WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF OCTOBER 4, 2017 “The good, the bad and the mixed: What went right and what went wrong for the 2017 White Sox” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Who are the 24 former White Sox playing in the MLB playoffs?” … Will Larkin, Chicago Tribune “Christiana Duarte, sister of White Sox prospect Mikey Duarte, reportedly killed in Las Vegas attack”… Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune “Sox prospect’s sister reported dead after Vegas shooting: reports” … Madeline Kenney, Chicago Sun-Times “Rozner: Ahead of schedule, won't rush rebuild” … Barry Rozner, Daily Herald “Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu credit improved fitness for dominant seasons” … James Fegan, The Athletic “How will the White Sox use free agency in rebuild's next phase?” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Rick Hahn Believes White Sox Rebuild Ahead Of Schedule, Stresses Development Still Needed For Michael Kopech” … CBS Chicago “Christiana Duarte, Sister Of White Sox Minor Leaguer Mikey Duarte, Reportedly Killed In Las Vegas Mass Shooting” … CBS Chicago “White Sox Draft Pick’s Sister Killed in Las Vegas Shooting” … Dan Gartland, Sports Illustrated The good, the bad and the mixed: What went right and what went wrong for the 2017 White Sox By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | Oct. 4, 2017

The White Sox lost 95 games, and yet their general manager described himself as pleased with certain aspects of the 2017 season.

He isn’t wrong to be.

Welcome to life in a rebuild.

There’s undoubtedly analysts and fans who rightfully have questions about the direction the White Sox are headed. They traded almost all of their top players for unproven prospects who come without any guarantees. There’s no promise this will work. The White Sox haven’t proven anything yet, and it’ll likely be a few seasons before anyone knows if they’ve executed it.

But as crazy as it sounds, the White Sox had a good season that has begun to generate optimism from the fanbase. Whether it’s the number of trades Rick Hahn completed, the talent the team accumulated, how young players developed or several other reasons, the White Sox had plenty of positives this season. Here’s a look at what went right, what went wrong and what could have gone better.

The Good

1. Hahn traded almost everyone

What seemed impossible in December and more difficult in May was suddenly complete several days before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline. When the White Sox started 2017 with Jose Quintana on the roster after trading and Adam Eaton, some thought Hahn had overvalued Quintana. Then Quintana struggled through May, and the volume of those questions significantly increased. But everything was reduced to a whisper when the White Sox traded Quintana to the Cubs on July 13 for a package featuring elite prospect Eloy Jimenez. Hahn then spent the next six weeks trading everyone, completing his work with an Aug. 31 deal that sent Miguel Gonzalez to . In all, nine players were traded during the season.

2. New kids prospered

Not everyone had great seasons, but many of the top prospects acquired since December took large steps forward. rediscovered his confidence. Reynaldo Lopez and Yoan Moncada forced the issue and fared well in the majors. Michael Kopech and Jimenez developed into elite prospects, and Dane Dunning continues to look like a steal.

3. Prospecting went well

Nowhere was the staggering amount of talent acquired by Hahn more evident than the farm system’s top-30 rankings. Even as Giolito, Lopez and Moncada graduated, the White Sox still have six prospects remaining on MLB Pipeline’s top- 100 list. Ten on their current top-30 list have been added via trades since December. Three more came from the 2017 draft.

But the biggest move, one that signaled to fans the White Sox are serious about rebuilding, was the May signing of Luis Robert for $52 million. The penalties they faced — the $26 million tax and two years of international signing restrictions — weren’t enough to dissuade them from signing Robert, who is currently ranked No. 22 in MLB Pipeline’s list.

4. Foundation laid

Nearly as important as adding talent is making sure it’s fostered in the proper environment. Hahn thought manager Rick Renteria would instill the appropriate atmosphere and hired him.

The White Sox are ecstatic with what Renteria has done. Hahn and the front office have recognized those efforts all season long, praising the team for its unrelenting attitude and unwillingness to quit.

5. Older players developed, too

Tommy Kahnle went from project to setup man almost overnight and keyed a trade that brought Blake Rutherford and Ian Clarkin over from the Yankees. Avisail Garcia finally released his untapped potential and turned into an All Star and a potential trade chip. And Yolmer Sanchez found a new level and ensured himself a lot of future plate appearances.

The Bad

1. Carlos Rodon’s future is uncertain

The hope was Rodon would develop into a 33-start, 200-inning pitcher this season. Instead the White Sox have more questions about if Rodon will ever reach his potential. Rodon appeared to be unaffected by the bursitis in his left biceps that cost him three months when he stuck out 9.9 batters per nine over 12 starts. But what Rodon’s future holds after he had arthroscopic surgery last week is anyone’s guess, even if the White Sox are optimistic he’ll fully recover.

2. Starting pitching gambles flop

Ten starts in, Derek Holland looked like a find and a potential trade candidate. But his fastball velocity dipped and his ERA soared, leading to Holland’s release last month. Rule 5 pitcher Dylan Covey showed some signs in his final two starts but struggled much of the season. Still, don’t be surprised if the White Sox follow a similar formula next season and try to convert a rehabbing pitcher or two into trade candidates.

3. The injury bug hit hard

Rodon wasn’t the only important player sidelined for a large chunk of the season. Nate Jones was limited to 11 games, Zach Putnam pitched in seven before he and prospect Zack Burdi had reconstructive elbow surgery. Catcher Geovany Soto was hurt twice and never got going. Leury Garcia’s breakout season was slowed by injuries, and even Avisail Garcia missed time with finger and knee soreness.

Mixed results

1. Anderson struggles before rebounding

Shortstop Tim Anderson’s ascent was derailed for several months as he struggled to cope with the May shooting death of his close friend, Branden Moss. Anderson made far too many errors and had a .608 OPS before he sought a grief counselor and turned around the toughest season of his life. After making 22 errors in 80 games, Anderson made six in the final 65. He also produced a .793 OPS in his final 54 games.

Who are the 24 former White Sox playing in the MLB playoffs? By Will Larkin / Chicago Tribune | Oct. 3, 2017

The White Sox were not in the playoff conversation this season, but Sox fans can tune in to the postseason to follow 24 former South Siders whose teams are in action.

RED SOX (2)

Chris Sale, RHP: Changed Sox in a trade for super prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. Became the first AL pitcher this century with 300 , started his second consecutive All-Star game and went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in an AL-high 214 1/3 innings. Made five All-Star teams in five seasons as a White Sox starter after two years in the bullpen, going 74-50 with an even 3.00 ERA overall.

Addison Reed, RHP: Has settled into a role as a top-notch set-up man after starting his career as a closer. He has a 3.33 ERA in 29 games with the Red Sox after coming over from the Mets – for whom he pitched in the 2015 World Series – at the trade deadline. In three years with the White Sox he earned 69 saves, including 40 in 2013. He was traded to the Diamondbacks after that 99-loss season for Matt Davidson.

YANKEES (3)

Todd Frazier, 3B: His short Sox tenure showed how quickly they went from going for it to rebuilding. Acquired in a three- team deal for Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson and dealt with relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle for Tyler Clippard and three minor-leaguers. In between, he hit 56 homers in 239 games for the Sox, including 40 in 2016.

David Robertson, RHP: Since rejoining the Yankees, he is 5-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 30 games, nearly identical to his numbers in his lone All-Star season with them in 2011 (4-0, 1.08, 70 games). The Sox signed him to a 4-year, $46 million deal before the 2015 season, and he saved 84 of 99 chances with a 3.28 ERA in 153 games.

Tommy Kahnle, RHP: Coming into this season, the hard-throwing reliever had a rate of 8.8 per nine innings. He reached the rare 15.0 mark with the Sox this year, striking out 60 in 36 innings to increase his value before the July 19 trade. With the Yankees, he had 36 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings (a 12.2 rate) with a 2.70 ERA in 32 games.

INDIANS (2)

Austin Jackson, OF: Didn’t make many memories during his brief time on the South Side, hitting .254/.318/.343 in 54 games last year. He’s pitching in as a right-handed platoon player with the Indians, hitting .318/.387/.482.

Boone Logan, LHP: Didn’t show much in 3 years with Sox (5.87 ERA in 144 games in 2006-08) but has carved a nice, 12- year career as a lefty specialist. Had a 4.71 ERA in 38 games with the Indians before a back injury sidelined him for the season.

TWINS (3)

Eduardo Escobar, IF: Entered the season with 27 career home runs in five-plus seasons but powered up for 21 with 73 RBIs as a full-time utility player in 2017. In 94 at-bats with the Sox in 2011-12, he had five extra-base hits for a .277 slugging percentage before he was traded for Francisco Liriano at the 2012 deadline.

Bartolo Colon, RHP: Picked up off the scrap heap after the Braves released him on July 4 of his 20th season. He went 5-6 with a 5.18 ERA in 15 starts for the Twins, his 10th team. Colon was a workhorse for the 2003 Sox, going 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA and nine complete games in 242 innings. Six years later, he was 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts as the 2009 Sox scrambled for starters.

Hector Santiago, LHP: Went 4-8 with a 5.63 ERA this year before he was shut down with upper thoracic back pain July 2. He went 8-10 with a 3.41 ERA in 2011-13 with the Sox before he went to the Angels in a three-way deal that brought Adam Eaton to Chicago.

ASTROS (3)

Francisco Liriano, LHP: He’s being used as a lefty specialist, with a 4.40 ERA in 14 1/3 innings in 20 appearances since coming over from the Blue Jays’ rotation at the deadline. He was acquired to boost the Sox down the stretch in 2012 but had a 5.40 ERA in 11 starts.

Chris Devenski, RHP: The Sox drafted him in the 25th round in 2011, then traded him at the 2012 deadline with two other minor-leaguers to the Astros for reliever Brett Myers. Devenski was an All-Star set-up man this season, and in two years with the Astros he has a 2.38 ERA in 189 innings out of the pen.

Tyler Clippard, RHP: Struggled with the Yankees at the beginning of the season (4.95 ERA) and with the Astros at the end (6.43). In between, he had a 1.80 mark in 11 games with the Sox before they flipped him for a player to be named or cash on Aug. 13.

NATIONALS (7)

Alejandro De Aza, OF: Hasn’t provided much help in two months as a backup, batting .194/.224/.323 in 62 at-bats. Was perfectly average with the White Sox, batting .270/.335/.405 with a 103 OPS+ in five seasons, three (2012-14) as a starter.

Edwin Jackson, RHP: Remembered more for three awful years with the Cubs (16-34, 5.37 ERA), Jackson pitched well in his one-year stint with the Sox after arriving at the 2010 trade deadline from the Diamondbacks for Daniel Hudson. He was 11-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 30 starts for the Sox before he was moved at the 2011 deadline to the Cardinals in a three- team trade that netted Jason Fraser and Zach Stewart. Jackson (5-6, 5.07 ERA in 13 starts with the Nats) could be pressed into duty against the Cubs if Max Scherzer can’t go.

Matt Albers, RHP: The hot-and-cold reliever is riding high again with a 1.62 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 63 appearances this season. That’s reminiscent of his 2015 with the Sox, when he was at 1.21 and 1.07 – numbers that bloated to 6.31 and 1.68 in 2016 before he left as a free agent.

Jacob Turner, RHP: The Nationals are the fifth team to take a chance on the talented 26-year-old who was the ninth pick of the 2009 draft by the Tigers. He hasn’t produced here either, with a 5.08 ERA in 18 games. The Sox (1-2, 6.57 ERA in 2016) and Cubs (2-4, 6.49 in 2014) were previous stops.

Gio Gonzalez, LHP: He never pitched in the majors for the Sox, who picked him 39th in 2004 then traded him twice. He went to the Phillies with Aaron Rowand for Jim Thome after the 2005 season, was reacquired with Gavin Floyd for Freddy Garcia a year later, then went to the A’s with Ryan Sweeney for Nick Swisher before the 2008 season. He’s 117-86 in 10 seasons, 79-54 with a 3.49 ERA in six seasons with the Nats and 15-9 with a career-best 2.96 ERA this year.

Adam Eaton, OF: Was batting .297/.393/.462 with 24 runs in 23 games before a torn ACL ended his season April 28. In three seasons with the Sox he hit .290/.362/.422 with an MLB-best 28 triples. The Sox acquired him in a three-team trade for Hector Santiago and traded him for pitching prospects Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.

Ryan Raburn, IF/OF: The longtime Sox killer (82 career RBIs against them, 25 against his next-favorite victim) was part of the Sox organization this spring and was traded to the Nationals for cash on May 26. He appeared in 25 games for the Nats, hitting .262 before suffering a shoulder injury.

CUBS (2)

Alex Avila, C: Enjoyed a return to form with the Tigers (.274/.394/.475) before a deadline deal to the Cubs, with whom he’s hitting .239/.369/.380 as Willson Contreras’ backup. In 57 games with the Sox in 2016, he batted .213 with seven homers and 11 RBIs.

Jose Quintana, LHP: A revelation for the Sox after signing as a minor-league free agent in 2011, he had a 3.53 ERA in 183 starts in six seasons. He went 7-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 14 starts with the Cubs after they acquired him for a package that included top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease.

DODGERS (2)

Trayce Thompson, OF: Was a key reserve for the Dodgers last year, putting up a .738 OPS in 236 at-bats, but was lost in the mix in 2017 with only 27 games played. The Sox included him in the Todd Frazier trade after he shined late in 2015, hitting .295/.363./.533 in 122 at-bats.

Brandon McCarthy, RHP: The last active member of the 2005 White Sox after A.J. Pierzynski and Juan Uribe retired after last season, McCarthy went 6-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 19 games (16 starts) in 2017. The Sox traded him to the Rangers after 2006 for John Danks and .

DIAMONDBACKS, ROCKIES: None.

Christiana Duarte, sister of White Sox prospect Mikey Duarte, reportedly killed in Las Vegas attack By Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune | Oct. 3, 2017

The mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night that resulted in the deaths of at least 58 people and left more than 500 injured has impacted the White Sox family.

Christiana Duarte, the sister of Sox minor-leaguer Mikey Duarte, reportedly was among those killed in the attack at an outdoor country music festival.

According to the Daily Breeze in Torrance, Calif., Christiana Duarte, was killed and among the injured was Ariel Romero, Mikey Duarte’s girlfriend.

While not confirming Christiana Duarte’s death, the Sox did comment, saying, “Members of the White Sox front office were in touch with Mikey Duarte and his family beginning (Monday) morning, and we have made available to Mikey and his family any resources we could offer, while sending them our thoughts and prayers over the past two days.”

Mikey Duarte tweeted pictures of his sister and girlfriend on his Twitter account @DuarteMjduarte, including one photo that was accompanied with a broken heart emoji.

The Sox selected Mikey Duarte, a shortstop, in the 23rd round of this year's draft out of UC Irvine.

Sox prospect’s sister reported dead after Vegas shooting: reports A country music festival turned into a war zone after a man began shooting toward the outdoor concert venue from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay. By Madeline Kenney / Chicago Sun-Times | Oct. 3, 2017

A country music festival turned into a war zone after a man began shooting toward the outdoor concert venue from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay.

Christiana Duarte, 21, has been confirmed as one of the at least 59 left dead after the Las Vegas shooting, according to multiple California news outlets. She’s the sister of White Sox prospect Michael Duarte.

A Redondo Beach native, Duarte was in the concert crowd with her brother’s girlfriend, Ariel Romero, according to the LA Times.

Romero’s brother, Elias tweeted Monday that his sister was “awaiting surgery.”

Michael, who was selected in the 23rd round from UC Irvine in the 2017 draft, had posted a series of pictures with Christiana and Romero on Twitter.

Before news broke of Christiana’s death Tuesday afternoon, friends and families took to social media asking for help locating her.

Christiana recently graduated from the University of Arizona and started a job with the Los Angeles Kings, who asked the public on Twitter to help locate her.

Rozner: Ahead of schedule, Chicago White Sox won't rush rebuild By Barry Rozner / Daily Herald | Oct. 3, 2017

Yes, Chicago White Sox fans, seven remains more than six.

Get used to that idea as it applies to Michael Kopech, or any of the potential superstars the South Siders might be adding to the big-league roster over the next two or three years.

As was the case for Theo Epstein and the Cubs, Sox GM Rick Hahn has an obligation to the rebuilding process, to the organization and to the fans to make certain that they don't lose a year of control or get to arbitration faster than necessary.

But Hahn also need not rush -- or start the clock on -- any player when the Sox are years away from competing.

"We have to remember that these kids need to be given the time they require to answer every question they have at the minor-league level," Hahn told us on "Hit and Run" Sunday morning. "We did it with (Lucas) Giolito and (Reynaldo) Lopez and (Yoan) Moncada.

"And we're going to continue to be diligent in not bringing guys to Chicago because there's a need in Chicago, but bringing guys to Chicago only when they've answered every question we have for them.

"So it will require some patience, not just from White Sox fans, but from us internally, and not get overly excited by what we see from Michael Kopech in spring training and ignore some of the developmental milestones that he's yet to reach at the minor-league level.

"We need him to accomplish that so he can maximize his talent and the impact he's going to have when he gets to Chicago for good."

So regardless of what Kopech does in spring training, think more along the lines of June 1 for Kopech to reach Chicago.

"We're going to have realistic developmental goals for Michael Kopech next year," Hahn said, "but it's not going to shock me if he's able to change our time horizon on those things given the talent that he has."

There's no hurry, just as there's no hurry to decide on what to do with Jose Abreu and Avy Garcia, both two years from free agency and with considerable trade value this winter.

The closer they get to free agency the more they lose value, but Abreu will be 31 in January and Garcia is 26, putting them in very different spots.

"Even if you accept the most optimistic projections for when we'll be able to contend for a championship, the bulk of that window occurs in 2020 and beyond," Hahn said. "Does it make more sense to extend the control, or are we better served going down the path we had to go with some other premium talent?"

At the same time, Abreu carries huge influence within the clubhouse and is a big part of helping young Latin players in a new environment.

It is no small matter for a team that is so heavily invested internationally.

"Jose is extremely important to our clubhouse and seemingly only getting better as a player," Hahn said. "We have to be very sensitive in terms of the disruption it could potentially cause in what we're trying to create in terms of our culture and from a baseball standpoint.

"We don't have to make that decision right now, in terms of an extension. But we aren't doing our jobs if we don't understand, via the trade market, the value of all of our players."

The really good news here is that only 10 months into a rebuild fans are wondering if the Sox can contend in 2018.

While fun to consider, the reality is a bottom-to-top rebuild usually takes at least four or five years, and Hahn will have to guard against moving up his timetable based on the excitement.

"It's a real challenge," he said. "We are pleased that people are having that conversation, that they're already thinking that this club could contend.

"I think we probably are, at this point, a little ahead of where you could have reasonably projected us to be, and certainly ahead of where you would project a 'normal' rebuild.

"But the player development side of this is important, and that's going to be at the forefront during the next phase of this process.

"We're optimistic about a lot of our guys, but at the same time we're realistic in knowing they're not all going to hit their ceilings.

"Ultimately, in all probability we'll have to look outside the organization to plug the final holes once our guys' development is complete.

"We're in the hardest phase in this process. We have to be patient and allow these guys the chance to develop."

So far, so very good.

Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu credit improved fitness for dominant seasons By James Fegan / The Athletic | Oct. 3, 2017

CLEVELAND — Extremely low expectations among White Sox fans entering the year made a 95-loss season tolerable and even fun for long stretches of time in 2017. At least part of that was due to something fans couldn’t have expected: a pair of elite middle-of-the-order hitters.

Coming off one of the worst seasons of his career at the plate, Avisail Garcia posted a jaw-dropping batting line. He hit .330/.380/.506 (137 wRC+) in a season that blew away every meaningful career best, and was barely outstripped by Jose Abreu, who hit .304/.354/.552 (138 wRC+). Between Abreu legging out six triples, most memorably his mad dash to cap his first career cycle, and Garcia sprinting out 26 infield hits, their fitness was hard to ignore. That, and because neither of them would stop talking about it.

Back when nobody wanted to hear why this season was going to be different from a career of fits and starts, Garcia was touting that he had already lost 14 pounds during the offseason via cutting most of the red meat out of his diet and working out rigorously, with plans to lose more (and still more this offseason). It was apparent enough that Abreu was a different man just by watching him run and seeing Statcast measurements showing a 0.7 foot-per-second jump in his maximum sprint speed, or from Yoan Moncada poking fun at Abreu's old weight in a video of them eating together. But Abreu confirmed at the end of the season that he was in better shape.

“I really appreciate all the help from [White Sox director of conditioning Allen Thomas, or ‘AT' as he's commonly known] for the offseason,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “I followed their plan and that’s why I felt good this offseason. In my first season I was a little chunky. I was between 260 to 265. Now I’m lighter, probably 243 and 245 and I have to thank AT for that. He has helped me be in better shape and that’s why I feel much better now.”

The “plan” Abreu was referring to is the White Sox's revered training and conditioning program, which carries a lot of the credit for the franchise's stellar injury prevention record. That track record is what Thomas cites when explaining why the program is mandatory — offseason training begins on Nov. 13, by the way — but the man in charge is still hesitant to take credit for a player's offensive success.

“They can be in the best shape of their lives and go 0-for-100 and no one is going to care what they look like,” said Thomas, who noted there are some players in the Sox clubhouse in fabulous shape who fell short of posting career years. “Me personally, I never attribute weight loss or weight gain to athletic skills, results. We’ve seen a lot of times it’s really not indicative of how they perform. Them taking care of their body however … that’s probably more important than where they’re at.”

Thomas compared Abreu's work ethic to that of Jim Thome and Juan Pierre, the hardest workers he's had in 14 seasons, but Abreu was dogged by ankle troubles in his first year in the league and has also dealt with soreness in his hips and knees. The injuries motivated Abreu to shed “excess weight,” and now that it's off and his weight is fluctuating less over the course of the season, the Sox are optimistic Abreu will have healthier joints as a result.

Despite Abreu's large frame reaching 30 years of age, Thomas is optimistic Abreu has locked into a steady routine that can allow him to maintain his current speed and flexibility for a while. It's all quite a turn of events from April, when some wondered whether Abreu still had the athleticism to keep playing first base.

“He’s become an excellent first baseman,” said White Sox manager Rick Renteria, who defended Abreu ardently through the process but also oversaw his extra work sessions. “I know there was a lot of questions early about what he could or couldn’t do, and rightfully so. He’s taken it on and moved to another level of defending and still hitting and doing a lot of things.”

Thomas may not want to take credit for Abreu's monster season, but Abreu's ability to hit and drive the ball was never in question. It was whether his age and physique would allow him to tap into that ability into his 30s. With Abreu looking fitter than ever and showing the ability to handle first base defensively, a league source says at least one National League team will target him in trades this offseason, potentially expanding what was a tepid market for him last winter.

Garcia's speed, and even his current weight in the 240s is nothing the Sox hadn't seen before, but Thomas said the difference this year was that Garcia came into spring training already in top shape, rather than getting there over the course of the year. While the skill and development benefit of winter ball in Venezuela is obvious for a hitter like Garcia, who was still finding himself until recently, Thomas doesn't like it from a fitness standpoint. He'd rather see his players focus on the offseason training program and getting ready for the big league season.

Even though Garcia played 34 games for the Aragua Tigres last offseason, Thomas said the 26-year-old took the opportunity to reshape his body when he returned to Miami, working with a trainer and even expanding his yoga routine beyond what the Sox program already requires for increased flexibility. Given that his second child was born in August, Garcia will be skipping winter ball entirely and training at home this offseason.

“When you’re having contract years and things of that nature, you have to ask yourself what’s more important,” Thomas said. “Avi’s not young to the game, this is his fifth or sixth season. Him playing winter ball, what’s really more important for him is taking care of his body.”

I requested Thomas' time on the last day of the season because Garcia and Abreu both credited him by name for their banner years, and they weren't the only ones to do so, or at least give a nod to his work. Jose Quintana, polite and accommodating as the day is long, would gladly talk right after a bullpen session but would request to delay interviews after training sessions because “AT just killed me.” Thomas isn't necessarily shy or bashful, as he asserted his role in the Sox injury prevention success was typically undersold in media coverage when we last spoke. But he wouldn't take credit for Garcia and Abreu, neither their performances nor even their physical transformations.

“It just comes down to them taking the bull by the horns, so to speak,” Thomas said. “There’s good food in [the clubhouse] but Allen Thomas or [trainer] Herm Schneider can’t make you eat the good food. They’ve done a really good job deciphering what’s good for them and what they should do and how it’s going to help their body on the field as far as [being] leaner, lighter and help them recover a little bit more.

“I love them both. They both worked their butts off and they have a whole lot more left in the tank. Avi is still in his 20s and Abreu is still at his 30 point, he still hasn’t gotten his man strength yet, as we like to say in the states. They shouldn’t have any problem continuing, as long as they stay diligent in their work, which I have no doubts about.”

Their 2017 performances, and the potential stability their fitness could bring doesn't make the White Sox's future decisions any easier. While the Sox see Garcia and Abreu as guys who could possibly contribute to their next contending team, the pair has only increased their trade value.

“Abreu, obviously you can’t say enough about the season he had on the field, but his importance in the role he plays in our clubhouse,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “Avi is still very young in this game at age 26 and has had his breakout season, and you would have reason to believe that kind of performance is going to become the norm for him going forward. And those are considerations as we make that assessment. Are we better served trying to control these players through the bulk of what we project to be our window, or are we better served as an organization doing what we had to do with Chris [Sale], Adam [Eaton], Jose [Quintana] and others?”

That's the question.

How will the White Sox use free agency in rebuild's next phase? By James Fegan / The Athletic | Oct. 3, 2017

Slowly, but surely, the White Sox are edging toward the part of the rebuild where they launch into a full-out free agent spending frenzy. Probably not this offseason, though.

“As we sit here right now, it’s too soon to say we need someone at position X for when it’s time to win,” general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday. “As we enter this offseason, we’ll monitor the free agent market, and if there’s the opportunity to get someone that we feel fits for the long term, we may move on that.”

There are some special cases, and the White Sox will be in a specific position to target those special cases when the time comes. But the general rule of thumb with free agents is that you’re paying for a diminishing asset. The best year of production you can expect to get is the first one, and it’s likely all downhill from there.

As such, trying to lock down a major or long-term piece for a 2018 season that — while potentially very fun! — does not figure to be a contending season, does not make a lot of sense. The beginning of that period figures to come next offseason, possibly more due to the quality of the class than 2019 being the perfect starting point. That said, The Baltimore Sun reported the Orioles are considering extending Manny Machado, but I digress.

“You may see us continue like we did last offseason,” Hahn saidd. “Be a little more opportunistic looking for players that can fill current holes and perhaps lead to future transactions that help the long term.”

We know what this looks like. Last season the Sox signed Derek Holland to a one-year deal on the premise that they could keep his left shoulder healthy after three seasons of injury-plagued struggles, and reap the benefits when they succeeded. They were successful, but as it happened, keeping him off the disabled list for the first time since 2013 did not return his 2013 form.

The rest of their hunting was even more opportunistic and mostly limited to minor league free agents, where the misses hurt even less. For every Cory Leubke or Cody Asche, there was an Anthony Swarzak and Gregory Infante, both of whom proved to be late-inning bullpen options at different points in the year. Even Peter Bourjos wound up being fodder for a minor trade after nothing more than a strong spring training. The Sox will look to fill out their pitching staff again.

“We shot a pretty big hole in our bullpen, I think was really apparent over the course of our trade activity, and that’s certainly going to be an area of need heading into the offseason,” Hahn said. “We’ve had a few guys step up here, stake a pretty good claim on a spot for the 2018 bullpen, but at the same time having a little more depth there would serve us well. And again, then it’s going to be about being a little opportunistic, so if there’s another arm to fill into the rotation that makes some sense for us that we see help as a building block to allow some of these young guys a little more time and cushion to develop, and we’ll see what’s available position player wise. But I think you look at our bullpen, we can’t make any secret we’re going to have to be active there.”

One of the keys to knowing who the Sox will target is getting to the depth of pitching coach Don Cooper’s soul. Both Holland and Swarzak were players he personally recruited, and in Swarzak’s case over the course of several years. Failing that, we can just make educated speculation on good fits.

Swarzak figures to get paid for a full and dominant season, but should also be a shade under the elite reliever tier due to his lack of a track record of success before 2017. Spending a lot on a high-end reliever doesn’t fit the Sox's window, but they certainly have the room if they want to target a better asset to flip. Anything beyond a two-year deal might push them out of consideration, though.

Lower than that might be 31-year-old Steve Cishek, who despite a 142 ERA+ over the last three seasons, has a low arm slot that means he mostly needs to avoid lefties to be effective. He wouldn’t be a bargain, but the Sox could hand him the closer role that other teams might be hesitant to give and shop him if he has success in high-leverage. If they want to go full bargain bin, 29-year-old righty Neftali Feliz essentially hasn’t looked great nor healthy since David Freese lined a ball over Nelson Cruz’s head in the 2011 World Series, but averaged over 96 mph on his fastball this past season. Typically, something can be done with that.

With Carlos Rodon undergoing surgery and seemingly a longshot to break spring camp in the rotation, the relative uncertainty of Carson Fulmer’s newfound progress as a starter, and the collective likelihood that one of Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez or will underperform or get hurt, the Sox will likely need a veteran starter to fill the gap, as Hahn acknowledged.

Similar to Swarzak, the argument could be made that a guy the Sox just traded away best fits the role they need now, but Miguel Gonzalez didn’t explode his value in the same manner over one rocky month in Texas. Gonzalez has declining velocity and strikeout rates, but a potential future rotation of Rodon, Giolito, Lopez, Fulmer and Michael Kopech doesn’t necessitate a long-term solution, just a professional and reliable one. Thirty-one-year-old Jaime Garcia was similarly productive enough despite being passed around like a cold virus this season, and would provide left-handed balance to a suddenly righty-dominant rotation.

Right-hander Tyler Chatwood is throwing harder than ever and is only 28, and just suffered through a mediocre year in Coors Field. His primary off-speed pitch is a cutter and he’s been using a curve more, so it’s almost like he’s been working with Cooper already, but there's a chance other teams will be curious to what he could do at a lower elevation to the tune of multiple years. Thirty-year-old righty Jeremy Hellickson has been a command artist in search of an out-pitch for much of his career and also features a cutter, so he could be interesting despite a terrible 2017. Chris Tillman and Hector Santiago are interesting reclamation projects if they are healthy by the start of 2018, less so if they are not.

Playing .500 down the stretch in 2017 (22-22) provides hope that the Sox could, naturally, play .500 again next season or even slightly better, and even slightly better would put them in the AL's second wild card territory based on the success of the Twins this year. But the Sox haven’t yet reached the point in their cycle where they should overpay and overcommit for the increased certainty of high-end free agents.

“We want to build a club that has that level of premium talent that you’re one of the elite teams in the postseason,” Hahn said. “We’re not looking to build a club that’s gonna jump up in one year, contend for a Wild Card and then regress back, we’re looking for a long term point of view.”

With that in mind, they’re probably hunting for value again, enjoying what blossoms and not sweating what doesn’t. It was plenty of fun last year, and it could very well be again.

Rick Hahn Believes White Sox Rebuild Ahead Of Schedule, Stresses Development Still Needed For Michael Kopech By CBS Chicago | Oct. 3, 2017

(CBS) With the 2017 season in the books for the White Sox, general manager Rick Hahn reflected by saying that he believes the organization’s rebuild is ahead of schedule.

“We probably are a little ahead of where you could’ve reasonably projected us to be and certainly where you would project a normal rebuild,” Hahn said on Hit and Run with Barry Rozner and Joe Ostrowski on 670 The Score. “And by normal rebuild, I mean one in which the big league roster when you start is somewhat barren in terms of talent and you need to build to build this thing out through the draft and internationally and to a lesser extent via trade. We knew when we entered this the normal time frame that these things tend to take, but we were also cautiously optimistic given some of the premium talent we had up in Chicago that we would be able to via trade sort of move this thing along more quickly. As you look at it today, it seems we’ve been able to do that. But the player development side of this is important, and that’s going to be what’s at the forefront over the next 12 or 18 months or the next phase of this process.”

One of the prospects who has impressed Hahn and White Sox officials is 21-year-old right-hander Michael Kopech, who spent most of the summer at Double-A Birmingham, where he compiled an 8-7 record and 2.87 ERA with 155 strikeouts in 119 1/3 innings. He then made three starts at Triple-A Charlotte to end his season, registering a 3.00 ERA.

Kopech will have the chance to compete for a rotation spot in spring training next season, amateur scouting director Nick Hostetler said in late August, but Hahn emphasized that wasn’t the expectation. He’s expecting Kopech to join the team later in the 2018 season.

“Is it possible? Yes,” Hahn said when asked about the possibility of Kopech being on the White Sox next July. “That’s simply because of how talented he is and as people have probably gotten tired of hearing me say, the good ones sort of have a way of forcing the issue on you.

“We’re going to have realistic developmental goals for Michael Kopech next year, but it’s not going to shock me if again, he’s able to change our time horizon on those things given the talent he has.”

Listen to Hahn’s full interview below. He also addresses what prospects surprised him in 2017, how the White Sox will know when add big names via free agency to a young core and much more.

Christiana Duarte, Sister Of White Sox Minor Leaguer Mikey Duarte, Reportedly Killed In Las Vegas Mass Shooting By CBS Chicago | Oct. 3, 2017

(CBS) The deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas late Sunday night hit home for the White Sox.

Christiana Duarte, the 22-year-old sister of White Sox prospect Mikey Duarte, was among those killed at the Route 91 Harvest festival, according to the Daily Breeze. The White Sox didn’t confirm her death but did tell the Chicago Tribune that they’ve been in contact with the Duarte family to offer support and any resources.

Ariel Romero, Mikey Duarte’s girlfriend, was also injured, according to the Daily Breeze.

The 23-year-old Mikey Duarte was selected by the White Sox in the 23rd round of the amateur draft last June and played for their rookie ball team. Duarte attended UC Irvine, and his sister was from Torrance, Calif., according to the report.

White Sox Draft Pick’s Sister Killed in Las Vegas Shooting By Dan Gartland / Sports Illustrated | Oct. 3, 2017

Christiana Duarte, 22, was among the 59 victims killed by a gunman at a concert in Las Vegas on Sunday night, friends and family confirmed to the Daily Breeze newspaper.

Duarte is the younger sister of White Sox minor leaguer Mikey Duarte, who was picked in the 23rd round of this year’s draft. She attended the concert with her brother’s girlfriend, Ariel Romero. Romero was shot in the face and hospitalized with a fractured jaw.

The younger Duarte worked for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Duartes’ cousins, Gerald and Brandon Laird, are former MLB players, and Brandon left his team in Japan to be with the family after learning of Christiana’s death.

Mikey Duarte, 23, played college baseball at UC Irvine and made two appearances for Chicago’s rookie league affiliate this summer.

At least 59 were killed and another 500-plus injured when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd gathered at an outdoor music festival from the window of his hotel room. Authorities found at least 23 guns, some of them assault rifles equipped with scopes, in his hotel room, as well as explosives in his home. Paddock killed himself before a SWAT team entered the room.