CHICAGO – Welcome to the White Sox second half.

Wondering your opinion on how the White Sox will deal with Andrew Vaughn. If he keeps hitting like he is, I wonder if they could possibly bump him up to Double-A this year.
­-- @BjPemberton
It’s not a big stretch to see a polished and talented hitter such as Vaughn move quickly through the system, but the White Sox also have not rushed any of their past top-level prospects and won’t start now. So, Birmingham is not likely for the team’s top pick in this year’s Draft. Remember, Vaughn also played 48 collegiate games this past season so no need to over accelerate. He should end up with Class A Winston-Salem before this season is complete.

Say, magically, the White Sox are five games back or less of a Wild Card spot. Do they become buyers instead of sellers?
-- @WritingDavid
Even if this team goes 7-3 on the 10-game road trip starting tonight in Oakland, the White Sox aren’t changing their overall rebuild philosophy based on a 2019 Wild Card chance.

There won’t be any short-term adds, as the goal is to contend for multiple division titles and championships and not just make quick-fix moves to jump up and end a playoff drought for one season. Contractual control will be the key in adding players, meaning it might be someone who helps this season but also will have to help for the next two or three years.

How likely is it to see both Nick Madrigal and Luis Robert on the team by the end of April next year?
-- @supersoxfan79
This question arrived before Robert’s debut with Triple-A Charlotte Thursday. Based on his three hits, two homers and seven RBIs, just send him to Kansas City Monday.

In all seriousness, I would break camp with both Madrigal and Robert at the start of 2020. There’s a solid case to be made for both players getting to the Majors in ’19, a promotion I’ve advocated for Madrigal since the beginning of this season. I wasn’t as sure with Robert due to his injury-plagued ’18, but he has been beyond impressive this year. He looks ready.

Any chance the White Sox offer extensions to James McCann and José Abreu?
-- @DGalivan
Abreu should, and I believe will get an extension -- probably somewhere in the two-year range, with maybe an option for a third year. Abreu has been an important piece of this group’s development with an influence on young players such as Eloy Jiménez, Yoán Moncada and Robert. But more importantly, he remains a frontline run producer.

A rebuilding team needs good veteran presences to mix with the up-and-coming young talent, and the White Sox not only have one in Abreu but one who wants to stay with the organization. In a short time, McCann has earned a similar level of respect within the clubhouse and with the expert way he handles the pitching staff and seems to have found something offensively. He should be part of this team for the next few years as well.

What will A.J. Reed add to a Major League club?
-- @bmarh442003
The left-handed hitting Reed had strong Minor League numbers with Houston in 2018 -- especially in the power department -- as he hit 28 homers with 108 RBIs for Triple-A Fresno. He struggled mightily, albeit briefly, with the Astros but the 26-year-old will get a fresh chance with much less pressure to prove himself with the White Sox.

Daniel Palka was only given 10 at bats following his call up. They did have a run where it seemed like they were facing a lefty every night. Why the short leash? Why not get him some at bats against righties before making a decision?
-- @chisoxjon
Palka is a great kid and handled a very tough situation with his head held high. The White Sox haven’t given up on him, but he’s 1-for-45 this season and not getting the ball in the air as he did in his 27-homer rookie campaign. White Sox manager Rick Renteria saw some improvement this second time but expressed there was still work for Palka to do and it’s better for him to do it with every day at-bats.

What caused your check engine light to come on?
-- @Cochran1986
It was a leaking canister purge valve, which I believe is located next to the Flux Capacitor. I appreciate the concern; all is well.