Free agents should buy into positive buzz surrounding White Sox, GM Rick Hahn says

While summing up the 2019 season and looking ahead to next year, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was more hesitant than his manager and players to declare 2020 as the time to win, which is how he has played it, for the most part, since the Sox’ rebuild began.

“Let’s wait till Glendale” is the front-office company line. In other words, let’s see what the roster looks like in spring training before any such chest-thumping can be made.

Between now and then, Hahn said to expect a right fielder, designated hitter and at least one starting pitcher to be added in free agency or trades.

Bullpen help, as always, also will be targeted.

It will take significant upgrades, and better offseasons than the Sox have had in the last few years, to transform them from a 72-89 team to a contender. But it can be done, as proved just this season by the Twins, the Sox’ American League Central neighbors, who went from 78-84 in 2018 to 101-61 this season after a productive offseason.

The Sox not only have a nice young core — led by third baseman Yoan Moncada, shortstop Tim Anderson, left fielder Eloy Jimenez and right-handers Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease, with prized center-field prospect Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal expected to play most of 2020 in the majors — but they have money in the vault to spend. Lots of it.

The only contract commitments on the books are for right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera ($8.5 million), Anderson ($4 million) and Jimenez ($1.5 million) and buyout money ($1.5 million) owed to Welington Castillo and Yonder Alonso.

That paltry payroll sum grows substantially with an expected new multiyear deal for first baseman Jose Abreu and a list of arbitration-eligibles headed by catcher James McCann, left-hander Carlos Rodon, closer Alex Colome and perhaps Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez.

Where will they spend? In free agency, a huge money pitch for Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole is highly unlikely — long-term deals for veteran free-agent pitchers have never been the Sox’ way — but there’s no reason position players such as right fielder Nicholas Castellanos or designated hitter J.D. Martinez (should he opt out of his contract) shouldn’t be targeted.

Hahn says the Sox should be an attractive landing spot for any free agent.

“It’s evident to everyone around the league what’s coming,” he said. “I’ve heard from my peers in other organizations. I know I’ve heard from players in the clubhouse what their peers have said. The coaches talk.

“There’s a lot of positive buzz about where this team is headed. . . . The excitement is there, not just in our clubhouse but around the game right now.”

By the numbers

11

Sox’ draft position after picking third in 2019 and fourth in 2018

.205/.285/.356

Batting average/on-base/slugging line for Sox designated hitters in 2019

6.14

ERA of right-hander Kelvin Herrera, who signed a two-year, $18 million contract before the season. Herrera, who was coming off foot surgery when he signed, had a 1.72 ERA in his last 15 appearances.

Did you know?

The Sox made a 10-win improvement from 2018 and went 38-37 against the American League Central, their first winning record vs. the division since 2012 (37-35).

According to FanGraphs, the Sox’ top three defensive players, in order, were second baseman Yolmer Sanchez, third baseman Yoan Moncada and center fielder Adam Engel. With Nick Madrigal on his way to the majors, Sanchez isn’t a lock to return next season. The lowest three Sox, per FanGraphs metrics, were first baseman Jose Abreu, left fielder Eloy Jimenez and right fielder Jon Jay.

That’s what he said

‘‘Watch the playoff games. Watch and see where you want to be, see if you can imagine yourself there. You’ve got to think about it, talk about it, visualize it.’’

— Part of manager Rick Renteria’s message to his players on the last day of the season

‘‘I’m guessing most every team will tell you they want to get on base more. That’s something we need to improve upon. It’s been a priority. This isn’t news; guys know that.’’

— General manager Rick Hahn, citing on-base percentage as the most important area to improve next season. The Sox ranked 23rd in the majors with a .314 OBP. They were 24th with a .302 OBP in 2018.