CHICAGO -- Here’s a look at this week’s White Sox Inbox inquiries.

Let's assume the White Sox don't get a big free agent. How much do you think new pitching coach Ethan Katz can help guys like Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning and Reynaldo López?
-- Mike C., Crestwood, Ill.

Katz was very impressive during this week’s Zoom call with Lucas Giolito, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about his ability to relate to and develop hurlers. His work with Giolito after the 2018 season speaks for itself as part of the crew assisting the right-hander in his climb from a 6-plus ERA to the White Sox staff ace.

Assistant pitching coach Curt Hasler will provide continuity for the pitchers as he returns for his fifth season at the big league level and 30th in the organization. But in addition to their experience, remember the youth of this talented core.

Cease turns 25 on Dec. 28 and has made 26 big league starts, which doesn’t represent a full Major League season’s worth of trips to the mound over his two years. Dunning turns 26 on Dec. 20 and has made seven big league starts, while Michael Kopech, at 24, is coming back from a prolonged absence with only four starts behind him.

The talent clearly is there. They naturally should improve as they gain more experience, and the White Sox are going to add veteran pitchers to this mix during the upcoming weeks to reduce some of the pressure on the younger arms.

After getting the manager job, Tony La Russa mentioned all the pieces were in place. Was this a sign that they are standing pat, and is that the mindset in the front office?
-- Mark, Chicago

It was a sign that the White Sox are a pretty good team, as-is, but they definitely want to add. Whom they add remains up for debate.

This team reached the playoffs in 2020, moving into its contention phase following the rebuild, and general manager Rick Hahn already has talked about needing more than one offseason to complete the process. The overall targets already have been discussed -- right field, two starters, a reliever or two and a position player who can mix in at designated hitter, although that spot should eventually belong to Andrew Vaughn.

Is there any word on how Yoán Moncada is feeling?
-- Peg B., Pensacola, Fla.

Moncada was feeling closer to normal by the end of last season after testing positive for COVID-19 during the intake process and admitting on a Zoom call that he still didn’t feel right as the season progressed. A healthy Moncada, who last I heard was visiting Cuba, should be closer to the breakout Moncada from 2019. As hitting coach Frank Menechino pointed out Wednesday on Zoom, Moncada also suffered from not having a real second Spring Training when the teams came back after a four-month absence.

“It's tough to recoup without getting an All-Star break, without getting a couple of days off, a week off or whatever, four days off,” Menechino said. “Once you get that soreness in there and it counts and you're out there playing, if it's Spring Training you take three days off, no big deal. But ... that scenario, piling on top of everything and him wanting to be out there, I think it had an effect on him.”

Do you think the White Sox will sign George Springer?
-- Karen, Chicago

Springer should significantly interest any team, such as the White Sox, that is in need of a true difference-maker in right field. Chicago is more likely to give a bigger deal to a position player than a pitcher, in my estimation. If Springer is not the answer, there certainly are other quality right-field candidates. How many home runs would Kyle Schwarber hit at Guaranteed Rate Field, as just one example?

When are the White Sox going to make a move?
-- Dan B., Wheaton, Ill.

It’s going to be difficult to top the pop of Thursday night, when The Athletic broke the news of Len Kasper leaving the Cubs’ television booth and coming to the White Sox radio booth. I’ve covered the White Sox for almost 20 years and have been around for a number of big trades and free-agent signings, but I’m not sure I’ve seen this sort of reaction -- the old North Side/South Side rivalry boost combined with Kasper’s excellence.

The virtual Winter Meetings are coming up this week. I look for moves to gradually pick up at that point, as things have been relatively slow overall. It’s all about figuring out the budget puzzle, especially after last season.