NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The White Sox mean business about this rebuilding thing.
Pulling off his second blockbuster trade for high end prospects in as many days Wednesday, general manager Rick Hahn continued on his quest to stockpile top minor league talent, trading outfielder Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals for a package of three right-handers including the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball according to MLB.com
For Eaton, the Sox’ most valuable position player in 2016, the Sox received not only right-hander Lucas Giolito — the No. 3 prospect in baseball and top pitcher — but Reynaldo Lopez, their No. 3 prospect, and Dane Dunning, ranked No. 6.
It was a haul that played to raves from talent evaluators and media around the Winter Meetings, and it came 24 hours after the Sox traded five-time All-Star Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for four prospects — including infielder Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 ranked-prospect in baseball — in the first of what is expected to be a series of major rebuilding moves for Hahn.
By almost all accounts, the two trades immediately elevated the Sox farm system into one of the top five to 10 systems in baseball.
“We are ecstatic about the return we were able to secure,’’ said Hahn, kicking the Sox rebuild into high gear.
“An important part of the process we are pursuing is acquiring quality pitching talent. We feel like we’ve done that today — and yesterday — en masse,” Hahn said. “Giolito and Lopez rank among the top prospects in baseball, while Dunning is another young prospect who possesses front-of-the-rotation potential.’’
Eaton batted .284/.362/.428 with 14 homers and 14 stolen bases in 2016 and was a finalist for a Gold Glove, playing most of the season in right field after playing in center his first two years.
Nats GM Mike Rizzo raved about Eaton’s overall skills as well as his hard-nosed, high-effort style. What made the deal possible for the Sox was the appeal of Eaton’s contract, which keeps him under club control for five more seasons, topping out at a club option for $10.5 million for 2021.
Hahn went to the interview podium after the deal with mixed feelings, same as Tuesday after he traded Sale.
“We’ve received well-intentioned congratulations from scouts or executives of other clubs, and it’s a little awkward for us,’’ Hahn said. “Because yeah, we traded Chris Sale. That’s not something you feel great about. That’s not a feather in your cap so to speak. But this is where we are.’’
After four straight losing seasons, the plan is to build the farm system as quickly and deeply as possible. More trades will follow, with third baseman Todd Frazier, closer David Robertson and perhaps Jose Abreu and Jose Quintana among those available for the right return.
By the end of the winter, Hahn might be looking for a few veterans to fill roster spots for the short term.
“We’ll have to augment the roster as we get closer to spring training,’’ Hahn said.
The Sox farm system has lacked for position players more than pitching, but five of the eight prospects acquired here are pitchers.
“When you give up a pitcher like Sale, you have to get young controllable pitching back ready to come to the big leagues very soon,’’ a former executive said.
But it’s early. The Sox won’t stop there.
“We were looking for the best prospects that we can, the most impactful position players or pitchers that we can find,’’ Hahn said.
“After [Tuesday’s] deal [for Sale], we felt with the balance between the hitters and the pitchers, bringing back some high-caliber arms would be a nice follow-up. But this is going to be an extended process, it’s going to take some time.’’
Here is more on what the Sox get in return:
Giolito, 22, combined to go 6-5 with a 2.97 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 115 innings last season between stops at Class A Hagerstown, Class AA Harrisburg and Class AAA Syracuse. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder pitched in six games (four starts) with Washington, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 21 innings.
Giolito was selected by the Nationals 16th overall in the 2012 draft and was named Washington’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014.
Lopez, 22, went 5-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 126 strikeouts over 19 starts and 109 innings last season between AA and AAA. Lopez made his major-league debut with the Nationals in 2016, going 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA over 44 innings. He struck out 11 batters over seven innings in a victory at Atlanta on August 18, becoming just the fourth rookie in Nationals history to strike out 10-plus in one game.
Dunning, 21, a 6-4, 200-pounder, went 3-2 with a 2.02 ERA over 35 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts with the Gulf Coast League Nationals and Advanced Rookie Auburn. Dunning was a first-round draft pick (29th overall) in 2016 draft out of the University of Florida as compensation after the Nationals lost Ian Desmond in free agency.
