal that sent Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz was a tense, restless time for the principals involved in the deal, for the players, it represented a less certain exercise, and one of greater upheaval. After all, the players had no control over their unfolding futures, leaving them as spectators to the drama. Moreover, when the dust settles, the front office members will go back to familiar homes and offices. The players must contemplate life in new, unfamiliar cities, with new, unfamiliar teammates and radically different circumstances. The days surrounding a trade represent a time of chaos and change sometimes dismaying, sometimes exhilarating in the lives of the players who change clubs. That is particularly true for prospects who have not yet been subjected to the realities of baseball as a business, and who have spent all of their time in professional baseball daydreaming of a future with the team with which they signed their first contracts. He was told, We think you re going to be the face of the franchise. You re going to have a long career with Boston. To have this happen, it s shocking, said Hastings. We had heard that there were rumors. Nothing came out of Boston. It was just rumors that they were interested in Sale and Yoan might be included in the deal. All we did was, we went to Yoan and told him about the rumor, and we also told him that whatever happens, baseball is a business, and probably in his career, he s going to be traded. If it happens, it s not about him, don t take this personally. I didn t believe what I was saying, that there was any possibility that he d be traded, but I took the opportunity to calm him down because he d heard it. He was like, Why would they do this? Why are they talking about this? At least we had the opportunity to soften the blow when it finally came down. Kopech, meanwhile, was at a workout facility in East Texas as rumors of a trade to the White Sox started to intensify last Tuesday. He stepped into a cryotherapy room for three minutes at the conclusion of the workout. He stepped out of that room into a new professional life. All of my buddies were standing there and smiling at me. I asked them what was going on, and they told me I d been traded, said Kopech. The first we heard about it was through Twitter. Then my girlfriend called me not even 20 seconds after I found out. I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, hold on a second. I hung up on her. I felt kind of bad about that, but I was trying to figure out everything that was going on. I actually didn t get a call that everything had been finalized for a few hours.