WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JULY 8, 2017

Prospect Robert battling knee injury By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | July 7, 2017

DENVER -- Luis Robert, the No. 23 prospect overall per MLBPipeline.com and No. 3 for the White Sox, will miss at least the next seven days after suffering a minor injury in the meniscus on his left knee, the club announced on Friday.

Robert suffered the injury while stealing home in a Dominican Summer League contest on Tuesday. He completed the game but complained of some soreness the next day. An MRI exam revealed the minor meniscus problem. He will receive treatment during his weeklong inactivity.

Through 17 games, the 19-year-old Robert is hitting .255 with one home , four RBIs and eight stolen bases. He has 14 and 17 walks in 51 at-bats. Robert joined the White Sox on May 26 by agreeing to a Minor League deal with a signing bonus of $26 million out of Cuba as the top international free agent. Sox, Rox continue showdown in Denver By Max Gelman / MLB.com | July 7, 2017

The Rockies and White Sox continue their Interleague series Saturday with Colorado righty Jeff Hoffman and Chicago lefty Jose Quintana facing off. Colorado won the opener, 12-4, tallying 17 hits.

Hoffman (5-1, 4.01 ERA) has been solid in all but one start for the Rockies, as he's given up three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts this season. His one poor outing was a doozy, though, as the D-Backs torched him for nine runs in 3 2/3 innings on June 21.

Quintana (4-8, 4.45) had a rough beginning to his season for the White Sox, but he has performed much better over his last six starts. The lefty has a 2.34 ERA, 35 strikeouts and a .209 opponent batting average during that span. In his only career start at Coors Field -- April 8, 2014 -- Quintana earned the win with seven innings of two-run ball.

Things to know about this game

• In an odd and interesting off-field connection, White Sox manager Rick Renteria and Millie Arenado, mother of Rockies Nolan Arenado, went to high school together in Southern California.

"I signed and went on to play ball, but I knew Millie," Renteria said. "We weren't close friends, but the group of people we hung around with knew each other. I know she was a pretty good softball player."

• The White Sox are averaging 4.27 runs per game when Quintana pitches, the seventh-lowest mark in the American League. Quintana has received three runs or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts, and one or zero runs eight times.

• Mark Reynolds is only 4-for-15 in his career against Quintana, but all four hits have gone for extra bases -- two doubles, a and a , good for a .733 .

Ailing Avisail won't miss All-Star Game By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | July 7, 2017

DENVER -- White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia will sit out Friday and Saturday against the Rockies at Coors Field due to a sprained middle finger on his right hand, but the 26-year-old isn't expected to miss the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on Tuesday in Miami.

Garcia suffered the injury in his second at-bat during Wednesday's game in Oakland, when he got jammed on a lineout to second.

"I'm OK," Garcia said. "My finger has a little inflammation. I'm not playing today. I'm not playing tomorrow. I'm playing Sunday. I will be fine.

"Sunday for sure. I can't grab my bat because of a little inflammation, and I don't want to risk it at this point. Today I feel better with my finger. I can close my hand right now. Yesterday I couldn't. That means I'm getting better."

This injury comes after Garcia missed five games due to left knee soreness, returning to the lineup on Tuesday. Garcia is 2-for-31 over his last eight games, but neither that slump or his recent pain battles will take away from his first career All- Star appearance.

It seems almost fitting that Garcia's last game before the All-Star break will come Sunday at Coors Field, as it was this location in 2014 where his career changed. Garcia knocked out four hits and two home runs in a victory on April 8, but in the sixth inning of a game on April 9, Garcia suffered a torn labrum diving for a DJ LeMahieu line drive and required season-ending surgery.

"I told [White Sox manager] Ricky [Renteria] about that, and he was like, 'Oh, wow,'" Garcia said. "That's the past. It's now in the present. I don't want to remember anything. I don't want to talk about the past. I just know I got injured here."

After two seasons of uneven play, Garcia has come full circle from that injury setback with a .313 average, .858 OPS, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs this season. Garcia will be "100 percent" ready to represent the White Sox in All-Star competition and take his place as one of the most productive players in the game for the first half of the '17 season.

"For all of them they get a sense of belonging," Renteria said. "It would be hard not to gain any confidence by being there in the room with all of those guys. They're the best of the best and they're out there and everybody wants to see them and it should create more confidence in your ability.

"You're sending a representative for the organization, a young man who has worked really, really hard to get where he is. He deserves it. A little exclamation point to what he's done to this point. We're looking forward to seeing him there."

On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Holland roughed up in Coors Field debut By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | July 8, 2017

DENVER -- To say Derek Holland is upset with his performance in June and July would be an understatement.

The White Sox left-hander, who had led the starting rotation through the season's early months, was blown up early and often in his Coors Field debut on Friday night as the handed the South Siders a 12-4 defeat.

Holland allowed the first seven Rockies batters to reach base in what would be a four-run first inning. By the time Holland was pinch-hit for in the fifth, Colorado had seven runs on the board and a firm grip on the ballgame.

"It's a frustrating thing on my part," Holland said. "I'm not doing my job."

Even as the White Sox rebounded for a second-inning run, the Rockies responded. Colorado scored in each inning against Holland except the third, when Raimel Tapia's sharp double was all for naught.

"All the innings kind of ran together today for him," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said.

He struggled to fool the Rockies' hitters in a hitter-friendly ballpark, forcing just one swing-and-miss all evening. After entering Friday's game having allowed the third-highest rate of hard contact on fly balls and line drives in the Majors, according to Statcast™, Holland allowed hard-hit contact (balls with an exit velocity of 95 mph or more) seven times.

One of those came in the fourth on Charlie Blackmon's solo shot, a blast with an exit velocity of 104.7 mph that was his first homer allowed to a left-handed hitter since June 10, 2016, against the Mariners' Kyle Seager.

"We've been pounding in and going to my strengths," Holland said. "Everybody knows I'm going to pitch inside. Today I didn't execute very well with that, and whenever I made the right pitch, they hit it."

Holland signed with the White Sox as a free agent this offseason and quickly emerged as one of the most reliable starters in a struggling rotation. Through the end of May, his ERA stood at 2.37 -- best among White Sox starters. In his seven starts since, that ERA has been 10.16, allowing 35 runs in 31 innings.

"The most frustrating thing is being inconsistent," Holland said. "You have a good start, and then you have two bad ones. Today was flat out embarrassing. I don't even know where to begin."

Holland's struggled have paralleled those of the White Sox as a whole. The starting staff has a 5.73 ERA over its last 43 games, with just 10 quality starts. The club's 29 quality starts this season are the fewest of any team in the American League. Even amidst his struggles, Holland's two quality starts in June were the second-most of anyone in the rotation.

"To come out and [struggle], it's not helping the cause," Holland said. "I've just got to do a better job. That was pathetic today."

Robertson returns, ready for anything By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | July 7, 2017

DENVER -- David Robertson might know a little bit more about trade rumors including his name if the White Sox closer had a higher success rate when using Internet search engines.

"I try to look for a few articles, but I'm the worst Internet searcher there is," said Robertson with a laugh. "I feel like I can't ever find anything, and who knows what to trust when there is so many different venues out there.

"But obviously, like I said before, the team is going to make the decision. That's up to upper management if they are going to move me. If they don't move me, that's great. I'll stay here. I love it in Chicago. If they do, it's their decision and I'll have to move on with my life to a new team."

Robertson rejoined the White Sox at Coors Field after missing the Oakland series while on 's paternity list. Violet Grace was born Monday, joining big brother Luke along with David and his wife, Erin.

Erin was four or five days overdue, and Robertson admitted to being nervous at times with the impending birth of Violet and the trade possibility from the rebuilding White Sox.

"I'm definitely more at ease now that we've had our baby, now that we've had Violet. No matter what happens, we'll be fine," Robertson said. "We have her and we are going to settle in.

"If something happens, I'm assuming it's going to happen later on in the month, so at least we've had the baby. We are comfortable and set. After a certain amount of time, she will be able to travel if I do get moved to another team. If not, we stay here and it's great and fine for me."

With 12 saves, a 3.00 ERA and 44 strikeouts and 10 walks over 30 innings pitched, the veteran right-hander stands as the top closer available. He's earning $12 million this season and is under contract for $13 million in 2018.

Rehab updates

Miguel Gonzalez allowed three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings during an injury rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte at Durham Thursday night. He struck out one and threw 47 of his 72 pitches for strikes. Gonzalez has been on the 10-day disabled list since June 18 (retroactive to June 15) with A/C joint inflammation in his right shoulder.

Tyler Saladino (back spasms) is 5-for-12 with one home run and three RBIs over four injury rehab games for Charlotte.

White Sox can't pick up Holland vs. Rockies By Fabian Ardaya and Max Gelman / MLB.com | July 7, 2017

DENVER -- All-Stars DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado homered as the Rockies -- averaging only 3.2 runs over their last 15 games -- came alive to rout the White Sox, 12-4, in Friday night's series opener at Coors Field.

The Rockies erupted for four runs in the first inning against White Sox starter Derek Holland and didn't look back, keeping the pressure on with runs in five of the first six innings. Holland exited after four, having given up seven runs on eight hits, including the homers by LeMahieu and Blackmon. Blackmon's solo shot in the fourth was the first homer Holland allowed to a left-handed hitter since June 10, 2016, vs. the Mariners' Kyle Seager.

"Overall tonight, especially early in the game, we had good at-bats," said Rockies manager Bud Black, who won his 700th career game. "We really forced Holland to throw strikes. We forced him into hitters' counts."

The Rockies' much-needed breakout featured more than just homers, as six players had at least two hits, including Gerardo Parra, who went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in his first game since being activated from the disabled list. The Rockies' 17 hits were the most since Aug. 6, 2016, vs. the Marlins.

Arenado said getting off to a fast start was a nice change of pace for the Rockies.

"I feel like we've either been behind or it's taken us five or six innings to get going," Arenado said. "Obviously it starts with Charlie, and everyone had good at-bats. ... It was nice to win like that after what we've been going through lately."

The White Sox were held in check for most of the night by Rockies starter German Marquez, scoring just once in the first six innings. Tim Anderson homered off Marquez in a two-run seventh -- the longest homer of his young career at a Statcast™-projected 451 feet -- to cut Colorado's lead to 10-3, but it was too little, too late.

"Today was flat out embarrassing. I don't even know where to begin," said Holland, who made his first Interleague start of the season and his first career start against the Rockies. "I put my teammates in a hole, giving up four runs right out of the gate. They put up a run for me and I go back out there and give up another run. It's a frustrating thing on my part. I'm not doing my job. I need to be a lot better than I was this start and last start."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Nolan finds his stroke: Arenado hit his first home run since June 18 in the sixth inning, padding the Rockies' lead by taking a 3-1 fastball from Chris Beck and driving it a Statcast™-projected 450 feet into the left-field bleachers with an exit velocity of 104.3 mph. It was Arenado's second-longest home run this season, trailing his 456-foot blast against Dodgers reliever Sergio Romo on May 14. Arenado also had an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the eighth off David Robertson to cap off a five-RBI night.

"It was nice to hit one out. I haven't done it in a while," Arenado said. "I haven't been driving the ball the way I'd like to this first half, but that's a credit to the pitchers also."

Arenado added that sitting out Thursday's game helped keep his body fresh.

"Body-wise for sure, I woke up with a little more energy," Arenado said. "The thing with off-days, they're hard in the National League because you still gotta be ready. … The anxiety was still kicking in."

Welcome back, Parra: The first seven batters of the game reached base against Holland, including Parra. In his first after being activated from the DL, Parra hit a grounder up the middle that deflected off Holland for an RBI single that gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead. Had Holland fielded it cleanly, it could've been a double play that limited the damage during what wound up as a four-run first.

"He had the bases loaded and the comebacker to him wound up deflecting," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Holland. "He had another ground ball and went to third instead of second. I'm trying to remember, because all the innings kind of ran together today for him."

QUOTABLE

"Tonight, I guess I got a couple back. On one, I'm gonna give myself a little bit of credit because I kind of hit a line drive. The first spinner I hit was kind of a line drive, but it was just nowhere near the barrel. And I guess I kind of got lucky on the infield hit." -- Blackmon, on going 3-for-4 with three runs scored after a stretch of bad luck

"I've just got to do a better job. That was pathetic today." -- Holland, who has allowed 35 earned runs on 50 hits, including 11 home runs, over his last 31 innings pitched

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Arenado's season-high five RBIs marked the 135th time in Rockies history a player has reached that mark. It's the fifth time in Arenado's career he's driven in five or more and the second time this season a Rockies player has had five or more RBIs -- Mark Reynolds had five June 6.

Holland's third-inning single was the first for a White Sox pitcher since Sept. 21, 2016, when James Shields recorded a single against the Phillies. It also marked back-to-back plate appearances with a single for Holland, who picked up his first Major League hit while with the Rangers on Aug. 23, 2016, at Cincinnati.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

After Melky Cabrera led off the fourth inning with a single, Jose Abreu chopped a grounder to third baseman Arenado, who started what appeared to be a rally-killing double play. The White Sox challenged that Abreu beat LeMahieu's throw to first base, and the call was overturned after a 48-second review.

DINGS AND DENTS

Rockies catcher Ryan Hanigan was a late scratch and was replaced by Tony Wolters about an hour before first pitch. Hanigan's left trapezius muscle tightened up, Black said, but he should be available Saturday.

LeMahieu exited the game in the sixth after jogging slowly out of the batter's box on a ground ball. LeMahieu, who went 2- for-4 with a home run, has been bothered by a groin injury since June 28 and Black said he's still working through some soreness. He should also be available Saturday.

WHAT'S NEXT

White Sox: White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (4-8, 4.45 ERA) will make his final start before the All-Star break on Saturday in the second game of a three-game set at Coors Field. He worked around four errors behind him in 4 1/3 innings to earn a no-decision against Texas in his last start. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. CT.

Rockies: Jeff Hoffman (5-1, 4.01 ERA) will make his ninth start of the season on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. MT vs. the White Sox. Opponents have scored five runs against Hoffman in his last two starts combined, following a nine-run outing vs. the D-backs on June 20.

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Brewers Reportedly Interested in Jose Quintana, Which Could Spell Doom for the Cubs By Tony Andracki / CSN Chicago | July 7, 2017

Well, it appears the will be ready to buy at the trade deadline after all.

The Brewers were supposed to be in the midst of a rebuilding year, but instead sit at 48-40 after blowing out the Cubs Thursday afternoon at Wrigley. The Brew Crew now has a 4.5 game lead over the defending champs and are assured to head into the All-Star Break in first place.

But given that their contention window arrived ahead of schedule, there was some question if the Brewers would go all-in at this upcoming deadline.

Friday morning, MLB Network's Jon Morosi said he's hearing from sources the Brewers are working on adding more pitching and White Sox ace Jose Quintana is among their targets:

Chuck Garfien proposed the idea of Quintana fitting with the Brewers on this week's WhiteSoxTalk Podcast.

Quintana is 4-8 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP this season, but has struck out 99 batters in 99 innings and carries a 2.34 ERA in six starts since the end of May.

The 28-year-old southpaw is on an extremely team-friendly deal that keeps him under control through the 2020 season with team options. He is owed $30.85 million from 2018-20, a serious bargain for a guy with a career 3.51 ERA.

Entering the season, the Brewers' main weakness was their pitching staff, but they enter play Friday sitting eighth in baseball with a 4.10 ERA, ahead of the , Cubs and a host of other contenders. Milwaukee's starting rotation has the seventh-best ERA in baseball (4.09).

Quintana taking his talents 90 miles north of Chicago would not bode well for the Cubs, as the defending champs are already struggling to find consistency and the deeper into the season it gets, the less likely it appears the Cubs will go all- in on a rental or short-term player to make a charge for this year.

The Brewers just placed four players Baseball America's midseason Top 100 prospect list released Friday morning:

16. Lewis Brinson - OF 43. Brandon Woodruff - RHP 60. Josh Hader - LHP 66. Luis Ortiz - RHP

Prior to the season, MLB.com ranked the Brewers' farm system fifth in baseball, two spots behind the White Sox. After the MLB Draft, Bleacher Report placed the Brewers' system fourth.

If the Brewers are able to acquire a guy like Quintana or Sonny Gray who are under team control for a while, their window of contention could remain open for the next few years, even if they have to part with several of their top prospects.

White Sox Well Represented on Baseball America's Midseason Prospect Ranking By Tony Andracki / CSN Chicago | July 7, 2017

Baseball America released its midseason Top 100 prospect ranking Friday morning and the White Sox are well represented with five names on the list:

1. Yoan Moncada - 2B 20. Michael Kopech - RHP 45. Luis Robert - OF 59. Reynaldo Lopez - RHP 75. Lucas Giolito - RHP

BA originally forgot to include Robert on the list after the Cuban outfielder signed with the White Sox just this season. Robert, 19, has played 17 games in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .255 with a .479 on-base percentage and .872 OPS, walking 17 times against only 14 strikeouts and stealing eight bases with one home run.

All five players were not a part of the White Sox organization even a year ago as the top two (Moncada and Kopech) came over from the Boston Red Sox in the trade while Lopez and Giolito were a part of the Adam Eaton deal with the Washington Nationals.

This is quite a different list from BA's preseason rankings that had five Sox players on it:

2. Moncada 25. Giolito 31. Lopez 32. Kopech 56. Zack Collins - C

Moncada is now the top prospect with Andrew Benintendi graduating. Kopech has risen 12 spots, but Lopez and Giolito have seen preciptous dips in the rankings and Collins has fallen off completely.

Collins is hitting only .214 this season, but has drawn a ton of walks (.369 on-base percentage) and has 11 homers in 75 games with Advanced Class-A Winston-Salem. But he has also struck out 86 times after whiffing 46 times in 39 games last year.

Lopez, 23, is 6-5 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with Triple-A Charlotte, striking out 85 batters in 87 innings. He made 11 appearances in the big leagues with the Nationals last year, posting a 4.91 ERA in six starts and five relief appearances.

Giolito, 22, was formerly the top pitching prospect int he game prior to the 2016 season, but he has an ugly 2-8 record to go with a 5.40 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with Charlotte. He has struck out 87 batters in 83.1 innings, but has allowed 85 hits and 15 homers in that same span.

Moncada, meanwhile, is off to a good start in Triple-A, hitting .278 with a .378 on-base percentage and .448 slugging (.826 OPS). The 22-year-old has 11 homers and 16 stolen bases plus 53 runs scored in 72 games.

In Double-A, the 21-year-old Kopech is 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 78.1 innings.

Could Finger Injury Put Avisail Garcia's All-Star Game Participation in Jeopardy? By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | July 7, 2017

DENVER -- Avisail Garcia is sidelined yet again, but thinks he’ll be ready in time for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Free and clear of the knee injury that sidelined him for five days, the White Sox outfielder said Friday that he plans to return to the lineup by Sunday after he jammed his finger during his second at-bat on Wednesday. Garcia said he has some inflammation but only believes he’ll be out Friday and Saturday.

“I’m playing Sunday,” Garcia said. “I will be fine. Sunday for sure. I can't grab my bat because of a little inflammation, but I will be OK though.

“My knee feels good. Now it’s my finger. That’s baseball. You have to get better (Friday) and (Saturday) and play Sunday.”

The team’s lone All-Star representative, Garcia said he “100 percent” expects to play in Tuesday’s exhibition in Miami. Garcia has been excited all week after he learned Sunday he was selected for the All-Star Game. He’s hitting .313/.356/.502 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 317 plate appearances.

Manager Rick Renteria thinks Sunday would be the worst case for the return of Garcia, who had missed five of seven games entering Friday. He’s excited for Garcia’s All-Star trip.

“He deserves it,” Renteria said. “A little exclamation point to what he’s done to this point. We’re looking forward to seeing him there.”

Ironically, this latest malady was announced at Coors Field, the site of Garcia’s devastating shoulder injury that wiped out most of his 2014 campaign. He dove for a short fly ball in the April 9 contest and suffered a torn left labrum and an avulsion fracture. Though he briefly mentioned it to Renteria, Garcia -- who missed time last week with a knee injury -- said he doesn’t want to spend too much time thinking about an injury that sidelined him for more than four months.

“I don’t want to remember anything,” Garcia said. “I just know I got injured here. … But it’s the past. I don’t want to talk about the past.”

White Sox Prospect Luis Robert Out at Least a Week After Suffering 'Minor' Knee Injury By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | July 7, 2017

The White Sox said that prospect Luis Robert would miss at least seven games after he suffered a minor injury to his left meniscus earlier in the week.

One of five White Sox prospects to make BaseballAmerica.com's top-100 prospects midseason list, Robert injured himself Tuesday while attempting to steal home in a Dominican Summer League contest. The team said it intends to keep Robert out of the lineup for a minimum of seven games while he receives treatment.

Robert, who turns 20 next month, received a $26 million signing bonus from the White Sox in May and has played in the DSL since reporting. He’s rated the No. 45 prospect in baseball by Baseball America and is No. 23 overall, according to MLBPipeline.

Robert has produced a .255/.479/.392 slash line with one home run and four RBIs in 73 plate appearances this season. He has walked 17 times and struck out 14.

Breaking Down Derek Holland's Recent Struggles with White Sox By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | July 7, 2017

DENVER — Derek Holland just can’t seem to get out of his rut.

The White Sox starting pitcher lasted only four innings in Friday night’s series opener at the Colorado Rockies and now has a 10.16 ERA in his last seven starts. The White Sox dropped the contest 12-4 to Colorado.

A free agent after this season, Holland allowed four first-inning runs. He also later yielded a pair of home runs and allowed seven earned runs and eight hits.

Holland — who signed a one-year deal worth $6 million in December — has struggled since the start of June. Over his last seven starts, Holland has allowed 35 runs (all earned) and 50 hits in 31 innings. He has walked 14 batters and struck out 26.

For comparison, Holland allowed only 16 earned runs across 60.2 innings in April and May while striking out 52 batters to 24 walks.

The left-hander entered Friday with the third-worst ERA among pitchers with at least 25 innings since June 1. Holland had a 9.33 ERA in his previous six starts. Only Baltimore’s Chris Tillman (9.69 ERA) and Toronto’s Marco Estrada (9.46) have higher ERA’s.

“The most frustrating thing is being inconsistent,” Holland said. “You have a good start and then you have two bad ones. Today was flat out embarrassing. I don’t even know where to begin.

“I’m not doing my job. I need to be a lot better than I was this start and last start.

"I’ve just got to watch more video, see what I’m doing. Everything was good — me and Coop were talking about it — in the ‘pen. And then come out and, excuse my language, (crap) the bed. It’s not helping the cause.”

Yoan Moncada still No. 1 on Baseball America's top 100 prospect list By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 7, 2017

Baseball America released its midseason top 100 prospects list, and there is some movement among a White Sox crop that includes five players.

Triple-A Charlotte second baseman Yoan Moncada remains the top prospect in baseball, followed by Blue Jays third-base prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres.

Of course the big question for Moncada, who will play in the Futures Game on Sunday as part of the All-Star Game festivities, is how much longer he will remain a prospect before joining the big-league club.

Double-A Birmingham right-hander Michael Kopech, also a Futures Game participant, moved up from No. 24 to 20.

Luis Robert, who signed with the Sox out of Cuba in late May for a $26 million bonus, checks in to his first BA 100 at No. 45. Robert, who is playing in the Dominican Summer League, is such a late arrival he was left out of the first midseason list before editors inserted him and expanded the list to 101 players.

A pair of right-handers who have had up-and-down seasons at Triple-A Charlotte both fell in the rankings. Reynaldo Lopez dropped from No. 23 to 59 and Lucas Giolito dropped from No. 40 to 75.

Class-A Winston-Salem catcher Zack Collins dropped out of the rankings.

David Robertson 'more at ease' with trade rumors after birth of daughter By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 7, 2017

White Sox closer David Robertson admitted he has typed his name into an online search engine now and again to try to get a handle on what lies in store for him as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

"But I'm the worst Internet searcher there is," Robertson said. "I can't ever find anything, and who knows what to trust when there are so many different venues out there."

The month of July is never going to be comfortable for veterans on selling teams, but Robertson feels a little better about his situation now that he and his wife, Erin, celebrated the birth of his second child, Violet.

Robertson returned to the Sox on Friday after three days away for paternity leave. He said he was "a little nervous" about a trade going through before the delivery.

"It would creep in every now and again, but now we have her and we are going to settle in," Robertson said. "No matter what happens, we'll be fine."

Robertson, who has another year left on his contract, seems among the most likely to be dealt because of the value he could bring to an in-need . But he also said he is at ease with either path.

"If they don't move me, that's great," Robertson said. "I love it in Chicago. If they do, I'll move on with my life to a new team."

Connected: Sox manager Rick Renteria served as Rockies manager Bud Black's bench coach while both were with the Padres.

Renteria also went to South Gate (Calif.) High School with Millie Arenado, the mother of Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

White Sox All-Star Avisail Garcia in no mood to relive last trip to Coors Field By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 8, 2017

The White Sox returned to Coors Field on Friday for the first time since 2014 with a 12-4 loss to the Rockies.

Avisail Garcia was in no mood to delve into the painful memories of the team's last trip to Colorado. The Sox right fielder suffered a torn labrum and an avulsion fracture in his left shoulder while attempting to make a diving catch April 9, 2014, only nine games into his first full season with the Sox.

"That's the past," Garcia said Friday afternoon before the opener of a three-game series. "It's now in the present. I don't want to remember anything."

Garcia is in a much different place three years later while preparing for his first All-Star Game, but he still is dealing with minor injuries he hopes won't prevent him from participating.

After missing five games with a sore left knee, Garcia was held out Friday with a sprained middle finger on his right hand, suffered in his second at-bat Wednesday against the Athletics. He said he had trouble gripping a bat during the off day and could miss Saturday's game too.

But Garcia "100 percent" thinks he'll be ready for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Miami.

"I don't want to risk it at this point," Garcia said of playing Friday. "I feel better with my finger. I can close my hand now."

Garcia didn't want to revisit the details, but the momentum swing experienced during the 2014 trip is hard to forget.

A day before he was injured, Garcia and Jose Abreu each hit two of the Sox's six homers in a 15-3 victory. It was a big moment for two players fairly new to the club — Garcia arrived via trade in midsummer and Abreu had signed in the fall of 2013.

But the mood was somber the day after the injury. Garcia spent the next four months recovering and the next two years trying to find consistent success.

It clicked this year for Garcia, who is hitting .313 with 17 doubles, 11 homers and 51 RBIs. Sox manager Rick Renteria said he views the All-Star Game as an important milestone for Garcia, "a young man who has worked really, really hard to get where he is. He deserves it."

Renteria also said going to the festivities can boost self-esteem and be a motivator for players, something former Sox All- Stars Abreu and Jose Quintana also spoke of in the past.

"They get a sense of belonging," Renteria said. "It would be hard not to gain confidence being in the room with all of those guys. They're the best of the best, and everybody wants to see them."

The return to Coors Field didn't create many good Sox memories. One was Tim Anderson's two-run, 451-foot homer after the game was out of reach.

Left-hander Derek Holland gave up seven earned runs over four innings. He allowed two walks and four singles in the four-run first, then surrendered a two-run homer to DJ LeMahieu in the second and a solo shot to Charlie Blackmon in the fourth as the Sox fell behind 7-1.

Nolan Arenado homered off Chris Beck in the sixth and a hit a two-run double off David Robertson in the eighth.

And while it won't affect the big-league club, the Sox announced during the game an injury to a major part of their rebuilding project. Outfielder Luis Robert, the team's No. 3 prospect, suffered a minor injury to the meniscus in his left knee and will miss at least seven days while undergoing treatment.

The Sox said Robert, who signed out of Cuba for a $26 million bonus in late May, suffered the injury Tuesday while sliding to try to steal home in a Dominican Summer League game. He complained of soreness, and an MRI revealed the issue.

White Sox prospect Luis Robert suffers meniscus injury during steal attempt By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 7, 2017

White Sox No. 3 prospect Luis Robert suffered a minor injury to the meniscus in his left knee and will be held out of at least seven days while undergoing treatment, the club announced Friday.

The Sox said Robert suffered the injury on a slide while stealing home in a Dominican Summer League game Tuesday. He complained of soreness, and an MRI revealed the issue.

Robert, who signed with the Sox out of Cuba in late May for a $26 million bonus, was recently ranked the No. 45 prospect in baseball by Baseball America.

He was hitting .255 with four doubles, a homer, four RBIs, 17 walks, 14 strikeouts and eight stolen bases over 17 games with the DSL White Sox.

Derek Holland struggles in 'embarrassing' outing as White Sox lose 12-4 to Rockies By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 7, 2017

Derek Holland called his first career appearance at Coors Field on Friday night “flat-out embarrassing.”

The White Sox left-hander continued a rough stretch on the road, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings in a 12-4 loss to the Rockies.

Holland issued two walks and gave up four singles in the Rockies’ four-run first. He also surrendered a two-run homer to DJ LeMahieu in the second and a solo shot to Charlie Blackmon in the fourth as the Sox fell behind 7-1.

“It’s a frustrating thing on my part,” Holland said. “I’m not doing my job. I need to be a lot better than I was this start and last start. A positive is we got through half of the year, and so far, we’re healthy. That’s a big plus. But I’m upset with how I pitched these last two starts.”

At the plate

Todd Frazier doubled in the second inning off Rockies right-hander German Marquez and scored on Omar Narvaez’s groundout to give the Sox their only run over the first six innings.

Tim Anderson added a two-run homer to center field that traveled 451 feet in the seventh, the last inning for Marquez. The Sox added a run in the ninth on Willy Garcia’s RBI groundout.

On the mound

Holland has allowed six or more runs in four consecutive road starts and owns an 18.44 ERA in those outings.

In relief

Minaya gave up an RBI single to Raimel Tapia in the fifth, and Chris Beck surrendered a two-run, 450-foot homer to Nolan Arenado in the sixth.

After Dan Jennings gave up two, two-out singles in the eighth, David Robertson, entering to get some work after missing three games while on the paternity list, allowed a two-run double to Arenado.

On the bench

Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia was scratched with a sprained middle finger on his right hand, which he suffered in his second at-bat Wednesday against the Athletics. Garcia had previously missed five games with a sore left knee, but he played in two of three games against the Athletics in Oakland in the previous series.

Key number

17 – Hits for the Rockies, a season high. They had entered the night with 16 consecutive games scoring six or fewer runs.

The quote

“The most frustrating thing is being inconsistent. You have a good start and then you have two bad ones. Today was flat- out embarrassing. I don’t even know where to begin. I put my teammates in a hole, giving four runs right out the gate.” -- Holland

Up next

At Rockies, 8:10 p.m. Saturday.

Brewers show interest in White Sox’ Jose Quintana — report The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly shown interest in White Sox ace Jose Quintana, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. By Madeline Kenney / Chicago Sun-Times | July 7, 2017

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly shown interest in White Sox ace Jose Quintana.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted Friday that the Brewers have begun “background work” on Jose Quintana and Athletics’ Sonny Gray and are planning to be buyers at the trade deadline.

With their top starter Chase Anderson on the disabled list after straining his oblique, the Brewers could use some support in its pitching staff.

Quintana is coming off of a career-best season last year, although he struggled early in the 2017 season. Quintana is 4-8 with a 4.45 ERA and leads the White Sox with 99 strike outs in 99 innings this season.

Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers beat reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, also confirmed the Quintana trade rumor, but cautioned that the Brewers won’t give up all their prospects.

The Brewers have four players on Baseball America’s midseason Top 100 prospect list, which was released Friday. Outfielder Lewis Brinson (No. 16), right-hander Brandon Woodruff (No. 43), left-hander Josh Hader (No. 60) and right- handed Luis Ortiz (No. 66) made the list for Milwaukee.

If the Brewers trade for Quintana, it could scream “trouble” for the Cubs. The Brewers sit 4.5 games ahead of the defending World Series champs and dominated the Cubs Thursday, winning 11-2 at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee sits comfortably and will lead the National League heading into the All-Star break.

It’s time for White Sox to begin trading Jose Quintana and company With the July 31 trade deadline nearing, there’s no reason to have Jose Quintana, David Robertson and Todd Frazier on the Sox’ roster Aug. 1. By Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun-Times | July 8, 2017

Being in last last and 10 games under .500 is proof enough the White Sox are ready for the full rebuild that they have been seemingly reluctant to fully embrace.

This team is going nowhere in 2017. We are closing in on the July 31 trade deadline, and there’s no reason to still have Jose Quintana, David Robertson and Todd Frazier still on the Sox’ roster by Aug. 1.

Seems like general manager Rick Hahn needs a little nudge, so here goes …

Jose Quintana: The left-hander somehow survived the offseason without being dealt. He seemed to be the next chip to fall after the Chris Sale trade to the Red Sox.

It looked as if the Sox were hoping to drive up Quintana’s price by midseason, figuring he would deliver on his talent in the first three months of the season.

It hasn’t been that easy. Quintana is 4-8 with a 4.45 ERA. He has rebounded in recent weeks, with the Sox winning each of his last four starts, with Quintana going 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA over that span.

His rebound has reportedly attracted the attention of the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite his rough start this season, Quintana, 28, is drawing plenty of attention from several contenders as the deadline nears. A club-friendly contract that includes team options for 2019 and 2020 only enhance his value.

David Robertson: Ask any contending general manager — during any July in the last 50 years — what would be a nice addition at midseason, and closer would be at the top of the list.

Robertson, 32, also has an attractive contract that runs through next season as part of his original four-year, $46 million contract. Despite a 3.00 ERA, he has 12 saves in 13 chances for an awful team. He might not bring the prospects that Quintana can attract, but his age makes it clear Robertson won’t be a factor whenever the Sox are ready to be serious contenders.

What makes Robertson attractive is he has postseason experience and has seven outings this season that stretched beyond one inning. Any contender could find room for the right-hander at the tail end of the bullpen.

Todd Frazier: He’s 31 and his contract expires at the end of this season. The Sox could hold on to him and wait for a draft pick once he leaves next offseason as a free agent. But why wait? Every contender could use a powerful bat down the stretch, and Frazier provides that. The Boston Red Sox, who are searching for help at third, could be a nice match. The Red Sox have plenty of prospects that make a Frazier midseason deal attractive.

Frazier delivered 40 home runs and 98 RBI last season for a disappointing White Sox team that went nowhere. If you remember, there was some excitement when he was acquired in a three-way deal with the and Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2015..

The Reds sent Frazier to the White Sox, the White Sox sent three prospects (outfielder Trayce Thompson, right-hander Frankie Montas and infielder Micah Johnson) to the Dodgers. The Dodgers sent infielder Jose Peraza, outfielder Scott Schebler and infielder Brandon Dixon to the Reds.

The Cincinnati Enquirer took an interesting look today at who fared best in that three-way deal. Getting some value for Frazier now could help the White Sox look good in a deal that now looks like a dud.

Avisail Garcia expected to miss two games with sprained finger The All-Star right fielder was scratched from the Sox’ game Friday against the Rockies with a sprained middle finger on his right hand. By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | July 7, 2017

DENVER — All-Star right fielder Avisail Garcia was scratched from the White Sox’ game Friday against the Rockies because of a sprained middle finger on his right hand. He said he will miss the game Saturday, too.

Garcia, who missed five games with inflammation in his left knee before returning to play in two of the three games of the Sox’ series this week against the Athletics, jammed the finger when he lined out in his second at-bat Wednesday.

‘‘I’m OK, [but] my finger has a little inflammation,’’ said Garcia, who is having trouble getting a strong grip on the bat. ‘‘I’m not playing today. I’m not playing tomorrow. I’m playing Sunday. I will be fine.’’

Garcia said he couldn’t close his hand on the Sox’ day off Thursday but can close it now.

‘‘That means I’m getting better,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t want to risk it at this point.’’

The All-Star Game is Tuesday in Miami. Garcia was named to his first All-Star team via player vote.

‘‘A little frustrating for him,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘Had a little jam shot the other day, so his finger is a little bruised up or something. They’re taking care of it. Right now, he’s day-to-day.’’

Renteria said he’s looking forward to watching Garcia play in Miami.

‘‘You’re sending a representative for the organization, a young man who has worked really, really hard to get where he is,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘He deserves it. A little exclamation point to what he’s done to this point.’’

Swarzak on ‘Team Tommy’

David Robertson rejoined the Sox after being on paternity leave for the birth of his daughter, meaning Tommy Kahnle’s responsibility as closer is over — unless Robertson is traded before the non-waiver deadline July 31.

Kahnle, whose career began with the Rockies in 2014, has an ‘‘aw, shucks’’ kind of mindset that would serve him well in the ninth inning, veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak said.

‘‘I’ve been on Team Tommy since day one,’’ Swarzak said. ‘‘He’s a different guy, but I think that kind of helps him. He knows who he is, and he’ll go out and give you his best every day. He prepares as best as I’ve ever seen in this game. He works hard.

‘‘The ninth is a different animal, but he has the stuff to get it done.’’

Prospect Robert hurts knee

Outfield prospect Luis Robert suffered a minor injury to the meniscus in his left knee on a slide while stealing home in a Dominican summer-league game Tuesday and will be out at least seven days while he receives treatment. The Sox signed Robert, a 19-year-old from Cuba, to a $26 million bonus in May.

Robert is the No. 45 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America’s midseason rankings. He is one of seven Sox prospects — tied for the most in baseball — on MLB.com’s Top 100 list. Those on the list are second baseman Yoan Moncada (No. 1), right-hander Michael Kopech (No. 11), Robert (No. 25), right-hander Lucas Giolito (No. 30), right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (No. 38), right-hander Carson Fulmer (No. 61) and catcher Zack Collins (No. 70).

MLB.com ranks the Sox’ farm system third, and Baseball America ranks it fifth.

Something Brewing? Rumor mill heats up again for Jose Quintana The left-hander remains one of the top available pitchers on the trade block for contending teams looking to bolster their starting rotations. By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | July 7, 2017

DENVER — You’re going to hear left-hander Jose Quintana’s name coming up a lot in the next three weeks, just as it did during the winter meetings and just as it did before and during spring training.

Who knows, maybe the White Sox, 12-4 losers to the Rockies on Friday at Coors Field, will actually trade him this time.

The Brewers, leading the struggling Cubs in the National League Central, are doing background work on Quintana and Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray, according to an MLB.com report, an indication they are willing to part with a handful of prospects. The Brewers aren’t alone doing background work and scouting Quintana, who pitches Saturday, as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline fast approaches.

Brewers general manager David Stearns reminded reporters that all teams are doing what the Brewers are doing on all available pitchers. He also said he’s taking contending possibilities “seriously,” while saying any moves would be with the long term in mind, as well.

Which is why Quintana would be an attractive get for him. He’s 28, and his team-friendly contract ($7 million this season, $8.85 million in 2018, club options of $10.5 million in 2019 and 2020) is just what the Brewers would likely be willing to dip into their farm system for, one that includes five top-55 prospects (per MLB.com).

“A guy who throws 200 innings and is under control for that kind of money is invaluable,’’ an American League executive said. “One thing you need to win in this league is not only starting pitching but veteran starting pitchers who can go wire to wire [a full season].’’

The Brewers probably took notice when Quintana was dominant in his two career starts against them, allowing one earned run with 14 strikeouts and one walk in 15 innings.

Quintana’s subpar season notwithstanding, general manager Rick Hahn is holding a valuable trade chip and won’t give it up for anything less than a significant return. Quintana will take a 4.45 ERA (3.51 career) into Saturday, but his ERA in his last six starts is 2.34.

“If I’m Hahn, I say, ‘When are we going to win the division?’ ’’ the exec said. “If it’s 2019, you say, ‘Who is going to be on that club in ’19?’ Quintana is a yes, so I don’t see the urgency in trading him. It’s going to take a ridiculous amount of players to get him.’’

It won’t take a ridiculous amount to pry away some of Hahn’s other assets, such as closer David Robertson, who is under contract for $12 million this season and $13 million in 2018.

“If something happens, I’m assuming it’s going to happen later on in the month, so at least we’ve had the baby,’’ said Robertson, who returned from paternity leave after the birth of his second child.

Lefty Derek Holland, thought to be a potential midseason trade piece when he signed for $6 million in the offseason, continued to see his value plummet. He allowed seven runs and eight hits, including homers to DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon, in four innings. His ERA in his last seven starts is 10.16.

“I just have to do a better job,” Holland said. “That was pathetic today.”

Nolan Arenado’s 450-foot homer against Chris Beck in the sixth gave the Rockies a 10-1 lead. Tim Anderson’s 451-foot homer against starter German Marquez (6-4) cut the Rockies’ lead to 10-3.

“I’m not opposed to [talking about trade rumors] if they want to talk to me about it, but they are focused on playing baseball,’’ manager Rick Renteria said.

Rockies rout Holland, White Sox 12-4 By Michael Kelly / Associated Press | July 8, 2017

DENVER (AP) -- A day off led to a big night for Nolan Arenado. The rest of the Colorado Rockies followed his lead in a breakout victory.

Arenado returned to the lineup with a homer and drove in five runs, German Marquez tossed seven strong innings and had two hits, and the Rockies' slumbering offense awoke in a 12-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu also went deep as Colorado broke out of prolonged slump to give manager Bud Black his 700th career win. The Rockies banged out a season-high 17 hits and were 7 of 14 with runners in scoring position. They hit just .226 and .216 with runners in scoring position while losing 12 of their previous 15.

"I think we are more of that team that we saw tonight than what we've seen in the last couple weeks," Black said.

Arenado, Blackmon and Gerardo Parra, who was activated from the disabled list before the game, all had three hits.

Arenado took a rare day off Thursday and said he woke up Friday morning with more energy. He showed it with several hard hits, including a 450-foot homer to left that give the Rockies a 10-1 lead in the sixth.

It was just his second home run since June 3 and the first since he hit one to complete the cycle on Father's Day.

"It felt great. I feel like I hadn't done it in a long time," he said. "My second at-bat, I lined out and my third at-bat I thought I hit the ball hard and I was like, 'Oh, man, what's going on?' It was nice to hit one out."

Marquez (6-4) cruised through six innings before allowing Tim Anderson's 451-foot two-run homer in the seventh. He allowed three runs and nine hits, struck out five and didn't walk a batter while tossing a season-high 102 pitches.

"He worked fast, he was throwing strikes," Black said. "That was a well-pitched game."

Chicago's Derek Holland (5-9) gave up seven runs and eight hits in just four innings in his first career start at Coors Field. The first seven Rockies reached base against him in a four-run first inning.

Colorado added two more runs in the second when Marquez led off with a double and scored on LeMahieu's fourth homer of the season. Blackmon hit his 19th, a solo shot in the fourth, to make it 7-1.

"Today was just flat-out embarrassing," Holland said. "I put my teammates in a hole, gave up four runs right out of the gate. Then they put up a run for me and of course I go back out there and give up another run. It's a frustrating thing on my part."

Marquez led off the sixth with a single and Arenado connected for his 16th off reliever Chris Beck to make it 10-1. Arenado added a two-run double off David Robertson in the eighth and the Rockies celebrated Black's milestone win.

He is the 12th active manager with at least 700 wins.

"Hopefully, there's more of these to come from a team standpoint," Black said.

White Sox: OF Avisail Garcia was out of the lineup with a jammed right middle finger suffered in the three-game series against the Oakland A's earlier this week. Manager Rick Renteria said Garcia, the team's lone All-Star, is day to day. "It's going to get better," Garcia said. "See how it is (Saturday) and play on Sunday."