CHICAGO -- Happy New Year and welcome to the first White Sox Inbox of 2018.
Do you think James Shields will for sure be the Opening Day starting pitcher or does a young guy like Lucas Giolito or Reynaldo Lopez have a chance?
-- Bob, Lisle, Ill. @Chisox927
Carlos Rodon looked to be the next in line for Opening Day, but the left-hander might not be ready coming off season-ending shoulder surgery. Shields makes sense with the opener on the road amid a six-game trip to Kansas City and Toronto at the outset, meaning that the Game 1 starter should make two starts away from Chicago. Even when the White Sox had a clear-cut Opening Day starter, such as Chris Sale or Jose Quintana, they waited a while during Spring Training before making an announcement.
How many more chances does Charlie Tilson get before he's labeled injury prone and is released? Second question: I've seen win projections at under 70 for '18. I'm thinking around 75. What do you say?
-- Ed, Chicago, @emm528
Tilson worked his tail off to overcome an injury-plagued start with the White Sox and get back into action during instructional league and the Arizona Fall League. So give him credit for that, and let's see what the talented outfielder is able to do this season when healthy.
As for win totals, it's too early to project anything. While contention isn't prime consideration for '18, I know the White Sox want these young players to learn how to win as they develop, and the players certainly don't want to lose. Depending on the youngsters' growth, this season could be better than projected.
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Of the current pitchers in the White Sox organization, are there hints of any of them becoming a closer by the time the White Sox are projected to compete?
-- Vic, Chicago, @vgonzojr
Zack Burdi has been the name talked about as a future closer, but that role could be filled by a pitcher currently viewed as a starter. With the way bullpens are constructed these days, the most important reliever doesn't necessarily have to be the pitcher who records the final three outs. General manager Rick Hahn is looking to build a solid relief force from top to bottom, with closers across the board.

Who is the odd man out: Kevan Smith or Omar Narvaez?
-- Mike, Oak Park, Ill., @chetlemonrules
I wouldn't use the phrase "odd man out" because all three of these players should make contributions to the 2018 White Sox -- look at what Smith accomplished after being taken off the 40-man roster prior to Spring Training last year. There's certainly no doubt Welington Castillo will be the starting catcher for 2018 and '19.

Do you see the White Sox going after someone along the lines of Miguel Gonzalez or Jacob Peavy to round out the rotation until Rodon is ready to go?
-- Mark, Peotone, Ill., @Mark_Bussey
I've not heard anything attaching the White Sox to Peavy, although Chicago would make some sense as a comeback destination for the right-hander, who was a great fit on the South Side. The White Sox need to go after a starter who is solely a match for the rotation and then another pitcher who can move between starting and long relief.

What is the likelihood we get to see Michael Kopech at the big league level in 2018?
-- Greg, Oakland, Ill., @GregDMroz
Kopech and Eloy Jimenez literally have been asked about in every Inbox I've done this offseason. White Sox fans wholeheartedly have embraced the rebuild as a long-term vision, but in the short term, Kopech and Jimenez appear to be their targets for 2018 Major League promotion and production.