WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF DECEMBER

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF DECEMBER 6, 2016 For Hahn and White Sox, patience a virtue Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox dismiss concerns about Sale Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox contribute 3 items to Play Ball auction Scott Merkin, MLB.com Nationals shopping for big Sale? Scott Merkin and Jamal Collier, MLB.com Star power: 30 players confirmed for Classic Chad Thornburg, MLB.com Despite Chris Sale rumors, White Sox say they have contingencies in place for a rebuild Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf knows it will be very hard to trade Chris Sale Chuck Garfien, CSN Chicago Jose Quintana to play for Colombia in 2017 World Baseball Classic Staff, CSN Chicago Report: Talks surrounding Chris Sale intensifying between White Sox, Nationals #WhiteSoxTalk, CSN Chicago White Sox talks on trading Chris Sale to Nationals reportedly heat up Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune White Sox s Jose Quintana accepts World Baseball Classic invite Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune Hahn on White Sox rebuild: We know what we want to do Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Chris Sale trade not without risks for both sides Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Are White Sox close to trading Sale to Nationals? Scot Gregor, Daily Herald White Sox on right track early at Winter Meetings James Fegan, The Athletic Levine: White Sox have had serious Chris Sale discussions with 6 clubs Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Winter Meetings Preview: 5 players the White Sox could trade James Neveau, NBC Chicago MLB Hot Stove: White Sox, Nats reportedly negotiating final pieces of Chris Sale trade Mike Axisa, CBS Sports GM: White Sox in no rush to deal Chris Sale despite intent to rebuild Jesse Rogers, ESPN.com Source: White Sox, Nationals in advanced talks on Chris Sale trade Staff, ESPN.com The 10 most fascinating players of baseball s Winter Meetings Mike Oz, Yahoo Sports Winter Meetings roundup: Andrew McCutchen, Chris Sale trade rumors sizzle Jon Tayler, Sports Illustrated For Hahn and White Sox, patience a virtue By Scott Merkin / MLB.com December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The word rebuild was never specifically used by White Sox general manager Rick Hahn during his 16-minute media session at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center during baseball's Winter Meetings on Monday night, but with the fairly detailed explanation he provided for each question, there's little doubt the organization is changing its approach to constructing the team. "It's been an interesting few weeks leading up to this. All you have to do is type 'White Sox rumors' into Twitter and you can see all sorts of interesting ideas being floated about," said a smiling Hahn, who admitted that some of the rumors made a little more sense than others. "We are approaching this with a wide-open frame of mind and having a number of interesting conversations on different fronts. "We are pretty confident about what we want to try to accomplish and how that's going to unfold. Again, our focus is on the long-term. It's fairly clear how this process is going to take place. Until we start making actual trades, it's a little harder to explain why a certain move was made."

2 Teams have been asking about White Sox ace Chris Sale since at least the last non-waiver Trade Deadline. A few national reports on Monday pointed to the Nationals as one group going strong after the five-time American League All-Star, although Washington is not willing to part with outfielder/infielder Trea Turner, a supreme talent who happens to be a former North Carolina State teammate and good friend of White Sox hurler Carlos Rodon. Rodon is one of the few players on the roster who most likely won't be made available during the upcoming weeks. The example of Sale points to an interesting offshoot of this new approach: The White Sox can't settle for anything short of what they perceive as completely fair value in the case of a perennial Cy Young contender who is controlled for three years at $38 million total via two team options. This is a process the White Sox don't have to win from trade to trade, per Hahn. It's also one in which patience becomes a virtue as the South Siders try to amass controllable talent. "These players fit on all 30 teams, and I purposely say 'all 30' because that includes us," said Hahn, referencing Sale and Jose Quintana. "The young, premium talent, controlled for a number of years and affordable, is the kind of thing we're looking for. "But we need to reshuffle our mix and make sure we get more of those than we currently have going forward. It's essential that we bring back volume, that we bring back players we feel we can project to have similar impact beyond perhaps even what we currently have. It's absolutely a focus of ours. "It's not something that's necessarily going to happen overnight. It's not something that I would expect to be completed [in its entirety] while we are here," added Hahn, who mentioned interest talks with other clubs and in the White Sox suite concerning potential acquisitions. "It's going to be a process potentially that takes some time." White Sox fans support a rebuild, Hahn said, evidenced by his small sample size of voic s and e- mails, even with the potential for a lean year or two. "We're trying to do this for the long-term," he said. "If in the short-term there's potentially some hardship along the way, we know that's the natural price you pay." White Sox dismiss concerns about Sale By Scott Merkin / MLB.com December 6th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Any concerns regarding Chris Sale's pitching mechanics or worries that the five-time All-Star with the wild delivery might eventually break down certainly aren't coming from the White Sox, as explained by general manager Rick Hahn at baseball's Winter Meetings on Monday. "On our side? No. No. No. Come on," said Hahn. "Did you see what this guy has done in our uniform over the years? "We're as excited to have Chris Sale in our uniform today as the day we drafted him. We realize this is an elite-level talent, a rare commodity in this league and a great, great competitor. No." An ESPN.com report, citing sources, stated that some corners of the White Sox organization are pushed by concerns of trading Sale when he still has optimal value because of the breakdown factor. But Sale, 27, is coming off a season in which he went with a 3.34 ERA over 32 starts. He fanned 233 over 226 2/3 innings, a career high for innings pitched, and he has thrown at least 200 innings in three of his last four seasons. Even so, according to a report by MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals now have a "legitimate chance" of acquiring Sale and are negotiating the final pieces of a trade. An industry source

3 told MLB.com that a trade was not likely to be finished overnight Monday into Tuesday, and neither club confirmed that a preliminary deal was in place. The two sides are closer than they were entering this week's Winter Meetings, with Washington reportedly willing to part with two of its top prospects, righthanded starter Lucas Giolito and outfielder Victor Robles, as part of a package. Garcia, Lawrie in the mix Some fans were surprised when the arbitration-eligible Brett Lawrie and Avisail Garcia returned to the White Sox via one-year deals for $3.5 million and $3 million, respectively. Lawrie, the starting second baseman for the first 95 games last season before injury shut him down, earned $4.125 million in "Brett still provides us with the versatility he had last year," said Hahn of the high-energy right-handed hitter. "When we acquired him, we talked about the potential of him playing second or third. "Right now he fits in as a second baseman in that mix with [Tyler Saladino] and [Carlos Sanchez], and as this offseason unfolds, we'll see if there's other opportunities for him on the diamond. We like the cost. We like the fit. We like the energy he brings, and we felt it was worth having him around." Outfielder Garcia, 25, has an abundance of talent, but through 1,551 career plate appearances and 409 games, he has yet to reach that potential either offensively or defensively. "You look at Avi and he's still young, he still has that upside," Hahn said. "But he's also gotten to the point where he knows he needs to show it to start capitalizing on that ability. "The kid works as hard as anybody and wants to be great. But he knows... he's gotten to this point where he's gotten this opportunity with us potentially in 2017 and its time to start fulfilling some of that promise." Quintana to the WBC Ever since Colombia qualified for its first World Baseball Classic, All-Star pitcher Jose Quintana has expressed a desire to play for his country in the 2017 competition. "I'm ready for them if they need me," Quintana told MLB.com. That wish became official on Monday, when Quintana was announced as part of Team Colombia's roster. Colombia plays in Pool C in Miami with the U.S., the Dominican Republic and Canada. "When Colombia won the qualifier last spring, I saw Jose the next morning with a big smile on his face, and he told me he wasn't going to be here next March," Hahn said. "It's great for him, and I know he takes a great deal of pride. It's great to see him getting the recognition and playing a role for his country." White Sox contribute 3 items to Play Ball auction By Scott Merkin / MLB.com December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- When Shannon Forde passed away during Spring Training 2016, then- White Sox manager Robin Ventura paid heartfelt tribute to his friend. "It breaks your heart. Married, with two young kids. She was just a sweet person," said Ventura, who played for the Mets from 1999 to 2001 and got to know Forde, New York's senior director of media relations, who passed away at 44 after a long battle with breast cancer. "You deal with so many people within your organization, but you know, even when you are gone from the Mets, you are still keeping in touch, and it just breaks your heart," Ventura said. "I know my family is very sad about it. She was great to us." Those great memories of Forde live on, with the Mets the focus of Major League Baseball's annual "Play Ball" auction initiative. MLB and all 30 clubs are participating, and this year's proceeds will benefit youth

4 baseball and softball in Little Ferry, N.J., Forde's hometown, and the funds will help in renovating and rededicating a field in her name. The White Sox have contributed three items. One winner and two guests will play a round of golf with White Sox great Harold Baines, whose game on the links is comparable to his high level of play on the diamond. Another winner will enjoy a VIP Spring Training experience at Camelback Ranch, an experience designed for four guests. And another experience allows the winner to be a VIP for a day during a 2017 regularseason contest. These items, along with many others, can be found at MLB.com/Shannon. The auction ends on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT. Nationals shopping for big Sale? Prospects Giolito, Robles would be fit for White Sox ace By Scott Merkin and Jamal Collier / MLB.com December 6th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Meet the new White Sox, who could soon bear little resemblance to the old White Sox. And the South Siders' move into a full rebuild could become the Nationals' gain. According to a report by MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals now have a "legitimate chance" of acquiring White Sox ace Chris Sale and are negotiating the final pieces of a trade. An industry source told MLB.com that a trade was not likely to be finished overnight Monday into Tuesday, and neither club confirmed that a preliminary deal was in place. The two sides are closer than they were entering this week's Winter Meetings, with Washington reportedly willing to part with two of its top prospects, right-handed starter Lucas Giolito and outfielder Victor Robles, as part of a package. Sale, 27, stands as one of the game's best starters and has found consistent success while working in one of baseball's best hitters' ballparks. The five-time All-Star posted a record, a 3.34 ERA and a Major League-best six complete games over a career-best 226 2/3 innings last season. His average velocity dipped from 94.5 mph in '15 to 92.8 mph this past season, per Fangraphs, but Sale took the focus off trying to throw every pitch through the catcher and strike out every hitter, becoming more of a pitcher and less of a thrower. Sale is owed $12 million in 2017 and $38 million over the next three seasons if club options in '18 and '19 are enacted. Many believe that Sale, due to his immense talent and team-friendly contract, would command an elite return, such as the Nationals' Trea Turner, but a source described Turner as close to untouchable and almost certain to be held out of any deal. Giolito is ranked as the game's No. 3 overall prospect by MLBPipeline.com. The top prospect in baseball following the 2015 season, Giolito may then have been the untouchable commodity that Turner is today. But Giolito struggled in his first taste of the Majors this year and his velocity was a bit down from its heights in the Minors and scouting reports. Giolito, 22, made six appearances (four starts) with Washington in 2016, but the Nationals still view him as a future front-of-the-rotation pitcher. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo spoke earlier Monday about Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, the team's No. 3 prospect and a fellow young right-handed starter. "I thought their stuff was outstanding," Rizzo said. "They are still two of the brightest prospects in all of baseball. They're guys that we're going to count on both in 2017 and beyond. They're elite prospects in

5 the game right now. In the very near future, these elite prospects will become viable Major League commodities for us, and I think those two guys are going to have good, long careers." The 19-year-old Robles has the potential to flash five-tool talent, but he's still roughly two years away from the Majors. In giving up these top prospects, however, the Nationals would be able to add Sale to a rotation that already includes reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, who has struck out 10.6 batters per nine innings and posted a 3.17 ERA through 924 1/3 career innings. Much like a top high school recruit being wooed by potential colleges, the Nationals aren't the lone team interested in Sale. The Astros and potentially the Braves and Red Sox could be looking for a starter upgrade and have the high-end prospects required to negotiate with the White Sox. The White Sox were quick on Monday night to dismiss an ESPN.com report that cited sources and indicated the club may be motivated to move Sale because of concerns about his long-term durability. "On our side? No. No. No. Come on," Chicago general manager Rick Hahn said of Sale, who has excelled despite his non-traditional mechanics. "Did you see what this guy has done in our uniform over the years? "We're as excited to have Chris Sale in our uniform today as the day we drafted him. We realize this is an elite-level talent, a rare commodity in this league and a great, great competitor. No." If interested teams are unable to complete a deal for Sale, they could turn to acquiring Jose Quintana. The 27-year-old southpaw is coming off his first All-Star campaign and has posted four straight seasons of at least 200 innings pitched and an ERA below By moving both Sale and Quintana, the White Sox would figure to net six or seven significant prospects in an attempt to boost their system, which is improved but still lacking depth, and set themselves up for future years of success. Star power: 30 players confirmed for Classic By Chad Thornburg / MLB.com December 5th, 2016 With the World Baseball Classic just a few months away, the rosters are beginning to take shape. More names surfaced Monday as the World Baseball Classic released an initial list of 30 players who are confirmed to be participating in the 2017 tournament. Spanning 16 countries, the players include 24 Major League All-Stars, but the upcoming WBC, which will take place in March, provides a global stage for veterans and rising stars alike. In addition to a number of MLB mainstays with well-decorated resumes -- stars such as Andrew McCutchen, Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer -- some of the game's promising young talent will be on display as several big leaguers age 25 or younger will represent their countries, including Puerto Rico's Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez; the Dominican Republic's Manny Machado; Mexico's Roberto Osuna; the United States' Nolan Arenado; and the Netherlands' Xander Bogaerts. Other confirmed players are Canada's Russell Martin; Colombia's Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran; the Dominican Republic's Adrian Beltre, Dellin Betances, Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz; Mexico's Adrian Gonzalez and Oliver Perez; the Netherlands' Jonathan Schoop and Andrelton Simmons; Puerto Rico's Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina; the United States' Chris Archer, Adam Jones and Buster Posey; and Venezuela's Jose Altuve, Carlos Gonzalez, Felix Hernandez and Salvador Perez. This year's WBC begins March 6, and games will be played in Guadalajara, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Miami; and San Diego, with the championship round taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles from March

6 This will be the fourth installment of the international tournament, which was first played in Japan won the first two iterations in '06 and '09, while the Dominican Republic won most recently in '13. The U.S. hasn't finished better than fourth ('09). Despite Chris Sale rumors, White Sox say they have contingencies in place for a rebuild By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. Though the majority of reports Monday suggested Chris Sale would be the first piece to go in a potential rebuild, the White Sox say they have many contingencies. The five-time All-Star pitcher was one of the hottest topics on the rumor mill at the first day of the Winter Meetings on Monday and figures to be all week. Tied to numerous teams either vying for his services or reportedly dropping out because of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf s high-asking price of four can t-miss prospects, the pursuit of Sale already has been established as one of the offseason s top stories to follow. But general manager Rick Hahn whose phone has constantly been recharging after what he describes as an interesting few weeks said the White Sox aren t limited to one major move to get their offseason underway. As long as someone pays up, the White Sox could deal any one of several players from a top-heavy and talented roster. What we are looking to do is deals that put ourselves in the strongest position possible for the long term and there s no need for Player X to move before Player Y if we get to the right price point on any given deal, Hahn said. Hahn continued to make it perfectly clear Monday that the White Sox are interested in long-term moves. The days of quick fixes appear to be over with the hope being that a dramatic paradigm shift could one day prevent the franchise from enduring another eight-year long playoff drought. The White Sox want to one day be able to provide sound replacements from within their own farm system, something Hahn has preached for years, but hasn t yet been able to attain. Hahn said he s encouraged about the potential returns from other teams and the prospect of reloading a thin farm system by trading several of the talented pieces from his roster. But by no means would the direction the White Sox take be held up by one trade in particular. Given the White Sox have few bad contracts on the books, the team isn t at a disadvantage of being in a position where it must trade Sale or Jose Quintana. If the White Sox deal either one of their All-Star pitchers or Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton or anyone else, it would only be after they feel their price has been met. I think what we are looking to do is put ourselves in a position for extended success, Hahn said. The means for us to do that is by acquiring as much impact, controllable talent as we can over an extended period and continuing the efforts to build us up internationally and through the draft and adding to that potentially via trade. It s not something that s necessarily going to happen over night. It s not something that I would expect to be completed while we are here in its entirety. It s going to be a process potentially that takes some time. We have alternatives in mind and alternative routes for putting the club together. We are pretty confident about what we want to try to accomplish and how that s going to unfold. We don t want to be caught in between. But again, we re not going to force that seven things have to get done or it s not worth doing one. It s a process.

7 White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf knows it will be very hard to trade Chris Sale By Chuck Garfien / CSN Chicago December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. The baseball world has come to suburban DC for the winter meetings. In a hotel just steps away from the Potomac River, the White Sox are holding onto the biggest fish available. But trading their ace Chris Sale might be tougher than it seems because of the White Sox steep asking price. Will any team meet their demands? That s the question. "You have to have four prospects who can t possibly miss to get one," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told CSN. "I ve seen so many players over the years who were going to be phenoms, they were going to be future Hall of Famers, and we don t even remember what their names are anymore. That s why when you re trading a player of stature you ve got to get multiple can t-miss prospects back. That s why it makes it tough to trade a player of great stature." With the meetings in their hometown this year, the Washington Nationals could make quite the splash by acquiring Sale, which would give them a dominating 1-2 punch with Sale and Max Scherzer, not to mention Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals have the pieces to pull off such a deal, but they ve reportedly been unwilling to trade their top prospect, Trea Turner, a 23-year-old who slashed.342/.370/.567 in 307 at-bats after getting called up last season. He can play second base, shortstop and center field. Oh, and he also stole 33 bases. But Sale is no slouch himself. He s finished in the top six in AL Cy Young voting in each of the last five seasons. And then there's his salary. He s owed $12 million for 2017, with club options for each of the following two seasons at $12.5 million and $13.5 million. That s three years for $38 million. Compare that with top free-agent pitcher Rich Hill, who is 10 years older than Sale and reportedly got a three-year, $48 million contract when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. This is one of the weakest free-agent classes for starting pitchers we ve ever seen. On the surface, the White Sox hold all the cards. But so far teams are holding onto their top prospects like gold and have been unwilling to deal them even for one of the best pitchers in the game. Knowing what Sale has meant to the franchise, Reinsdorf admitted "it will be very hard to trade him." For it to happen, the White Sox don t sound like they are willing to put Sale in the clearance section. "We d have to really feel we were coming back with a lot of goods, a lot of merchandise," Reinsdorf said. But for the first time, the White Sox are open to trading Sale, an idea few could fathom a year ago. "I ve said it many, many times, I ve only had one player that couldn t be traded (Michael Jordan), and the only reason he couldn t be traded was that I would have been shot dead the day after, Reinsdorf said. We love our players, and we want our players when their careers are over to say that 'the best place I played was with the White Sox.' But again our obligation is to the fans to make our teams as good as we can make them, and we have to look at the players basically as assets and if we can make a team better by trading somebody no matter how much we love the guy, we have to go ahead and do it. "Having said that, I don t know what s going to happen here."

8 Jose Quintana to play for Colombia in 2017 World Baseball Classic By Staff / CSN Chicago December 5th, 2016 White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana will represent his native Colombia in next year's World Baseball Classic. Major League Baseball announced Monday a list of 30 players who are already confirmed for the 2017 edition of the event, and Quintana was among the 24 All Stars on that list. Quintana joins fellow Colombian Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves on that country's squad. The rest of the rosters will be officially announced as the tournament gets closer. Quintana was named to his first All-Star team this past season. He finished the 2016 campaign with career bests in wins (13), ERA (3.20), innings (208) and strikeouts (181) Report: Talks surrounding Chris Sale intensifying between White Sox, Nationals By #WhiteSoxTalk / CSN Chicago December 5th, 2016 The White Sox haven't wavered on their asking price for Chris Sale, and their patience may be paying off. According to FOX's Ken Rosenthal, trade talks surrounding Sale are intensifying between the White Sox and Nationals that would likely include Washington's two top prospects in RHP Lucas Giolito and OF Victor Robles. Despite the trade chatter heating up, a source told CSN's Chuck Garfien that the White Sox aren't close to a deal and continue to talk with other teams regarding the White Sox ace. In an exclusive interview with CSN earlier on Monday, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said trading Sale would be 'very hard' on multiple levels, particularly being satisfied with the package coming back. Perhaps it's only a matter a time before Sale gets traded, but the White Sox have made it clear they won't make a deal unless they're maximizing their return. White Sox talks on trading Chris Sale to Nationals reportedly heat up By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune December 5th, 2016 White Sox general manager Rick Hahn joked Monday that he always feels like a popular guy, but he undoubtedly has the baseball world's attention this week. A potential blockbuster trade involving ace left-hander Chris Sale was among the biggest topics as executives and agents gathered Monday for the first day of the winter meetings. With the Sox looking to alter course from their pieced-together hopes for contention of the last several years, it appears nearly every player on their roster could be up for discussion in trade talks, including the five-time All-Star. Multiple reports indicate the Sox are in advanced discussions with the Nationals about Sale, though National League Rookie of the Year finalist Trea Turner is said to be off limits. ESPN reported the Nationals have offered two prospects ranked in MLB.com's top 10: right-hander Lucas Giolito (No. 3) and outfielder Victor Robles (No. 10). The Nationals also have the No. 37-rated prospect in right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.

9 The Red Sox who also boast a load of young talent Astros and Braves are among other teams said to be interested in Sale. Hahn stressed that for players such as Sale and left-hander Jose Quintana, 2016 All-Stars who have two of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball, to be dealt the Sox must be certain they bring the right return. "These players fit on all 30 teams, and I purposely say all 30 because that includes us," Hahn said. "The young, premium talent, controlled for a number of years and affordable, is the kind of thing we're looking for. We need to make sure we get more of those than we currently have. "It's essential that we bring back volume, that we bring back players we feel we can project to have similar impact beyond perhaps even what we currently have." Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told CSN Chicago that trading a player such as Sale would be "very hard" and requires multiple "can't-miss" prospects, with the idea that not all of them will fulfill that promise. Hahn said the Sox approach potential deals with a line they can't fall below in terms of the return, but he said "winning" the trade isn't a necessity. "There isn't any added benefit for us feeling like we did really well and the other club comes out looking really bad," Hahn said. "We care about what we wind up with in the exchange." Hahn balked at an ESPN report that some in the organization want to move Sale because of fears of an eventual physical breakdown. Sale's unorthodox delivery has invited such talk since the Sox drafted him in 2010, but he pitched a career-high 226 2/3 innings in "Come on," Hahn said. "Did you see what this guy has done in our uniform over the years? We're as excited to have Chris Sale in our uniform today as the day we drafted him. And (we) realize this is an elite-level talent, a rare commodity in this league and a great, great competitor." Sale and Quintana aren't the only players the Sox can put on the block. Third baseman Todd Frazier, closer David Robertson and outfielders Melky Cabrera and Adam Eaton also could be up for sale. White Sox s Jose Quintana accepts World Baseball Classic invite By Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune December 5th, 2016 Chicago White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana will pitch for his native Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic this spring. The WBC released a list of 30 players who confirmed they will play in the tournament involving 16 countries. Among the players included is Chicago Cubs' infielder Javier Baez, whose participation was confirmed by a Team Puerto Rico official last week. WBC play starts March 6 at four sites, with the final round held March at Dodger Stadium. Hahn on White Sox rebuild: We know what we want to do By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. Without specifically using the R word on the first day of baseball s Winter Meetings, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn made it quite clear Monday the White Sox are in rebuilding mode and that ace Chris Sale tops the long list of players on the trading block.

10 We know what we want to do, Hahn said. We have known all along what we wanted to accomplish. That means, after four straight years of losing and being mired in mediocrity, as Hahn put it this summer, Sox fans should prepare to get bogged down in a notch or more below mediocre for a couple of years while the young players Hahn hopes to acquire turn a corner and put the franchise on better footing. That could start with Sale and possibly a trade to the Washington Nationals and their aggressive GM Mike Rizzo, who were known to be in accelerated pursuit Monday night. Outfielder Victor Robles and right-hander Lucas Giolito, ranked first and second among Nats prospects by MLB.com, might be in a package that would include more players and prospects. If you have a plan, said Hahn, speaking openly about Sale while discussing what the Sox want to accomplish this offseason, and you articulate it clearly [to fans]. Certainly in our city it s easy for them to see the fruits of those hardships on the other side of town. I think people would understand that. For those living under a rock, the Cubs underwent a painful rebuild that produced a World Series championship, the first in town since the Sox won it all in The Sox, though, have made the postseason only once since then. And so the time is now for a new plan. To get it off the ground in a big way, Hahn knows he can use a potential mother lode in Sale for a return of prospects or young major league ready players. If fellow GMs here are testing him to see if he will back off a steep price that is set, he says they re wasting their time. The Sox know what they want and won t cave in the heat of the negotiation or an environment like this where there is a bit of a fever pitch to make moves. Otherwise you are compromising too much in terms of the value, he said. Other GMs here are predicting Sale won t be moved this week because of that. Hahn wouldn t be surprised, either. It s conceivable, he said. We ve had a lot of really productive conversations. Both leading up to getting here last night as well as since we ve been here. It could come quick on certain fronts or it may well be a thing that takes us through the holidays. The Sox are encouraged about the quality of players who have been discussed. On the other hand, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, 80, has seen enough young phenoms come and go over the years to know the risks as well. That s why when you re trading a player of stature you ve got to get multiple can t-miss prospects back, Reinsdorf said in an interview with CSN Chicago s Chuck Garfien. That s why it makes it tough to trade a player of great stature. Sale likely won t be the only one, and he doesn t have to be the first to go for others to fall in line, Hahn said. Left-hander Jose Quintana is also a possibility, and if he and Sale are that means everyone is. In explaining why second baseman Brett Lawrie was re-signed over the weekend, Hahn pointed to Lawrie s flexibility to play third base which might suggest Todd Frazier, who becomes a free agent after next season, will be playing for another team. We are pretty confident about what we want to try to accomplish and how that s going to unfold, Hahn said.

11 Chris Sale trade not without risks for both sides By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. It seems more a matter of when, not if, Chris Sale will be traded by the White Sox, with the Sox more open to the idea than ever here at baseball s Winter Meetings. The best path to fielding a winner has been identified as a rebuild rather than going for it now as the Sox have in recent years. But it takes two to tango, and whether another team is willing to meet the Sox steep asking price for their five-time All-Star left-hander is the question of the week. The Nationals are interested, but supposedly not for top middle infield prospect Trea Turner, 23. The Braves are, too, but they ve indicated stud 22-yearold middle infielder Dansby Swanson is off limits. The Sox would want Red Sox prized infield prospect Yoan Moncada or outfielder Andrew Benintendi in a package. While those teams and others could package four top-100 prospects in a deal for Sale in a quantity-forproven-quality exchange for a Sox organization lacking in depth, such dice rolls make chairman Jerry Reinsdorf a bit skittish. I ve seen so many players over the years who were going to be phenoms, they were going to be future Hall of Famers, and we don t even remember what their names are anymore, Reinsdorf told CSN Chicago s Chuck Garfien here on the first full day of the meetings. That s why when you re trading a player of stature you ve got to get multiple can t-miss prospects back. That s why it makes it tough to trade a player of great stature. Reinsdorf said it would take four prospects that can t miss, a big request at a time when prospects are held in higher regard as valued chips more than ever. Sale is a proven sure thing, and yet whispers and texts floating around the Gaylord National Resort brought back to light the worry the left-hander s delivery might be of some concern to potential trade partners, even though Sale has had minimal health issues since the Sox drafted him in the first round of the 2010 draft. Some suspect that talk is an effort to knock the price down. In any event, not everyone shares concerns about Sale s durability. Nope, he s a genetic freak, said a veteran evaluator from outside the Sox organization who scouted Sale in college. As long as he doesn t hurt his legs, that s who he is. Just a freak. The reason they were able to get him [13th overall in the 2010 draft] where they got him was because of [his delivery]. Everybody predicted that from the moment they saw him. I saw him pitch [in college] and it s the same delivery he s got today. I m not a doctor but when you re able to do things throwing-wise, keeping your hand on top of the ball at all times and that s how you ve been throwing since you were a little kid I m not predicting any blowouts. In the end, with a Sale-for-prospects deal there is risk on both sides as with any trade. But only the first year of the remaining three on Sale s team-friendly contract ($12 million in 2017, $12.5 million in 18, $15 million in 19) is guaranteed with the club holding options on the last two years, so how great a risk can Sale be? Absolutely [he is a risk for injury], a veteran American League scout said. Although it s really hard to predict, as you know. But when you consider his [lanky] build, and the uniqueness of his delivery I would use Tim Lincecum as the most recent comparable. Great right out of the chute and held it for fivesix years. But when his small build and unique delivery caught up with him he fell off quick. Sale is getting around Lincecum territory but let s be honest, in the end we just don t know.

12 Sox general manager Rick Hahn said there are no concerns in the Sox camp about Sale s durability. No. No, he said Monday. Come on. Did you see what this guy has done in our uniform over the years? We re as excited to have Chris Sale in our uniform today as the day we drafted him. And realize this is an elite-level talent, a rare commodity in this league and a great, great competitor. Are White Sox close to trading Sale to Nationals? By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald December 5th, 2016 As expected, the Chicago White Sox were a very popular team as baseball's winter meetings got rolling in National Harbor, Md. With the White Sox committed to breaking up a veteran roster that has produced four straight losing seasons, general manager Rick Hahn reportedly met with multiple teams on Monday. Not surprisingly, all-star starting pitcher Chris Sale drew the most interest from teams like the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. A career with a 3.00 ERA and 1,244 strikeouts in 1,110 innings, Sale has finished in sixth place or better in AL Cy Young Award voting for five straight years. The 27-year-old lefty also has a favorable contract and is owed $25.5 million over the next two years with a $13.5 million club option in The Nationals reportedly made big strides in acquiring Sale Monday night, offering a package headed by top prospects Lucas Giolito, a right-handed starter, and outfielder Victor Robles. Is that going to be enough for Sale, a five-time all-star? If a deal fails to materialize, it's probably because Washington declined to part with Trea Turner, who slashed.342/.370/.567 in 73 games with the Nats last season while finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. The speedy Turner plays shortstop, second base and center field. Giolito, who went with a 2.73 ERA in five minor-league seasons, was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 6 games (4 starts) while debuting with Washington last year. The Red Sox could probably offer a better package for Sale with a combination of Jackie Bradley Jr., Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi and Eduardo Rodriguez. While Sale was the focal point Monday, the White Sox are likely shopping Jose Quintana, Adam Eaton and Todd Frazier and just about everybody else on the roster expect Tim Anderson and Carlos Rodon. "These players fit on all 30 teams, and I purposely say all 30 because that includes us," Hahn told reporters Monday. "The young, premium talent, controlled for a number of years and affordable is the kind of thing we're looking for. "We need to reshuffle our mix and make sure we get more of those than we currently have going forward. It's essential that we bring back volume, that we bring back players we feel we can project to have similar impact beyond perhaps even what we currently have." While the rumors heated up Monday night, the White Sox don't look they're rushing to move Sale or anyone else.

13 "It's not something that's necessarily going to happen over night," Hahn said. "It's not something that I would expect to be completed while we are here in its entirety. It's going to be a process potentially that takes some time." White Sox on right track early at Winter Meetings By James Fegan / The Athletic December 6th, 2016 It would be typical White Sox luck for the AL Central to open up a bit more while they are on the precipice of a rebuild. Just as general manager Rick Hahn met with reporters Monday afternoon, Jon Morosi reported the Royals were shopping Danny Duffy, the biggest bright spot of their 2016 rotation. With the Twins rebuilding and the Tigers reportedly cutting salary and shopping J.D. Martinez, there might be no one left to contest the Indians defense of what was already an effortless march to the AL Central title in At the beginning of the offseason I wrote that the White Sox should try to model the way the Indians built their pennant-winning major league roster, and how they similarly need but a few cagey veteran signings to prop up around the hope that a powerful starting pitching triumvirate would drag them to October. But perhaps the Sox are interested in mirroring the Indians on a deeper level. Earlier this month, Bob Nightengale reported Cleveland s working class heroes were the only 2016 playoff team to finish the year with less than $150 million in payroll; a plateau the White Sox have not ever breached in franchise history. The Indians avoided high costs by flaunting their depth. They were led by homegrown future superstar Francisco Lindor, got monster production from mid-season call-up Tyler Naquin and were deep enough to pay the prospect cost for super-reliever Andrew Miller. Meanwhile, FanGraphs top 21 list for the White Sox farm system, revealed Monday, showed a prospect group topped by role players rather than future stars who could either contribute immediately or star in a trade package. The Sox have the core pieces of a team that could win, but filling the few holes that sank them in 2016 would be expensive, and would be for too small a window after the 2017 season they would need to replace Brett Lawrie, Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera. Hahn acknowledged Monday that Chris Sale and Jose Quintana are the type of high-level, cost controlled talent rebuilding teams usually seek in trades, rather than sell, but added: We need to reshuffle our mix and make sure we get more of those than we currently have going forward. It s essential that we bring back volume, that we bring back players that we feel we can project to have similar impact and beyond perhaps even what we currently have. The irony is surely not lost on Hahn that the draining of resources in years past to try to patch a team around Sale is now what necessitates them trading a generational pitcher to build a long-term core. But the Sox have made enough short-term bids to win within their self-imposed payroll limits to be ready to tear down with the goal of creating a deeper group. It s a painful step, and a risky one, as it s rare to find prospects who mature as well as Sale and Quintana. The Sox will still inevitably need to show the ability to expand their payroll at some point, and the same leadership group that has failed to find veteran solutions for the last eight seasons will need to redeem themselves when they do. Yet aside from a debate on whether a rebuild is necessary, it is a coherent plan, and this week has brought some signs it is going to work. After weeks of anxiety that there would be no team that could nor would meet what Hahn described as that line that you aren t going to go below to meet fair trade value for Sale, Ken Rosenthal s report on the Nationals offer provides faith the market is coming to their level. Still just 19 years old, Victor Robles is a five-tool center fielder that our own Mauricio Rubio projected would end the year as a top-five global prospect and demolished Low-A enough to earn a midseason promotion. Meanwhile, statuesque lefty hurler Lucas Giolito had already achieved that status coming into the 2016 season, and despite his rough major league debut, this is the type of swap one cornerstone

14 for two potential future ones, along with a lottery ticket prospect or two that justifies the effort of a rebuild. And by the end of the week, it might not even be the winning offer. Winter Meetings are fluid enough and opinions of prospects are varied enough that whole Sox fan base could be hurling invective at the front office in a few hours. Yet for at least a bit of Monday evening, the clouds parted a bit, and with some squinting, you could sort of see where the Sox might be headed. Levine: White Sox have had serious Chris Sale discussions with 6 clubs By Bruce Levine / CBS Chicago December 5th, 2016 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (CBS) With the Winter Meetings underway, there s no direct order for the White Sox to trade players, general manager Rick Hahn said Monday. That said, the White Sox are at the forefront of the conversation with ace left-hander Chris Sale on the trade market, and they re listening to all offers. The teams showing the most interest in Sale have been the Nationals, Astros, Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox and Braves, a source confirmed. Hahn even acknowledged that he has had a ton of inquires on Sale and company in the past month. It s been an interesting few weeks leading up to this, he said. Obviously, we have had a number of different conversations on a number of different fronts. Some of the rumors have been more accurate than others. We are approaching this with a wide open frame of mind. We have had a number of interesting conversations. So is moving a big piece like Sale the first step of a plan? I don t view that as necessary, no, Hahn said. What we are looking to do is put ourselves in a position of extended success. The means for us doing that is to acquire the most impact controllable talent we can over an extended period. We also as a part of that want to continue to build ourselves up internationally and through the draft adding to that potentially through trade as well. The Nationals, Astros and Red Sox appear appear to have the best young talent to match up with the White Sox in a potential Sale deal. The top players in Washington s system are 22-year-old right-hander Lucas Giolito and 19-year-old outfielder Victor Robles. Both are considered top-15 prospects in the game. Despite reports and speculation swirling, Hahn emphasized he doesn t feel the need to pressure to make a deal right now. Our plan is not something that will happen overnight, he said. That is not something we expect to be completed while we are here, in its entirety. It will be a process that takes some time. We want deals that put us in the strongest position possible for the long term. That is why there is no need to move player X before player Y. The White Sox s asking price remains a lot for the 27-year-old Sale, who has finished in the top six of the American League Cy Young voting for five straight seasons and has three years left on a club-friendly deal. They are asking a lot for Sale, a top executive said. You know what? They should be asking a lot, because he is one of the few difference-makers on the market. If anyone gets him, they are that much closer to being in the World Series. Hahn admitted the process has been stimulating for him and the White Sox organization.

15 This has been exciting, he said. We know, as well as our fans, that the way we had been operating has not gotten it done. The opportunity to take a different approach, to refocus some of our energies in a different fashion is exciting. That does get our scouts, the front office and our baseball staff excited about the potential where this could ultimately take us. Winter Meetings Preview: 5 players the White Sox could trade By James Neveau / NBC Chicago December 5th, 2016 The Chicago White Sox are a team in search of a path forward after yet another disappointing season in 2016, and as baseball s Winter Meetings get underway in Washington, D.C., most of the focus seems to be on what they can do to get better not just for 2017, but for many seasons to come. With that in mind, the team is listening to offers on any number of players, including some of the most talented players on their big league roster. That group includes ace pitcher Chris Sale, who could command one of the biggest trade hauls in recent memory if the White Sox end up deciding to trade him. So which players could be sent packing from 35th and Shields after this week? Here's a look at five potential candidates that could be among those the White Sox trade in a quest to replenish their farm system and prepare for a brighter future. Jose Abreu Winter Meetings Preview: What the Cubs Are Looking to Do It surprised no one when Abreu opted out of the final three years of his contract with the White Sox, giving him the right to go into arbitration for a higher payday in the process. The Sox could conceivably sign him to a long-term deal and keep him around, but going into a season where he will turn 30 years old, there is also a case to be made that trading him could net them a good haul of prospects. After all, Abreu is a power hitting first baseman in a league where that is one of the requirements to be a successful organization, and while not a lot of contenders are looking for that player on their roster, a team trying to jump into that contender echelon could look at Abreu as a good starting point. Adam Eaton While Eaton is under team control on a very friendly contract for the next five years (three years of full control, and two years of options), his name has been floated by some baseball insiders as one that the White Sox could conceivably move if they get a mind-blowing offer for him. Even with that being said, it may just make more sense for the Sox to hold onto him at this point. He was a Gold Glove nominee in right field and is a top of the order threat in a sport where that type of player is becoming more and more difficult to find, and with a good amount of time left on his contract, he could be around when the White Sox are contenders again. Todd Frazier Frazier is under team control for one more season, and if a team is looking at a win-now situation and needs a corner infielder, then Frazier could be an excellent candidate to trade for. One team that could consider making a run at Frazier would be the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they re currently trying to re-sign free agent third baseman Justin Turner. If they are unable to come to terms on a deal with him, a one-year pact with Frazier could be an excellent alternative, as the team is going to look to shed salary before they go into an absolutely hellacious luxury tax situation following the 2017 season. David Robertson The market for closers this year is stacked with talent, as guys like Mark Melancon (who reportedly has agreed to a contract with the San Francisco Giants), Aroldis Chapman, and Kenley Jansen are all available as free agents.