Levine: White Sox Have Had Serious Chris Sale Discussions With 6 Clubs
By Bruce Levine--
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.
"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."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
