White Sox Headlines of December 20, 2016
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WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF DECEMBER 20, 2016 “Collins among White Sox prospects to watch” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Report: Prospect-rich Yankees interested in White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana” … Staff, CSN Chicago “Levine: Leverage on White Sox’s side in potential Jose Quintana trade” … Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago “The Bernstein Brief: White Sox could pursue former Cubs prospect” … Dan Bernstein, CBS Chicago “MLB Hot Stove Rumors: Yankees done spending, looking into Jose Quintana trade” … Matt Snyder, CBS Sports “Hot Stove Digest: Yankees interested in Jose Quintana” … Chris Cwik, Yahoo Sports “Yankees rumors: Jose Quintana blockbuster in the works?” … Evan Halpine-Berger, FOX Sports “Yankees reportedly interested in White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana” … Mike Mazzeo, New York Daily News “White Sox draft pick Blake Hickman uses injury time to get his Iowa degree” … Justin Breen, DNA Info Collins among White Sox prospects to watch Club’s future catcher is flanked by top young arms Burdi, Fulmer By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | December 19th, 2016 CHICAGO -- Recent conversations about the fast-rising White Sox Minor League system have centered on the elite players acquired in the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton deals, marking the start of the franchise's rebuilding process. That attention becomes understandable when talking about Yoan Moncada, the top prospect in all of baseball per MLBPipeline.com, and Lucas Giolito, No. 3 in those same rankings and tops among pitchers, as two examples. But while the White Sox system wasn't even ranked in the Top 20 before these deals came together with the Red Sox and Nationals, it certainly wasn't barren in regard to Major League help in the near future. Take Zack Collins, as an example. While the White Sox continue searching for their catcher of the present, they believe their backstop of the future was selected 10th overall in the 2016 Draft. Collins, the club's No. 6 prospect, batted .258 with six home runs, seven doubles and 18 RBIs over 120 at-bats for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem last season. He also hit .227 with two home runs during limited Arizona Fall League action for Glendale, where Collins caught more bullpen sessions than he worked in games. If it was only about offense, Collins is considered close to big league ready. But the 21-year-old left- handed hitter also believes in his ability behind the plate. "Well, I have to get better at everything: Hitting too," Collins said during an AFL interview. "But I feel like I can catch at the big league level this year. I've got a lot better catching the past couple of years. In my opinion, it's a little bit easier to catch at the big league level because they throw a lot more strikes and put the ball where you need to put it." "He's got a ton of talent," said Aaron Rowand, who managed Collins with Glendale. "Behind the dish, he looks outstanding as far as blocking and throwing. Offensively, he's got some serious pop. I think there are some things that need to be cleaned up in his swing, but he's got a long time to get that done." The White Sox haven't had a consistent catching presence since A.J. Pierzynski's tenure from 2005-12. Collins is aware of that absence, but he feels a good sort of pressure to fill the void. "I feel like I could be that guy. That's pretty much my goal with my career," Collins said. "I don't really try to have a timetable because if something goes wrong, you feel screwed up. "I'm going to do my thing every day and whatever they want to do with me it's fine with me, and hopefully I get up sooner than later. If not, great. If I do, great. I'm just enjoying the time with the guys and having fun." Zack Burdi, the team's 26th pick overall in '16, stands as the closer of the future, and the team's No. 8 prospect. He could join the White Sox early in the '17 season. Right-hander Alec Hansen had a dominant start to his professional career out of the same Draft class. Let's not forget Carson Fulmer, now the team's No. 5 prospect after being ranked No. 1 prior to the rebuild. He struggled in his Major League debut as a reliever, but he still holds the club's confidence as a starter. These solid previous prospects remain, but the system simply has grown deeper in rich talent. Report: Prospect-rich Yankees interested in White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana By Staff / CSN Chicago | December 19th, 2016 The White Sox winter trade-off could certainly continue, the team obviously willing to part with its top players for the right return package. All-Star starting pitcher Jose Quintana could potentially be next to go, and apparently one of the most prospect-rich teams in baseball has interest. According to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, the New York Yankees are interested in the White Sox lefty. Quintana won a career-high 13 games last season and posted a career-low 3.20 ERA, earning a spot on his first All-Star team. He'd figure to fetch quite the haul given his age and remaining team control. Who knows exactly what general manager Rick Hahn would be looking for, but the Yankees' farm system is stocked with top prospects, including four of the top 22 on MLB.com's top-100 list: outfielder Clint Frazier (No. 15), shortstop Gleyber Torres (No. 17), infielder Jorge Mateo (No. 18) and outfielder Aaron Judge (No. 22). Hahn has already landed huge returns for pitcher Chris Sale and outfielder Adam Eaton, and the White Sox suddenly have two of the top three on that aforementioned MLB.com prospect list: outfielder Yoan Moncada (No. 1) and pitcher Lucas Giolito (No. 3). Levine: Leverage on White Sox’s side in potential Jose Quintana trade By Bruce Levine / CBS Chicago | December 19th, 2016 CHICAGO (CBS) — The White Sox are ahead of their offseason rebuild baseball curve, with seven quality prospects recently obtained through the trades of Chris Sale to the Red Sox and Adam Eaton to the Nationals. Now, Chicago’s front office can slow play its next moves if it wishes. The White Sox also signed veteran left-hander Derek Holland last week. The hope is he’ll eat many of the innings left behind with exit of Sale and possibly a trade of left-hander Jose Quintana this offseason. With plenty of suitors for Quintana in the marketplace, the White Sox can wait for a deal in the spring/summer or try and win a deal now. Given Quintana’s career 3.51 ERA and four straight seasons of 200-plus innings, the leverage is on the White Sox’s side. The Yankees and Astros are two teams that match up for a potential Quintana deal. Both clubs have quality young players and are trying to improve their rotations with winning the division a goal of theirs in 2017. The supply-and-demand factor helps the White Sox here. Quintana, who turns 28 in January, is under club control for four more years at about $38 million. That modest payroll figure combined with him hitting his prime years makes him the most desirable pitcher in the market who’s available. Other White Sox players who have one year left on their contracts are likely to be trade bait from now through the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Those players include third baseman Todd Frazier, second baseman Brett Lawrie, outfielder Melky Cabrera and Holland. With two years and $25 million left on his deal, closer David Robertson will be in demand as well. The White Sox will have two jobs between now and Opening Day. The first is to ensure they continue getting top value for their players who are moved. The second is to have enough big league talent to get them through the upcoming 162-game season. Winning isn’t the top priority in 2017. It’s about development right now, and protecting young players from overuse — specifically in the rotation and bullpen — will be a task for new manager Rick Renteria. Renteria faced this issue in his long season managing the Cubs in 2014. He was using young arms in the bullpen and trying his best to win games in April and May. The Cubs front office had to remind Renteria that they weren’t ready to compete for the playoffs at that juncture, so it was best to look at the big picture. This was understood by Renteria, but the practice of easing up on younger and better options in win-or-lose situations at the time was alien to a competitor like Renteria. Now, Renteria will again face this situation — probably over the next three seasons. As the White Sox look to add more young talent under long-term control, timing is everything. Waiting to trade valuable pieces can get tricky once spring training begins. In general, teams are in better trade positions at this time of year in the offseason, with their players healthy. Once the season starts, you roll the dice in regards to injuries and wondering what other teams’ needs will be. The Bernstein Brief: White Sox could pursue former Cubs prospect By Dan Bernstein / CBS Chicago | December 19th, 2016 (CBS) Reports have the Yankees interested in acquiring White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana, a perfect fit for them (or anybody other than the Sox) with his track record of success and team-friendly contract.