White Sox still not among big spenders, but they’re certainly busy spenders

I like money. I especially like sports teams’ money. I spend cash for owners all the time. They don’t ask me to, but I do, virtually. Do they listen to my suggestions? Do they dole out dollars to talented athletes with the enthusiasm I do? Alas, they do not.

For once, I find myself, if not outspent, then at least spent. The White Sox are throwing money around like confetti, which makes sense if the ultimate goal is a ticker-tape parade after a World Series title. They are doing it with so much energy I almost want to preach budgetary restraint and then take a nap. Almost.

The latest recipient of the Sox’ relative largesse is third baseman Yoan Moncada, who has agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract extension. He joins outfielder Eloy Jimenez (six years, $43 million), outfield prospect Luis Robert (six years, $50 million) and first baseman Jose Abreu (three years, $50 million) in the category of “People the Sox Have Made Very Happy in the Past Year.’’ There appears to be a well of money on the South Side that had gone previously undiscovered.

I am all for it.

Who is this man calling himself Jerry Reinsdorf?

Actually, this is right up the chairman’s fiscally responsible alley. He’s spending heartily but doing it in a way that could pay off for him down the road. Some of the contracts that general manager Rick Hahn has handed out are what I call Anthony Rizzo contracts. The Cubs first baseman signed a seven-year, $41 million extension in 2013, with a club option for 2020 and 2021. It was nice money for a 23-year-old who was just starting his third season in the majors. It’s a bad deal now for one of the best hitters in the National League.

If Jimenez, Moncada and Robert become the players Hahn thinks they’ll become, a point in time will arrive when they’ll be unhappy with their contracts. Everyone can worry about that later. For now, just like Rizzo, the kids have spending power they never dreamed of having. And the Sox have gambled a good amount of dough on still-unproven players.

There are still a lot of unknowns here. No one can say with certainty if any or all of the young talent Hahn and vice president Ken Williams put the team’s money behind will turn into stars. Sox fans seem to be a lot more aware of that possibility than Cubs fans were when Theo Epstein started amassing young talent. A decent portion of the Cubs’ fan base was certain that Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, Albert Almora Jr. and Jorge Soler were going to turn into Murderers’ Row. They were half-right.

Sox fans seem more discerning, and more skeptical, in general. That’s a healthy thing. There’s no dignity in wearing a “Rick Hahn’s the Father’’ maternity T-shirt.

Tons of luck is necessary for a rebuild to succeed. We know this because Epstein wanted to take pitcher Mark Appel in the 2013 draft, but the Astros nabbed him with the first overall pick. Appel never made it to the big leagues. The Cubs chose Bryant with the second pick, and you know the rest of the story.

The Sox’ projected 2020 payroll is $120.5 million — almost $30 million more than last season but still 18th out of 30 teams. When they signed catcher Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million contract in November, it set a franchise record for total money. Do you know what a $73 million contract is for the Yankees? Kindling.

By Sox’ standards, there’s a lot of money being given out but even more energy being generated. It’s fun. When was the last time there was fun at the old ballpark?

This is not sound and fury signifying nothing. The manic activity signifies that the Sox are opening their competitive window, hopefully for a four- or five-year stretch. It’s early, of course, but it’s a lot better than all the losing and lack of spending over the last several seasons.

It will get really interesting, money-wise, if Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito and/or Dylan Cease prove to be consistently good. Reinsdorf has an almost genetic resistance to giving pitchers long-term contracts. What happens when push comes to shove comes to contract demand? What if the Sox seem to be on the cusp of a championship when a dominant Giolito is up for a new deal in 2024? Or Kopech in 2025? Will the Sox try to get the early-bird discount from their pitchers as they did with Moncada, et al.?

I’d pay them. It never gets old spending Reinsdorf’s money. He seems to be enjoying it, too. I think.