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 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 deals, marking the start of the franchise's rebuilding process.

That attention becomes understandable when talking about , the top prospect in all of per MLBPipeline.com, and , No. 3 in those same rankings and tops among , 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 , 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 .227 with two home runs during limited Arizona Fall League action for Glendale, where Collins caught more 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 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 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: 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 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. The trade of Chris Sale to Boston set the market for such a deal, and New York’s system is loaded with enough promising minor league talent to keep any conversation going.

Last year’s breakout star, Gary Sanchez, appears unlikely to be moved, so White Sox general manager Rick Hahn should focus on Gleyber Torres as the centerpiece.

If that name is familiar, that’s because Torres is the 19-year-old shortstop signed by the Cubs in 2014 who rocketed to the top of their prospect rankings after the first wave reached the majors. He was the piece that ultimately pried away Aroldis Chapman at the deadline, and he just torched the Arizona Fall League in record fashion despite being the youngest player participating. He became the circuit’s youngest-ever batting champ after hitting .403, while also leading in on-base percentage (.513) and OPS (1.158) and posting a K/BB rate of nearly 2-1.

As the White Sox begin a rebuilding project that they hope could mirror the successful effort across town, one of the Cubs’ once-prized assets might help it along.

MLB Hot Stove Rumors: Yankees done spending, looking into Jose Quintana trade The Yankees stocked their farm system and could be a match By Matt Snyder / CBS Sports | December 19th, 2016

After having dealt both Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, the White Sox are widely known to be in rebuilding mode. That means we're bound to see their more attractive veteran pieces in the rumor mill, and All-Star lefty Jose Quintana tops the list.

The Astros have already been connected to Quintana in rumors and now the Yankees join them in the mix:

The Yankees have an impressive arsenal of position-playing prospects, both at the big-league level and in the minors. The rotation heading into 2017 is a bit thin, though. After Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda, the options for the final two spots come from the likes of , Luis Cessa and Bryan Mitchell. Surely youngster Luis Severino deserves another shot to start and Adam Warren is capable as a swing guy, too.

Needless to say, putting Quintana along with Tanaka as the aces in front of Sabathia and Pineda makes everything look a lot different.

Quintana, 27, was 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP and 181 in 208 innings last season for the White Sox, making the All-Star team and finishing 10th in AL Cy Young voting. He's cheap, too, as far as frontline starters go. Quintana will make $7 million this next season and $8.85 million in 2018. Then there's a $10.5 million club option for 2019 and an $11.5 million club option for 2020. That's four years and $37.85 million through his prime years. He'd get triple that in free agency.

In light of this, the price for Quintana will be sky-high. The Red Sox had to cough up four prospects, including two big-time ones, for Sale, and the Nationals gave a huge package for Eaton. While Quintana isn't quite as highly regarded as Sale, he's not that much worse. He's certainly more valuable than Eaton, it could be argued.

As things stand with the Yankees, they aren't looking to spend more in free agency, according to a report from Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, and it is possible they could deal a veteran like Brett Gardner. The White Sox wouldn't be interested in adding a veteran like Gardner at this point, one wouldn't think, but maybe the Yankees line things up with a pair of trades -- off-loading Gardner while dealing prospects for Quintana.

The upside in the Quintana move is envisioning the 2015 version of Severino (2.89 ERA in 11 starts at age 21) and giving the Yankees a very strong Tanaka-Quintana-Severino-Pineda-Sabathia fivesome. Of course, that would mean the Yankees would have to outbid the Astros and any other teams interested in Quintana. Surely that list won't be short.

Hot Stove Digest: Yankees interested in Jose Quintana By Chris Cwik / Yahoo Sports | December 19th, 2016

GO GET HIM: The New York Yankees are interested in pitcher Jose Quintana. After last year’s midseason trades, the Yankees’ farm system is well-stocked, and the White Sox are reportedly interested in some of the team’s prospects. Due to a weak free-agent pitching market, Quintana is considered the best available pitcher right now. The 27-year-old has compiled a 3.41 ERA over five seasons in the majors, and is under team control at reasonable rates until at least 2018. Quintana’s contract contains two cheap options for 2019 and 2020 as well. The White Sox have shown a willingness to part with talented players this winter, but will likely ask a lot to give up Quintana. [@jonmorosi]

DONE DEAL: The have agreed to a two-year deal with reliever . The 29- year-old Hudson will make $11 million over the length of the contract. Hudson turned in an incredibly strange year with the in 2016. He was dominant at the beginning and end of the year, but had an awful five-week stretch in the middle.

With the Pirates, Hudson will likely take on a set up role. That could change if the team decides to trade closer Tony Watson. [Jeff Passan]

DONE DEAL: Veteran shortstop has signed a minor-league deal with the . The 38-year-old logged 41 games with the White Sox last season, hitting just .221/.295/.329 over 166 plate appearances. He was released in June to make room for prospect . Following his release, Rollins did not sign with another club. [@Ken_Rosenthal]

THEY HAVE A TYPE: The are looking at a number of left-handed relievers. The team is reportedly interested in Boone Logan, Jerry Blevins and Travis Wood. Of that group, Blevins posted the lowest ERA (2.69), but he’s also the oldest. Any of the three would be a solid addition to the team’s bullpen, though. [@jonmorosi]

GO BACK HOME: The Mariners have shown interest in free-agent pitcher Doug Fister. The 32- year-old Fister posted a 4.64 ERA over 180 1/3 innings with the in 2016. Fister actually began his major-league career in Seattle, putting up a 3.81 ERA in two and a half seasons with the club. He was traded to the in 2011 and blossomed into one of the game’s most underrated pitchers for a few seasons. Over the past two years, Fister has been limited by injuries, and has seen his ERA climb. [@jonmorosi]

KEEP HOPE ALIVE: The have not shut the door on . Baltimore reportedly pulled its offer to the 30-year-old slugger recently, but general manager Dan Duquette believes there is still a chance the two sides can work out a deal. Trumbo hit .256/.316/.533, with a career-high 47 home runs, with Baltimore in 2016. [@JonHeyman]

NO OFFERS: The Blue Jays have not issued a formal offer to former outfielder Jose Bautista. Toronto did technically give him a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer, but the 36-year-old Bautista declined in order to test the free-agent market. That’s reportedly the only formal offer the team has given to Bautista thus far. Bautista hit .234/.366/.452, with 22 home runs, for the Blue Jays last year. It looked as though Bautista would leave the team when the offseason began, but the circumstances may have changed and Toronto may have a chance to bring him back. Despite those rumors, it doesn’t look like there has been much progress to make that happen just yet. [@jonmorosi]

Yankees rumors: Jose Quintana blockbuster in the works? By Evan Halpine-Berger / FOX Sports | December 20th, 2016

The New York Yankees continue to eye Chicago White Sox starter Jose Quintana to bolster their rotation in both the short and long term.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the New York Yankees could be a player for Jose Quintana this winter as the Chicago White Sox continue to take offers on their most attractive veteran pieces.

With five to ten Top 100 prospects depending on who you ask and one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, it’s no surprise that Morosi says the Yankees have “the sort of prospects the White Sox are looking for.”

The real question is whether general manager Brian Cashman is interested in dealing from his collection of young talent. He’s said on multiple occasions in the last few weeks that he doubts the club will add another starter this winter despite their apparent need, citing the sky-high prices caused by an extreme buyer’s market.

In response to Morosi’s report, Andrew Marchand of ESPN cautioned that, “Cashman touches base for nearly every available player; especially when it is need base.” In other words, of course the Yankees are “interested” in Quintana as Morosi’s source indicates, but that doesn’t mean they have any intention of meeting the White Sox’s asking price.

Quintana is not only one of the best pitchers in the American League, but he has perhaps the most team- friendly contracts in baseball. He’s owed just $15.85 million over the next two years and then can be retained for 2019 and 2020 with a pair of bargain basement team options.

There’s no reason that Chicago should accept a lesser package for Quintana than they received in return for Chris Sale from the Red Sox at the Winter Meetings. Quintana comes with an additional year of team control and has been performed just a shade below Sale over the last four years in bWAR (21.8 vs. 18.1), ERA (3.04 vs. 3.35), innings pitched (823.2 vs. 814.2), and FIP (3.01 vs. 3.34). That extra year easily makes up the difference in value.

So that means a package from the Yankees would almost certainly have to start with either Clint Frazier or Gleyber Torres, and then another Top 100 guy like Jorge Mateo, James Kaprielian, Chance Adams, or . Luis Severino or Aaron Judge may have enough prospect cred remaining to count as the second piece. Another two names from the 10-20 range would round out the package.

I’m extremely skeptical New York seriously pursues Quintana this winter, but would part with the required package in a heartbeat (Although I would fight like crazy to keep Torres out of it). Let’s say Frazier, Severino, Dustin Fowler, and Drew Finley. Sound fair?

Quintana is both a short and long-term asset that makes New York an instant 2017 contender and gives them insurance for the future in case Masahiro Tanaka opts out after the season.

Yankees reportedly interested in White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana By Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News | December 19th, 2016

The Yankees may not be done making moves.

The Bombers are interested in White Sox lefthander Jose Quintana, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports and MLB TV reported Monday morning.

Over the past four seasons, the 27-year-old Quintana has emerged as one of the most effective and reliable starters in baseball, averaging about 204 innings and pitching to a 3.35 ERA.

In 2016, he made his first All-Star team while setting career marks in wins (13), ERA (3.20), innings pitched (208.0) and strikeouts (181).

The five-year MLB veteran is signed at an extremely affordable rate. He is set to make $6 million next season, $8.35 million in 2018 and has club options for 2019 and 2020 at $10.5 million.

The Yankees previously had Quintana in their farm system for four seasons. He went 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 30 appearances (12 starts) for High-A Tampa in 2011, but they elected not to add him to their 40- man roster at the end of the season, and he departed for Chicago as a six-year minor-league free agent.

New York's starting rotation could certainly use an upgrade, and adding Quintana to Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and, possibly, Luis Severino would give the Bombers a pretty formidable group.

At the same time, the cost — in terms of prospects GM Brian Cashman would have to surrender — would presumably be significant. The White Sox acquired prized prospects Yoan Moncada and from the Red Sox in exchange for Chris Sale.

Follow the Daily News Sports on Facebook. "Like" us here. Quintana is not in Sale's category, but in a market where quality starters are hard to come by, he's certainly up there. His averaged a career-best 92 mph last season, according to PitchFX data.

The White Sox have emerged as sellers this winter, shipping Sale to Boston while also sending outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals for pitching prospect Lucas Giolito.

The Yankees have been active early this winter, bringing closer Aroldis Chapman back to the Bronx on a five-year, $86 million deal and adding Matt Holliday to be a DH on a one-year contract.

White Sox draft pick Blake Hickman uses injury time to get his Iowa degree By Justin Breen / DNA Info | December 20th, 2016

CHICAGO — Blake Hickman took advantage of a lengthy absence from baseball by going back to school.

Hickman, a Simeon High School alumnus, graduated from the University of Iowa on Saturday with a degree in sports studies almost two years after he left the school to sign a contract with the White Sox.

The right-handed pitcher from Auburn Gresham was picked by the White Sox, his favorite team, in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.

He's hasn't played an inning of professional ball, though, as Hickman underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after signing with the Sox.

"Being able to go back to school, keeping a promise to my parents that I would graduate, that was a big positive to come out of this situation," Hickman said. "Everyone — including me — expected with me getting drafted, I wasn't going to be able to get the school part done."

Hickman's mother, Desiree, said she was beyond proud her son earned his degree.

"As a parent you pray that your children grow up to do better and better than you ever could be," Desiree Hicman said. "On Saturday I was ... unable to hold back my tears I thought about the moment we met with the coaches here and discussion around what Iowa's program had to offer and how they saw Blake fitting into their program. The only true comment that I heard and wanted to hear was your son will graduate from our university with a four-year degree.

"The date that Blake was drafted, I said to hi, 'Please promise me that one day you'll get this degree, you are too close not to finish.' He promised. I'm so excited overjoyed and truly blessed is the only way that I can express my feelings."

Hickman had one semester left to complete his degree when he departed Iowa in 2015. He took 16 hours this fall after he returned to Iowa City, living on campus. The class load included statistics, philosophy, American sports since 1900, sports in film and a black history course.

Hickman said the White Sox covered most of the room and board and tuition costs, as is the case with most professional teams paying for players who return to college after they sign contracts.

"It was a blessing that the Sox were able to help out," Hickman said.

Hickman said a host of family members attended the graduation. That included his two older brothers, Justin and Christian, who are graduates of Saint Xavier University and Alcorn State University, respectively.

"I look up to my brothers," Hickman said. "For my family, it was a huge deal that I graduated."

Hickman, 23, has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old in various youth leagues on the South Side. From ages 12-17, Hickman was part of the White Sox Amateur City Elite travel program, which has placed several inner-city players in Division I universities and professional organizations.

"If it wasn't for ACE, I don't know where I would have ended up," Hickman said.

Hickman was an all-state catcher at Simeon and a member of the 2011 city runner-up team. He also played the position at Iowa before switching to a full-time pitcher in college.

He's not sure when he'll report to spring training with the White Sox, but said it will be no later than March. Hickman, who's back in Chicago and has been working out at De La Salle High School and University of Illinois at Chicago, said he's fully recovered from the surgery and can't wait to get back on the pitcher's mound.

"I just want to play again," he said.