Levine: White Sox Willing To Sell Off, But Timing Must Be Right
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With just 68 games left in what has been a mediocre season, the White Sox could be moving numerous players by the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1. Doing so would allow them to evaluate more young talent in the organization and slot in younger players who might be obtained in trades.
This option is on the table for the White Sox as their playoff hopes fade fast. At 46-48 entering Thursday evening, the White Sox sit seven games out of the second wild-card spot and would have to jump seven teams to get there. So the front office is looking at what's best to do as they also discuss the possibilities with owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
"Jerry feels as much as anyone in the front office or probably as much as any fan, he feels frustration and disappointment about where we sit today," general manager Rick Hahn said.
For now, the White Sox are open to trading anyone on the 25-man roster other than the contract-controlled rotation members and rookie shortstop Tim Anderson. Chicago will listen to offers on top pitchers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana -- both on extremely team-friendly contracts -- but are much more likely to wait on moving them.
It's during the offseason when clubs aren't competing for a playoff spot that they're more apt to trade players off of their 25-man roster.
"In terms of getting fair value at this point and time, you are dealing with a limited amount of players coming back," Hahn said. "It is primarily teams in contention that are looking to add at this point. They don't want to touch their big league club. So you are dealing with just their prospects. Could someone put together something that could move us? Absolutely. We know how special some of the players we have are that are under control now. We have in our mind what is appropriate coming back. The fact is someone may not meet our price at this time."
Does this mean that closer David Robertson, outfielder Adam Eaton, outfielder Melky Cabrera, first baseman Jose Abreu, second baseman Brett Lawrie and third baseman Todd Frazier are on the block? Apparently, the answer is yes, though the dumping of payroll doesn't appear to be the reason for future trade movement.
What's more meaningful is that Chicago is in need of quality young, controllable position players who can be plugged into the ever changing mix. The longest-tenured position players on the White Sox are outfielder Avisail Garcia (2013), Eaton (2014) and Abreu (2014).
Hahn talked about the White Sox and the disappointment of a sub-.500 ball club. He did shed light on this year's direction by saying they won't make small deals for players who don't have contracts well beyond 2016.
"We may wait until the offseason or there will be other opportunities to augment in the offseason," Hahn said. "This is just one opportunity over the next 10 days to change things up. That does not mean it's the last opportunity or the best opportunity."
White Sox players know that they're on the bubble and could be moving on.
"There is no loyalty in the game," Eaton said. "There is zero loyalty in the game. Sell tickets and win ball games -- that is what front offices and ownership wants to do. However they want to do it, that is how they are going to do it."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.