WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF OCTOBER 26, 2018 “Elite defenders named Gold Glove finalists” … Matt Kelly, MLB.com “Inbox: Can Hansen crack the roster in '19?” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Here's what happened in Thursday's AFL action” … MLB.com “Are the most difficult times over? 4 offseason questions for the White Sox” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox’ Adam Engel named finalist for Gold Glove Award” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun-Times Elite defenders named Gold Glove finalists By Matt Kelly / MLB.com / October 25, 2018 Rawlings announced the American and National League finalists for the 2018 Gold Glove Awards on Thursday, spelling out many of the game's premier defenders. Plenty of mainstays are joined by exciting newcomers in this year's field for the Gold Glove, which is determined by a combination of votes submitted by Major League managers and coaches and a sabermetric index provided by Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Eighteen Gold Gloves are given out each year (one for each position in each league), along with the Platinum Glove, which is given out to the game's best overall defender as voted by the fans. Here's a look at this year's finalist at each position. Winners will be announced on Nov. 4. Pitcher National League: Zack Greinke, D-backs; Clayton Richard, Padres; Julio Teheran, Braves American League: Dallas Keuchel, Astros; Corey Kluber, Indians; Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees Greinke has won four straight Gold Gloves, and a fifth would tie him with Ron Guidry, Phil Niekro and Kenny Rogers for seventh all-time among pitchers. Keuchel, who induced more ground balls than any other pitcher, is seeking his fourth Gold Glove in five years. Catcher National League: Yadier Molina, Cardinals; Manny Pina, Brewers; Buster Posey, Giants American League: Yan Gomes, Indians; Martin Maldonado, Astros; Salvador Perez, Royals Molina is seeking a ninth Gold Glove, which would put him closer to Ivan Rodriguez's record 13 at the position, but he has not won the award since 2015. Posey took the honor home two years ago. The Astros acquired Maldonado, the reigning AL winner, in the middle of this season specifically for defense behind the plate. First base National League: Freddie Freeman, Braves; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs; Joey Votto, Reds American League: Mitch Moreland, Red Sox; Matt Olson, Athletics; Justin Smoak, Blue Jays The AL race is wide open now that four-time winner Eric Hosmer is in the Senior Circuit, though Moreland claimed this award in 2016. Rizzo and Votto each own one Gold Glove, while Freeman is seeking his first. Second base National League: Javier Baez, Cubs; DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Kolten Wong, Cardinals American League: Jed Lowrie, Athletics; Ian Kinsler, Red Sox; Rougned Odor, Rangers Wong totaled 19 defensive runs saved (DRS) at second base, while LeMahieu was close behind with 18. Baez, a staple of defensive highlight reels, is seeking his first Gold Glove. Shortstop National League: Nick Ahmed, D-backs; Brandon Crawford, Giants; Freddy Galvis, Padres American League: Francisco Lindor, Indians; Marcus Semien, Athletics; Andrelton Simmons, Angels Crawford could become the first NL shortstop to win four straight Gold Gloves since Ozzie Smith, who won 13 straight from 1980-92. Ahmed's 21 DRS tied for the MLB lead among shortstops with Simmons, who could join Omar Vizquel as the second shortstop to win multiple Gold Gloves in each league. Third base National League: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Anthony Rendon, Nationals; Travis Shaw, Brewers American League: Alex Bregman, Astros; Matt Chapman, Athletics; Jose Ramirez, Indians Chapman's 29 DRS were the most of any defender at any position (eight clear of Ahmed and Simmons) amid a breakout year for the A's young star. He'll face staunch competition from the stellar Bregman, while Arenado seeks a sixth straight NL Gold Glove -- which would tie Buddy Bell and Eric Chavez for the third longest streak by any third baseman. Left field National League: Corey Dickerson, Pirates; Adam Duvall, Braves; Christian Yelich, Brewers American League: Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox; Brett Gardner, Yankees; Alex Gordon, Royals Dickerson paced all qualified left fielders with eight Outs Above Average defensive metric that measures how many outs an outfielder saves over his average peer, while Yelich could pair his second Gold Glove with first NL MVP award, for which he is considered the favorite. Benintendi has dazzled with his defense in the postseason, while Gardner and Gordon are both former winners. Center field National League: Lorenzo Cain, Brewers; Billy Hamilton, Reds; Ender Inciarte, Braves American League: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox; Adam Engel, White Sox; Mike Trout, Angels Inciarte tied St. Louis' Harrison Bader for the MLB lead with 21 OAA, followed closely by Cain with 19. Engel, who notably robbed three home runs in the span of a week in August, led all AL outfielders with 17 OAA. Right field National League: Jason Heyward, Cubs; Jon Jay, D-backs; Nick Markakis, Braves American League: Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Kole Calhoun, Angels; Aaron Judge, Yankees Betts is widely considered to be MLB's best right fielder, and he led the position with 11 OAA in 2018. Heyward has claimed right field honors in each of the last four years, and in five of the last six overall. Inbox: Can Hansen crack the roster in '19? Beat reporter Scott Merkin answers questions from fans By Scott Merkin / MLB.com / October 25, 2018 How has Alec Hansen's recovery gone? Can we expect to see him next year in Chicago? -- Michael, Albuquerque, NM (@Urriteimawesome) Hansen, the No. 10 White Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline, wasn't part of instructional league action as the White Sox gave him time to decompress after a 2018 season that started with a forearm injury in Spring Training and ended with a 6.31 ERA and 59 walks over 14 starts and 51 1/3 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Class A Advanced Winston-Salem. The White Sox hope the break will be the start of Hansen's return to a '17 performance, when he topped the Minors with 191 strikeouts, although a promotion to Chicago in '19 is unlikely. • Submit your question to the Inbox "It's important for him to just get away from things and just flush some of the struggles he went through this year," White Sox director of player development Chris Getz said. "Last year was one of those years where he couldn't get in sync. That can be really frustrating for players, but he still is a very young kid who is learning about himself as a person and as a player. "We still believe in the kid. It's important to go home, get away from the game. Live a balanced life and start preparing for 2019. But we look forward to seeing him come Spring Training, because there's so much talent in there and we look forward to recapturing it." What young controllable players do you think the Sox should consider trading for with their surplus farm system? -- Nick, Evergreen Park, Ill. (@chicago_na) At this point, the White Sox are continuing to figure out what they have and what they need as part of the rebuild's big picture. It was a big part of Year 2, and while the organization now has a better idea, the development is incomplete for some of even the best prospects. Who goes and who stays at this point probably depends on what player is being offered on the other side in potential deals, although there will be some untouchables. With recent display of dirty play and lazy jog to first base, did Manny Machado's appeal to the Sox cool off at all? -- Robert, Aurora, Ill. I talked Machado with Brittany Ghiroli, MLB.com's outstanding Orioles beat writer, during our last White Sox Extras podcast. Basically, there are two different Machados: the one on the field who is not afraid to take the brunt of criticism or be the center of the attention, and the one who is a true leader/good guy with the veterans and the younger players in the clubhouse. Machado is loaded with talent and any team would be greatly impacted for the positive by his addition. When [Nick] Madrigal is ready, which I believe will be really soon, is there a chance [Tim Anderson] moves to center field? -- Colin, Manteno, Ill. Anderson spoke to me earlier last season about moving to center, and he was confident in being able to handle that position. Of course, Anderson went out and played tremendous defense at shortstop in truly making that position his own. I would look more at Yoan Moncada moving to third when Madrigal is ready, all things staying the same, but at that time, it will be a gpod problem to have. The playoffs had me looking back at the 2005 Sox. I was surprised to see Joe Crede had better stats for the ALCS than Paul Konerko, yet the sports writers gave Konerko the MVP award. Why? I remember Crede having several key plays in the field and big hits. Crede should have gotten the award. -- Michael, Chicago Crede was probably the most valuable White Sox player across the entire 12-game playoffs. But there were countless candidates for MVP in each series, including Konerko. It was a truly dominant, team-wide run. "Fab Five" Wolverines (Webber, Rose, Howard, King, Jackson) vs. "Hotel California" Eagles (Frey, Henley, Meisner, Felder, Walsh): Who ya got? -- Vinnie, Chicago (@VinnieDuber) I must go with the group who changed college basketball over the group who changed music, but it's a tough call. Have you heard one tiny whisper at all that the Sox are considering replacing Ricky with Girardi? Vince, Melrose Park, Ill.