CHICAGO -- This week’s Inbox focuses on making trades, free agent spending, possible contract extensions and Daniel Palka.

Do you think it’s possible the Sox look to the trade market to bolster the rotation instead of free agency? Honestly, the options after [Gerrit] Cole scare me with the money they’ll demand. Who are some trade targets you think they’d look at for the rotation?
Luke, La Grange Park, IL, @lstanczyk27

Trades certainly are a possibility as the White Sox have built up a strong core of young players who could interest other teams. Some have underachieved at this early stage and some have overachieved, while some are right where they should be. I just don’t believe the White Sox are at the point yet where they are ready to make wholesale moves from this depth. Their championship window isn’t quite open -- meaning a short-term mindset is unlikely -- and they are picking up everything they can about the key players throughout their system.

As general manager Rick Hahn told me back in May, they learned from the Fernando Tatis Jr. deal and are doing what they can to avoid the pitfalls leading them down that path.

What are the chances of a Yoán Moncada and Lucas Giolito long term contract this offseason?
Jeff, Raleigh, NC, @jeffg2112

The outstanding player returns obtained by the White Sox in trades involving Chris Sale, José Quintana and Adam Eaton dealt in part with this trio’s vast talent but also the great contractual control held in each instance by the club. The White Sox have done an excellent job working out extensions with their young cornerstones, and Moncada and Giolito seem to qualify in that category. Of course, it takes two sides to make a deal.

Should Daniel Palka figure in the Sox' plans for 2020?
Larry, @LPHAMEL

Let’s start by giving Palka credit for handling a rough season, results-wise, with character, grace and good humor. His significant drop at the plate certainly wasn’t going to define him as a person.

Palka talked a couple of times about feeling the best he had all season during the final month after working extensively with Frank Menechino, the new White Sox hitting coach. He looked a little closer to the ’18 version of Palka during that stretch. With all that said, the White Sox received little production from designated hitter or right field this past season, so those will be two major targets of offseason change. I’m not sure where Palka fits in at that point.

If Sox sign [Anthony] Rendon, where would Moncada play? RF, SS, or 2B? Would they move him to SS and move [Tim] Anderson to RF?
Rock, Woodstock, IL, @vegasrock72

I wouldn’t move Moncada anywhere. This is a Most Valuable Player candidate, and he thrived both in the field and at the plate after the move to third base.

Rendon certainly will have interest from teams who need a third baseman, so it seems unlikely that a team possibly planning to play him all over the field would be as high on his list. I would be surprised if he leaves the Nationals, but that’s just a guess on my part.

I'm very optimistic about 2020 BUT if free agents/trade acquisitions are disappointing and the team underperforms, will [Rick] Hahn, Ricky [Renteria], etc. be gone?
Danny, Chicago, @dannyinchicago

Remember, this rebuild is an extended process. The Astros, looking for their second World Series title in three seasons, had three straight 100-loss seasons and another 92-loss campaign before posting five straight seasons over .500. The Cubs had five straight seasons of at least 87 losses before reaching the postseason in four straight years, including winning the title in 2016.

There’s no question, though, the White Sox need to show marked improvement in 2020, and that would be greatly assisted by impact offseason moves. There’s nobody on the proverbial hot seat, but Renteria himself said at the end of ’19 that the time has come to take a strong step forward, and everyone will be judged accordingly.

How much will the WS spend in free agent sweepstakes? Gerrit Cole, [Madison] Bumgarner, [Stephen] Strasburg, JD Martinez, Howie Kendrick [DH]?
Tony, Phoenix, Ariz., @KzooPost

I can tell you the White Sox are viewing ’20 as a chance to contend and will act accordingly. They clearly have room to maneuver payroll-wise, with Anderson, Eloy Jiménez and Kelvin Herrera as the only players on the books pre-arbitration. While that room doesn’t necessarily translate into spending at a wild pace, they are ready to make moves.