WHITE SOX HEADLINES of MARCH 24, 2017 “Quintana Flashes Perfection; Delmonico Homers” … Scott Merkin, MLB.Com “Hahn Won'
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WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MARCH 24, 2017 “Quintana flashes perfection; Delmonico homers” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Hahn won't budge on asking price for Quintana” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Moncada, Giolito, Lopez reflect on Sox camp” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Katz, Goldberg relish Classic experience” …Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Top 10 prospects to watch in the White Sox system” …Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “'Relaxed' Yoan Moncada upbeat about time in White Sox camp” … Colleen Kane, Chricago Tribune “Thursday's recap: White Sox 4, Reds 2” …Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito to play the working-while-waiting game” …Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Quintana pitches seven scoreless innings vs. Reds” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Jason Benetti on calling Sox games: ‘I could do this forever’” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Starting at AAA ‘difficult’ but Yoan Moncada accepts decision” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Lopez disappointed, but knows time will come with White Sox” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “White Sox ace Jose Quintana puts on show in victory over Reds” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “With first big contract in hand, Tim Anderson planning a run to the Pepsi machine” …Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Is Lucas Giolito still worth the hype?” … Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com “White Sox Hope to Hit It Big with Tim Anderson Contract” … Craig Edwards, Fangraphs “Yoan Moncada sometimes ate 85 Twinkies in a week” …AlyshaTsuji, USA Today Quintana flashes perfection; Delmonico homers By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | March 23rd, 2017 GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jose Quintana appears to be regular-season ready. With 17 scouts in attendance, the White Sox ace and prime trade candidate as part of the team's rebuilding, pitched 5 2/3 perfect innings during a 4-2 victory over the Reds on Thursday at Camelback Ranch. Beau Amaral delivered a double down the right-field line to break up the perfect game, and Amaral wasn't even in the Reds' original starting lineup. He got the nod when Desmond Jennings was scratched. Quintana struck out three and allowed two hits in seven innings, throwing 53 of his 79 pitches for strikes and adding another 15 pitches in the bullpen after his start. "I feel good," Quintana said. "I attacked the zone early. [Catcher Kevan Smith] called a really good game, and I'm happy with that. When you're ahead every batter, it's good. I was getting some quick outs early, and I went long." Nicky Delmonico drilled a two-run blast in the fourth to give the White Sox an early lead. The blast came after Melky Cabrera opened the frame with a double, but was still at third with two outs. Delmonico has three homers and eight RBIs in Cactus League action, as he added a run-scoring double to right in the sixth inning, bringing home Todd Frazier. That home run came off of Bronson Arroyo, who allowed the two runs on four hits in four innings, while striking out two and walking one. The non-roster invitee Arroyo is competing for a rotation spot in a crowded mix with six others. But Arroyo's effort was overshadowed by Quintana's performance. Avisail Garcia was ejected in the eighth inning for disputing a called third strike. It was the White Sox second ejection of the Cactus League. Bronson Arroyo pitches four innings vs. the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits while fanning two as he battles for a rotation spot Reds Up Next: Sal Romano, vying for one of the three open rotation spots, will make his second spring start and sixth outing overall at Goodyear Ballpark against the Brewers at 4:05 p.m. ET on Friday. A 23rd-round pick from 2011, Romano has yet to crack the Majors, and he is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in Cactus League play. Billy Hamilton, who returned from Achilles inflammation as the designated hitter Thursday, is expected to have the day off. White Sox Up Next: Carlos Rodon makes his second Cactus League start when the White Sox travel to Mesa to take on the A's on Friday. The first pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. CT and will be on MLB.TV. Although Rodon is lined up to pitch in one of the season's first two games, manager Rick Renteria still plans on using Rodon at the back end of the rotation at least at the outset. Hahn won't budge on asking price for Quintana By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | March 23rd, 2017 GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Trying to decipher potential Jose Quintana trade destinations from this week's latest batch of rumors really isn't that difficult, even with Quintana throwing 5 2/3 perfect innings against the Reds on Thursday in front of 17 scouts during a 4-2 White Sox victory at Camelback Ranch. In fact, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn summed up the matter in a conversation with MLB.com, although he wasn't speaking directly about Quintana, who allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings Thursday. "We've had conversations even this spring where if our asks were met, we'd make a move," Hahn said. "Obviously nothing has developed as of yet. "But that could well change early in the season or it could take to the Trade Deadline or into the next offseason. We would love to move this thing along based strictly on our desire, but it's too important we do it right than to force the issue based on impatience. We don't have specific time frames on any of these things." White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana talks about playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Colombia and returning to Spring Training So if you are the Astros, Pirates, Yankees, Braves, Phillies or every other team that could have interest in one of the game's top starting pitchers, be prepared to pay prospect-wise. And if you are a team not willing to give up a couple of elite level young players in a package of potentially three or four, then don't expect to have a chance at acquiring the All- Star southpaw, who dazzled in his 2017 World Baseball Classic start covering 5 2/3 innings of no-hit pitching for Colombia against Team USA. Hahn certainly won't budge from an understandably lofty asking price. Quintana is under control for the next four years at around $36 million when factoring in two team options. He easily could be part of the team's rebuild moving forward but also would bring back the biggest haul in return. It's a tough decision to trade a player revered throughout the organization, much like it was a tough decision to move Chris Sale or Adam Eaton. Without going into specific detail, the White Sox know who they want in each instance and have seen those players countless times. Quintana should take the mound April 3 against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field for his first career Opening Day start. His status leading up to the non-waiver Trade Deadline is not as certain, especially with the team not exactly focused on contention this season. "I have confidence in me, and every time I go out there I just try to have fun and enjoy that time," Quintana said. "I spend good time with my teammates. Every time I go to the mound, I feel pretty good." "We still want to see the team win," Hahn said. "But a lot of what the progress is there is a progress we probably will be able to see in terms of how the game is being played, and how players are being taught and held accountable for either meeting or not meeting standards that the organization sets for them." Moncada, Giolito, Lopez reflect on Sox camp Top prospects reassigned to Minors, discuss feelings upon departure By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | March 23rd, 2017 GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez held court before the White Sox 4-2 victory over the Reds at Camelback Ranch after the team's top prospects per MLBPipeline.com were returned from big league Spring Training to Minor League camp Tuesday. Here's a look at some of their comments. Moncada On being reassigned to Triple-A Charlotte: "It was kind of difficult for me, but it wasn't my decision to make. It was their decision, and for me to accept it." Second base is his position: "I don't think they are going to move me around the infield at Charlotte. I'm going to play second base. That's the plan for now, but if they ask me to play another position, I will do it. I feel more comfortable at second base." Finishing the Cactus League strong at the plate: "Those were the results of my routine and my work. But it was also because I was feeling more comfortable at home plate with my swing. This is a process, and that was part of the process. You have to stick with it. You have to get your work in." Lopez Disappointment on being optioned: "I thought I would make the team. That was my goal, and I believe in that. I was kind of surprised when they told me I wouldn't make the team. But like I said before, I have to keep working hard. If I was sent down, I would work as hard as I always work here, and I'm going to do it." Work at Charlotte: "I'm going to keep my focus on the things I was working on here, my position on the mound, trying to throw strikes and executing my pitches.