CHICAGO -- The White Sox have traded five players from their Major League roster since the All-Star break.
Gone are staff ace Jose Quintana, closer Player Page for David Robertson, third baseman Todd Frazier, hard-throwing right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle and fellow late-innings force Anthony Swarzak, who officially was moved to Milwaukee on Wednesday for Minor League outfielder Ryan Cordell. The so-called major deals seem to have been accomplished, but general manager Rick Hahn remains open for business.
"We are," Hahn said. "[The non-waiver Trade] Deadline is Monday. We're still having conversations on a couple of different fronts, and something may well materialize here between now and Monday."
These deals operate under a couple of different purposes in regard to the White Sox rebuild.
Hahn has been acquiring a plethora of prospects to build up the critical mass of young talent in pursuit of a sustained run at World Series championships. But moving the veterans also opens spots on the 25-man roster for the prospects who are ready for the highest challenge.
Frazier going to the Yankees as part of a seven-player deal paved the way for top overall prospect Yoan Moncada to move from Triple-A Charlotte to the everyday White Sox second baseman. If the White Sox are able to move Miguel Gonzalez or Derek Holland from their rotation, then Reynaldo Lopez, the No. 59 prospect overall per MLBPipeline.com, would be in line for a promotion from Charlotte.
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Even without a trade, Lopez has checked off all the boxes on what he needed to accomplish with the Knights. He has fanned 49 over his last 36 2/3 innings covering six starts, after striking out 10 in five innings Wednesday against Columbus. Lopez also has walked eight in that stretch and yielded eight earned runs.
"Getting close. He's forcing the issue," Hahn said of Lopez, who started for Charlotte on Wednesday. "He's had several starts in a row that have been very impressive. Lucas Giolito, as well, has been impressive in his recent starts, and at some point here they're likely going to force our hand to get them here to Chicago and give them the opportunity to show what they can do at the big league level."
Beyond the numbers, Hahn pointed to more consistency from Giolito and Lopez. Giolito reverted back to delivery aspects in place prior to the '16 season while improving his fastball command. Lopez, after a very good spring, had a solid case to break camp with the team. He has found a good routine of pitching every fifth day for Charlotte.
"Over the last few months, he's been commanding all his pitches, being very aggressive within the zone," Hahn said. "He's showing that he's getting close to needing to be here to show what he can do against big league hitters."
Cordell, 25, checked in at No. 18 among the White Sox Top 30 prospects. He has power, speed and versatility in the field, although he is currently on the disabled list with a back strain and might not see action until closer to instructional league play in September. The injury won't be a long-term factor, as he adds to the system's growing depth.
"It has absolutely been a goal from the start," Hahn said. "Not just a matter of getting as much potential impact talent as we can, but trying to set up layer upon layer of that talent. We are trying to get to the point when inevitably some of these guys don't develop the way everyone has projected them to develop or an injury occurs that we have other options."