WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JANUARY 18, 2017 “Hawk alarm clock headlines Sox '17 promotions” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Michael Kopech hit 110 mph during his first max-velocity workout of the year” … Michael Clair, MLB.com “Many forces at play in GM's Quintana plans” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox Trio Lands on MLB.com’s Top 10 RHP Prospects List” … Scott Krinch, CSN Chicago “The Last White Sox Rebuild: Bobby Howry Remembers Aftermath of '97 'White Flag' Trade” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “Hopeful awaits Hall of Fame vote” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times

Hawk alarm clock headlines Sox '17 promotions By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | January 17th, 2017

CHICAGO -- It's 6 a.m. on a cold Chicago morning and it's time to get up for work or school.

Your alarm goes off, but instead of hearing a buzzer or music, the following sentence reaches your ears.

"You can get up out of bed … Yes!!" Or maybe, "Mercy, you better get moving."

Sound strange or impossible? Well thanks to the White Sox, you can wake up every morning to the words of the team's iconic television play-by-play announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. The team will be giving away a Ken "Hawk" Harrelson talking alarm clock on Saturday, May 13.

The first 20,000 fans will be able to wake up to the five-time Emmy Award winner, with fireworks at Guaranteed Rate Field to top off the night against the Padres. Fans and media alike immediately had a good time through social media upon the announcement of the Hawk alarm clock as part of the White Sox promotions schedule, which was announced on Tuesday.

Other promotions include a Photo Book that the first 20,000 fans will receive on Homecoming Weekend on Sat., May 27 against Detroit. There's also a White Sox cap giveaway on July 15 against the Mariners, a 1917 jersey in honor of the 100th anniversary of the White Sox 1917 championship on Sat. July 29 against the Indians and a water bottle on July 30 against the Indians.

Free T-Shirt Thursday on Police & Fire Night takes place on Aug. 10 against the Astros. Theme nights feature the always popular Elvis Night on Aug. 25 against Detroit, Country Music Night on June 23 against Oakland, Christmas in July on July 28 against the Indians, Halfway to Mardi Gras on Aug. 8 against the Astros and Star Wars Night on Aug. 26 against the Tigers.

Michael Kopech hit 110 mph during his first max-velocity workout of the year Michael Clair / MLB.com | January 17th, 2017

When the White Sox acquired Michael Kopech as part of the package for , they knew they were getting a with a blazing fastball. According to MLB Pipeline, Kopech sits at 96-98 mph and can even hit digits.

They probably weren't expecting 110 mph, though.

Now, sure, he wasn't throwing off a mound, but a) it's Jan. 17, so still a month away from when and catchers report; b) it was still over 4 mph faster than any throw in the Majors this year; and c) it's still 110 mph! Plenty to dream on there, Sox fans.

Many forces at play in GM's Quintana plans Relenting from lofty demands could still yield impressive return before camp Scott Merkin / MLB.com | January 17th, 2017

CHICAGO -- Greed is good.

We learned that lesson courtesy of Michael Douglas/Gordon Gekko in 1987.

Where the current White Sox rebuild is concerned, greed becomes essential for general manager . It's not really greed, as much as holding out for the near-perfect return on high-end, cost-controlled players.

Hahn has done extremely well in trades of All-Star starter Chris Sale and outfielder , assembling seven prospects. But in the case of a potential deal involving Jose Quintana, Hahn might have to decide when to bend just a bit.

The focus of Hot Stove season hit Quintana in full force beginning in early December, shortly after the White Sox picked up infielder , outfielder and pitchers Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz in a trade with Boston for Sale and pitchers , Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning from the Nationals for Eaton. The Pirates, Yankees and Astros are among the many teams who have shown interest in Quintana, who reached All-Star status last season for the first time in a career that includes three seasons of 4.0 bWAR or greater, and two above 5.2. All that, and he's only owed approximately $38 million over the next four years.

Hahn's first two moves set the bar extraordinarily high. Moncada is considered the No. 1 overall prospect per MLBPipeline.com, and Giolito stands as one of the top two or three prospects among pitchers, not to mention five other players who have big league projections. Hahn clearly has held strong to his lofty demands regarding Quintana, since the southpaw is still with the team, but there may be some wiggle room in order to get the trade done before Spring Training and still get a significant return.

Let's hypothetically send outfielder Austin Meadows, 's No. 2 prospect per MLBPipeline who supposedly stands off limits, to the White Sox. Or how about outfielder Clint Frazier as the headliner in a Quintana deal with the Yankees? Would either of those frontline youngsters convince Hahn to work with a three- instead of four-player return? Or would their inclusion in a deal help Hahn be willing to accept less of a sure thing regarding the second or third prospect?

Until Quintana gets traded or the White Sox announce they no longer are in discussions to move the soon-to-be 28-year-old, it's a safe bet to say every day a team is talking about acquiring him. The White Sox never had untouchables, and in the case of a rebuild where deals can change so quickly, they certainly won't remove Quintana's name from consideration.

But there's a huge level of respect for Quintana within the organization. He's a veteran who has done everything asked of him since the day he arrived. No pitcher in has more no-decisions then Quintana's 58 since the start of the '12 campaign, and Quintana has never once complained.

This ability to deal with adversity should allow Quintana to handle existing rumors if they continue throughout Spring Training. He'll get an introduction to the situation at SoxFest on Jan. 27 if a move has not been consummated. The White Sox won't want to leave Quintana to twist in the wind, meaning Hahn soon might have to decide, not necessarily to settle, but when enough is enough.

White Sox Trio Lands on MLB.com’s Top 10 RHP Prospects List Scott Krinch / CSN Chicago | January 17th, 2017

The White Sox farm system has taken a complete 180 over the past calendar year.

Gone are the days where the White Sox would be lucky to land a single prospect in Top 100 prospects lists.

After undergoing an overhaul that saw franchise cornerstones Chris Sale and Adam Eaton shipped out for a bundle of prospects, the White Sox are soaring up MLB farm system rankings.

As they will each day until the end of the January, MLBPipeline will release baseball's Top 10 prospects at each position.

To kick off the countdown, the Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects were released on Tuesday, and to no surprise the list is White Sox heavy.

Lucas Giolito (No. 3) and Reynaldo Lopez (No. 10), sent to the White Sox from the Nationals in a blockbuster deal for Eaton, both cracked the Top 10 list.

Michael Kopech, who was a key piece along with MLB.com's 2016 top overall prospect Yoan Moncada in the White Sox haul from the for Sale, came in at No. 4 on MLBPipeline's rankings.

Check out what MLB.com's Mike Rosenbaum had to say about each White Sox pitcher below:

3. Lucas Giolito, White Sox The prized right-hander of last year's class, Giolito saw his stock wane over the course of the season and especially in the big leagues, where apparent mechanical issues resulted in diminished velocity and hindered his control. He's shown the ceiling of an ace in the past, with the ability to command a mid-to- upper 90s heater, a knee-buckling curveball and a fading changeup, and now has renowned pitching Don Cooper on his side after joining the White Sox as part of the offseason Adam Eaton blockbuster deal.

4. Michael Kopech, White Sox Kopech began the year on the disabled list with a broken hand but made up for the time lost with dazzling performances in the Advanced Carolina League and, later, in the . Acquired in the Chris Sale trade in December, the 20-year-old hits triple digits with ease and backs it up with a plus slider and a promising changeup. As he continues to make developmental strides, Kopech will move quickly in 2017.

10. Reynaldo Lopez, White Sox Overshadowed by Giolito headed into last season, Lopez proved the more effective of the duo in the big leagues before joining him in the offseason trade to Chicago. A more consistent and linear delivery resulted in improved strike-throwing ability for the 23-year-old righty, who can miss bats with his well above-average fastball, excellent curve and improved changeup.

Ironically, pitcher Tyler Glasnow and pitcher Francis Martes, two players who have been rumored to be involved in their respective team's talks with the White Sox for starter Jose Quintana, made the Top 10 list on Tuesday.

Heading into the 2016 season, shortstop (No. 38) and pitcher Carson Fulmer (No. 42) were the only two White Sox prospects on MLBPipeline's Top 100 list.

At the very least the White Sox will that number in 2017 with the three aforementioned pitchers and Moncada.

The Last White Sox Rebuild: Bobby Howry Remembers Aftermath of '97 'White Flag' Trade JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | January 17th, 2017

Bobby Howry wasn't aware of the fact he was part of one of the more infamous transactions in White Sox history until a few years after it happened.

In 1997, with the White Sox only 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading , general manager Ron Schueler pulled the trigger on a massive trade that left many around Chicago — including some in the White Sox clubhouse — scratching their heads. Heading to the was the team's best (left-hander Wilson Alvarez), a reliable rotation piece (Doug Drabek) and a closer coming off a 1996 All-Star appearance (Roberto Hernandez). In return, the White Sox acquired six minor leaguers: right-handers Howry, Lorenzo Barcelo, , left-hander Ken Vining, shortstop Mike Caruso and outfielder Brian Manning. Only Foulke had major league experience, and it wasn't exactly good (an 8.26 ERA in 44 2/3 innings).

Howry was largely oblivious to the shocking nature of the trade that brought him from the Giants to White Sox until, before the 1999 season, he was featured in a commercial that referenced the "White Flag trade."

"I don't even know if I knew it was called that before then," Howry recalled last weekend at the Sheraton Grand Chicago at Cubs Convention.

The trade was a stark signal that youth would be emphasized on 35th and Shields. Both Alvarez and Hernandez were set to become free agents after the 1997 season, and the 40-year-old Darwin wasn't a long-term piece, either. With youngsters like Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee rising through the farm system, the move was made with an eye on the future and maximizing the return on players who weren't going to be long-term pieces.

Sound familiar?

It's hardly a perfect comparison, but when the White Sox traded Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox in December for four minor leaguers — headlined by top-100 prospects in Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech — it was the first rebuilding blockbuster trade the organization had made since the 1997 White Flag deal. Shortly after trading their staff ace at the 2016 Winter Meetings, the White Sox shipped Adam Eaton — their best position player — to the for a package of prospects featuring two more highly-regarded youngsters in Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez.

And there still could be more moves on the horizon, too, for Rick Hahn's White Sox (Jose Quintana has been the subject of persistent rumors since the Winter Meetings). But for those looking for an optimistic outlook of the White Sox rebuilding plans, it's worth noting that the club's last youth movement, to an extent, was successful.

Only Howry (3.74 ERA over 294 games) and Foulke (2.87 ERA, 100 saves over 346 games) became significant long-term pieces for the White Sox from those six players brought over in 1997. And it wasn't like Schueler dealt away any of the franchise's cornerstones — like Frank Thomas, Albert Belle and Robin Ventura — but with future starters in Lee, Ordonez and Chris Singleton on their way the White Sox were able to go young. A swap of promising youthful players (Mike Cameron for ) proved to be successful a year and a half later.

And with a couple of shrewd moves — namely, dealing Jamie Navarro and John Snyder to the for Cal Eldred and Jose Valentin — the "Kids Can Play" White Sox stormed to an American League Central title in 2000.

"It was great," Howry said of developing with so many young players in the late 1999's and 2000. "You come in and you feel a lot more comfortable when you got a lot of young guys and you're all coming up together and building together. It's not like you're walking into a primarily veteran clubhouse where you're kind of having to duck and hide all the time. We had a great group of guys and we built together over a couple of years, and putting that together was a lot of fun."

What sparked things in 2000, Howry said, was that ferocious brawl with the Detroit Tigers on April 22 in which 11 players were ejected (the fight left Foulke needing five stitches and former Tigers catcher/first baseman Robert Fick doused in beer).

"About the time we had that fight with Detroit, that big brawl, all of a sudden after then we just seemed to kind of come together and everything started to click and it took off," Howry said.

The White Sox went 80-81 in 1998 and slipped to 75-86 in 1999, but their 95-67 record in 2000 was the best in the league — though it only amounted to a three-game sweep at the hands of the wild-card winning Seattle Mariners.

Still, the White Flag trade had a happy ending two and a half years later. While with the White Sox, Howry didn't feel pressure to perform under the circumstances with which he arrived, which probably helped those young players grow together into eventual division champions.

"I was 23 years old," Howry said. "At 23 years old, I didn't really — I was just like, okay, I'm still playing, I got a place to play. I didn't really put a whole lot of thought into three veteran guys for six minor leaguers."

Hopeful Tim Raines awaits Hall of Fame vote Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | January 17th, 2017

Tim Raines wasted no time laying groundwork for a spectacular career. As a rookie with the in 1981, Raines stole a major-league record 27 consecutive bases before getting thrown out. If not for the sensational , Raines would have been the rookie of the year.

Thirty-six years later, Raines appears to be hours away from getting elected into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Why it would take this long is a head-scratcher for many — the fleet and powerfully built switch-hitting left fielder is generally regarded as the second-best leadoff man of his era behind first-ballot choice Rickey Henderson — but why quibble now about timing when a seemingly sure thing is about to unfold? A recent poll of nearly half the voters had Raines on 91 percent of ballots, compared to 69.8 percent last year and 55 percent in 2015. He needs 75 percent to get elected in this, his 10th and final year.

“I was happy that I had gained a lot more votes,’’ Raines told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “I was only 23 short and this is actually the first year of the 10 years that I really feel pretty excited about the prospect of it happening.’’

The results will be announced at 5 p.m. Wednesday on MLB Network.

“He could hit and he could steal bases,’’ said Robin Ventura, who played during each of Raines’ five seasons with the White Sox from 1991-95. “If you talk Rickey Henderson, you talk Tim Raines. He was an impact player. His presence in the game of baseball was impressive.’’

His career spanned 22 seasons, including his first 13 years with the Expos before being traded to the Sox along with Jeff Carter for Ivan Calderon and Barry Jones.

Raines, 57, seems to have built more than a legit case. Former Sox teammate and first-ballot Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (who declined to talk about Raines because he didn’t want to jinx his chances), has called him the “greatest leadoff hitter of all time” because of career numbers like these: a .294 batting average, .384 on-base percentage, .425 slugging percentage, 2,605 hits (713 extra-base hits) and 1,330 walks. His 808 stolen bases ranks fifth all-time. His 84.7 stolen-base percentage is higher than anyone in the Hall.

Voters also are taking notice of Raines’ four seasons with 50-plus extra-base hits and 70-plus stolen bases. Henderson and Ty Cobb combined to do that only four times. Voters also know that of the first 18 players with at least 2,600 hits and 1,300 walks, 16 are in the Hall and two are not — Raines and Pete Rose.

In 1983, Raines became the first player with at least 50 extra-base hits and 90 stolen bases in one season since Tim Brown in 1891. It hasn’t been done since.

Nicknamed ‘‘Rock,’’ Raines batted .334 in 1986 to win the batting title, was a seven-time All-Star and a four-time champion.

“He hit for average but he wreaked havoc once he got on base,’’ said Ventura, who watched Raines bat .444 in the 1993 ALCS between the Sox and Blue Jays. “He’d get on, steal a base and next thing you knew, we had a quick .’’

Jeff Bagwell, also on 90 percent of revealed ballots, also seems certain to get in alongside Raines. Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman and Ivan Rodriguez also have reason to be hopeful.

“This will be the first year that I feel I have a legitimate shot,’’ Raines said.