GRAND OPENING

A talented young core and busy offseason have the White Sox positioned to win after wrapping a three-year rebuild

- SCOT GREGOR

Under general manager Rick Hahn, the White Sox have “won” the offseason before. Before the 2015 season, they were viewed as instant contenders after a winter haul of veterans brought in righthander Jeff Samardzija, first baseman Adam LaRoche, outfielder Melky Cabrera and relievers David Robertson, Zach Duke and Dan Jennings.

When it was time to prove it on the field, the White Sox went 76-86 and finished fourth in the American League Central.

Before the 2014 season, Chicago added first baseman Jose Abreu, outfielder Adam Eaton, third baseman Matt Davidson and pitchers Scott Downs, Felipe Paulino, Ronald Belisario and Javy Guerra. The White Sox finished fourth in that season, too, going 73-89.

It was a classic case of rinse, wash, repeat and fail, and Hahn finally became fed up with filling the roster with unreliable veterans.

Before a 2016 game in late July, the White Sox GM admitted the patch-and-plug plan that helped them win the 2005 World Series was no longer viable.

“We’re mired in mediocrity,” Hahn said. “That’s not the goal. That’s not acceptable. That’s not what we’re trying to accomplish for the long term.”

After the 2016 season, the White Sox traded ace starter Chris Sale to the Red Sox for a package of prospects headed by Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. One day later, Eaton was sent to the Nationals for three promising pitchers, including Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez.

The rebuild continued into the 2017 season and Hahn agreed to a big trade with the crosstown Cubs, getting Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease for Jose Quintana.

Along the way, the White Sox also signed monster prospect Luis Robert and used their high first-round draft picks on Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal (No. 4 overall in 2018) and California first baseman Andrew Vaughn (No. 3 overall last year).