White Sox GM Rick Hahn said:
“We’ve always been focused on putting ourselves in the best position to
win,” Hahn said. “At the same time, I think we’re veering away from the
standpoint of looking for stopgaps. A lot of what we did in the last few
years had been trying to enhance the short-term potential of the club
to put ourselves in a position to win immediately. I feel the approach
at this point is focusing on longer-term benefits. It doesn’t mean we
won’t necessarily be in a good position in 2017. It means that our
targets and whatever we’re hoping to accomplish have a little more
longer-term fits in nature.”
The White Sox have been mired in a "win now" re-tooling of their roster since the 2005 championship. The club has signed or traded for veterans to try to get over the hump to win the AL Central and make it deep in the playoffs. But the Tigers, Royals and now the Indians have blocked their path. But now the Tigers are ready for a fire sale and the Royals are regrouping, the White Sox have to make a major decision: stay the course or rebuild the organization?
Critics think the Sox must follow the Cub rebuild plan. Tear it all down. Trade valuable assets like Sale, Quintana, Frazier, Eaton or Abreu to stockpile young, athletic talent.
Fans and ownership still believe the Sox are just one or two players away from a division title.
The problem with the White Sox has been that the team has not drafted well position players. And the team has not spent a lot of money on international free agents. As a result, the farm system has been weak for a long time.
There are two ways to remedy the situation: hire better scouts and development coaches to boost the talent in the minors or trade for quality prospects from other teams.
If you read between the lines, it appears that Hahn is still playing a middle approach. When he says he will look for longer-term benefits, it may mean that trade targets may not be rental players but players under 2 or 3 year deals. Or that prospects will be low minor leaguers under team control for six years. It also means that the White Sox may plan to hold on to their ten quality minor league pitching prospects.
And it also could mean that the team will not pour any more money on free agents this winter. It will let the roster weed itself out by contract expiration.
My guess is the White Sox will continue to on the same path of trying to field a veteran, competitive club with a short term goal of winning now.
