GM Rick Hahn: White Sox 'Maximizing Chances To Win' With This Core
(CBS) A day after trading away three promising young players in a three-team deal that brought All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier to the South Side, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn admitted he understands the concern about mortgaging a slice of the future to win now but made clear that the core of "elite talent" that Chicago boasts made this move the practical one.
The White Sox sent second baseman Micah Johnson, right-hander Frankie Montas and outfielder Trayce Thompson to the Dodgers to acquire Frazier from the Reds in a three-team deal Wednesday.
"We're blessed right now with some special talent that's entering prime of its career, whether it's Chris Sale or Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon -- he's probably a little before his peak but certainly on the rise," Hahn said in an interview on the Spiegel and Goff Show. "Our goal and intent all along has been to maximize the window to win a championship while these players are on our roster.
"Obviously, we've seen masterfully run rebuilds, on the North Side (with the Cubs) already as well as in Houston and a few other places around the league. But that doesn't mean it's the only option for a club that needs to improve or a club that's trying to win a championship. You have to make the assessment about whether a total rebuild makes sense based on a number of factors, not just that the team didn't achieve what it wanted to achieve the prior year.
"I get the skepticism at this point. But we do feel that what we're doing now is maximizing our chances to win while we have some elite talent on our roster."
The White Sox's additions of Brett Lawrie and Frazier this offseason have significantly upgraded areas of dire need at second base and third base, respectively, but Hahn knows there's one more notable item on the to-do list.
He and the White Sox need another outfielder.
Without coming right out and saying it directly, Hahn admitted Chicago is on the prowl for an outfielder.
"It would seem so," Hahn said.
Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes are the two biggest free-agent outfielders available. With the White Sox wanting to stay around a payroll of $120 million or so, they might not have the money to sign one of those two -- but Hahn said the team will explore every avenue.
"We'd have to be a little bit creative," Hahn said when asked if a "legit" run could be made at adding a right fielder. "We'd have to be financially creative in the way we get things done. We've been able to do that in the past. Obviously, you can never underestimate Jerry (Reinsdorf) and Kenny (Williams) and my own aggressiveness when it comes to a chance to get better. So we're going to try to leave no stone unturned."
In news about those currently on the roster, Hahn said as of now that in "all probability" Tyler Saladino will be the Opening Day starting shortstop, though Carlos Sanchez will have the chance to beat him out for that job in spring training.
Listen to Hahn's full interview below.
