DETROIT -- White Sox general manager Rick Hahn would not predict what sort of acquisitions his American League Central-leading team could add with the July 30 Trade Deadline approaching.
But according to Hahn, the White Sox front office certainly is putting in the effort and hustle to make things happen.
“When you get closer to a deadline, naturally more things tend to happen with the deadline in everyone’s face,” said Hahn during a Friday Zoom. “With that said, we’re putting forth a strong and consistent effort and we’ll see what happens here.
“Nothing’s done until it’s absolutely done, so I’m very hesitant to project out, or predict, when anything is going to come to fruition. A lot of work is being put in. We’ll see what happens.”
The White Sox are targeting second base, with incumbent Nick Madrigal lost for the season after having surgery to repair a torn right hamstring. But they also fully plan on Madrigal being part of the future plans beginning again with 2022.
A veteran reliever or two would be on their shopping list, as could be a strong-hitting outfielder. But left fielder Eloy Jiménez (ruptured left pectoral tendon) and center fielder Luis Robert (right hip flexor tear) continue to make progress in their respective rehabs, and if all goes well, could rejoin the team in August.
Gavin Sheets and now Jake Burger have been promoted from Triple-A Charlotte, giving them a chance to show their abilities as help from within for a World Series contender. That plan worked in 2005 with the addition of hard-throwing Bobby Jenks, the rookie closer who eventually recorded the final out of the championship sweep of Houston.
So, it’s an interesting scenario for Hahn and executive vice president Ken Williams to navigate, with a desire to get better but no desire to tear down the core they have built through the rebuild. Hahn also knows business is picking up simply by the increase in trade rumors surrounding his team.
“For the first time in my experience, I’ve received text messages from reporters saying, ‘I’m confused. This other reporter reported that you were making this deal and you haven’t announced anything yet. What’s going on?’” Hahn said. “Didn’t seem like a Rick Hahn problem or a White Sox problem, but they were reaching out for guidance.
“There’s been more chatter as we get close to [July] 30th, the Trade Deadline this year. We have the amateur Draft during the middle of the month, which is perhaps taking the attention of some teams, the focus of some teams away from trades and more toward setting up their Draft board. It’s really impossible for me to predict when any deals will happen.”