White Sox not done dealing after Sale trade

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – It wouldn’t make sense to trade away Chris Sale and stop there.

For the White Sox, more trades are on the way. A lot more.

“If a team was interested in premium, controllable starting pitching we do have others that fit that description,’’ general manager Rick Hahn said after trading Sale for four Boston Red Sox prospects at the Winter Meetings Tuesday. “We’re open minded on all of them.’’

That would include All-Star left-hander Jose Quintana, who is under contract control for four more seasons at a reasonable price. Those are the caliber players you win with, unless you are stockpiling prospects.

“Today was the first step in what will very likely be an extended process but one that we feel, if we continue to acquire similar-type players with the upsides of the individuals that we acquired today, will be for the extended long-term benefit of the organization,’’ Hahn said.

Hahn’s phone has been buzzing from interested parties in Quintana, and he also has controllable position players in good field/good hit outfielder Adam Eaton, with five years of contract control, and slugger Jose Abreu with three. Those two would bring multiple prospects in trades, and the Colorado Rockies reportedly are one team known to be showing interest in Abreu this week.

Third baseman Todd Frazier has one year before becoming a free agent, and there should be a taker for a 40-homer guy who can field and is great in the clubhouse. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one, should they lose Justin Turner in free agency.

Then there’s closer David Robertson, setup man Nate Jones and left fielder Melky Cabrera. If they’re worth a prospect or two, Hahn will listen.

“These are the type of impact players that we need to continue to acquire and build up to get our system to the point where we are able to have that extended run of success.’’

Hahn said chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, vice president Ken Williams and Hahn’s assistants Buddy Bell and Jeremy Haber have talked about taking this path “for a long time.” Being stuck in the middle – neither great nor bad but not quite good enough to win – is the worst place to be, Hahn said.

“It was an organizational decision,’’ Hahn said.

“We felt now is the time.’’

The Sox now have four top-100 prospects, according to MLB.com’s rankings, in infielder Yoan Moncada at No. 1, right-hander Michael Kopech at 30, right-hander Carson Fulmer at 58 and catcher Zack Collins at 80. Moncada and Kopech were the keys to the Sale trade. The latter two are the Sox’ most recent first-round draft picks.

ESPN ranked the Sox’ farm system dead last in baseball in 2012. It has inched up in recent years but Tuesday’s deal likely puts it in the middle of the pack.

More trades, whether on the last day of the meetings this week, over the holidays, during spring training or the 2017 season, will certainly keep them climbing.