WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JULY 18, 2017 “Jimenez's debut highlights Sox prospect news” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Smith learning ropes of big league catching” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Heart and Hustle winners named by MLBPAA”… Manny Randhawa, MLB.com “Gonzalez returns from DL to face Dodgers” … Glenn Sattell, Special to MLB.com “Al Leiter's Advice to Michael Kopech Could Transform Him from a Thrower into a Pitcher” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Paul Konerko is a Big Tim Anderson Fan” … CSN Staff, CSN Chicago “Blockbuster Jose Quintana trade injects new energy into Chicago baseball” … David Haugh, Chicago Tribune “Miguel Gonzalez eager to return to White Sox rotation after injury” … Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune “White Sox prospect Reynaldo Lopez making case for a call-up” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Dodgers come to South Side riding the perfect wave” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Cubs' Kris Bryant, White Sox's Avisail Garcia win Heart and Hustle Awards” … Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune “Baseball by the numbers: Who did best after a Cubs-White Sox trade?” … John Grochowski, Chicago Sun-Times “White Sox’ Frazier, Robertson stay close to their phones” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Bryant, Garcia win their team’s ‘Heart and Hustle’ awards” … Madeline Kenney, Chicago Sun-Times “Dylan Cease strikes out the side in White Sox minor league debut” … Dan Cahill, Chicago Sun-Times “Top White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada is a 'pure talent,' all-star Cano says” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Transcript: Eloy Jimenez talks to 670 The Score” … The Athletic Staff “Is Reynaldo Lopez ready for the majors?” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Finding returns for the White Sox’s remaining trade assets” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Levine: Derek Holland An Unlikely Trade Candidate For White Sox At Deadline” … Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago “Nick Hostetler Excited By Progress Of White Sox Rebuild” … CBS Chicago Staff “White Sox Prospect Eloy Jimenez Focused On Improving Plate Discipline On Field, English Skills Off It” … CBS Chicago Staff “Jon Heyman: Yankees A Frontrunner To Land David Robertson” … CBS Chicago Staff “Bernstein: Cubs, White Sox Not Done Dealing As Trade Deadline Approaches” … CBS Chicago Staff

Jimenez's debut highlights Sox prospect news By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | July 17, 2017 CHICAGO -- Rick Hahn is not done collecting assets for his version of "The Process," otherwise known as the White Sox rebuild. The White Sox general manager acquired three new prospects in the organization's MLB Pipeline Top 30 in a pair of deals, including landing the Cubs' top two prospects in a five-player trade for ace Jose Quintana. In addition to acquiring outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-hander Dylan Cease as part of a four-prospect package from the Cubs, Hahn swapped international signing bonus pool money to Texas in exchange for 20-year-old infielder Yeyson Yrizarri, the Rangers' No. 17 prospect. The three prospects debuted at No. 2, No. 8 and No. 30 in the White Sox farm system, giving the club arguably the best and deepest system in baseball. So who has stood out? Jimenez, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem Jimenez didn't take long to make an impact with his new organization, and he didn't travel far, either -- just to the other dugout. The Dash was playing Myrtle Beach, the Cubs' Class A Advanced affiliate, when the trade was consummated, making his first appearance an awkward one. "I felt weird at the beginning," Jimenez said Friday through interpreter Billy Russo. "It was kind of a surreal situation, but you know, once the game started and I was on the field, it was just baseball. It was a connection, of course, but at the

moment of the game starting, it was just baseball [and] I started feeling more comfortable. The situation was less weird for me." Jimenez had a strong first weekend for Winston-Salem, going 4-for-10 with five RBIs and four walks over his first three games. The outfielder is the No. 8 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Reynaldo Lopez, Triple-A Charlotte Lopez, the White Sox No. 6 prospect, may not be en route to the big leagues just yet, but his time could be coming. He was brilliant on Sunday, fanning a season-high 12 batters while tossing seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball against Gwinnett. He's on a run of four consecutive quality starts for the Knights, and he could be making his case for a second-half callup. Jake Burger, Class A Kannapolis The White Sox 2017 first-round selection has done nothing but hit at the professional level. After quickly earning a promotion from the Arizona League White Sox, Burger has continued to rake alongside May and June Minor League Player of the Month Micker Adolfo. Burger has gone 9-for-28 with a pair of doubles, a homer and an RBI over his first nine games with the Intimidators. Worth nothing • There is no set date for when Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, will make his White Sox debut. Hahn said Friday there is no rush to get Moncada up before he's ready, adding a variety of factors will go into his decision. "We'll see over the coming weeks," Hahn said. "But really the timeline is going to be driven by the conversations we have with our player-development people and if they feel this guy has done everything we've asked of him here and it's time to move him to the next level." Moncada went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored on Saturday, and he's 12-for-37 with a pair of homers over his past 10 games with Charlotte.

Smith learning ropes of big league catching By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | July 17, 2017 CHICAGO -- As Kevan Smith undresses near his locker after a June victory over the Rangers, sweat and dirt still smeared over his face, the White Sox catcher recounts each detail aloud, piece by piece. Two outs. Bases loaded. Two strikes. One-run game. David Robertson, the White Sox closer, is on the mound, and Smith signals for a curveball that he knows will be in the dirt. Robertson executes: the ball is in the dirt, but it scoots behind Smith and the potential tying run comes barreling in from third. A "calm panic," as Smith described it postgame, ensues. Smith finds the ball, then dives to tap home plate with the ball in his throwing hand just before Joey Gallo's cleat does. Game over. "Eventually, it'll all slow down," said Geovany Soto, the veteran catcher who was slated to be the everyday man behind the plate on Opening Day. Soto has been limited to 13 games and 48 plate appearances this season due to right elbow surgery, giving the load to a pair of unproven young catchers in Smith and Omar Narvaez. Smith, who through Sunday had caught just 48 games at the Major League level, called Soto's presence a "blessing in disguise." Smith made his Major League debut last year, but he wasn't seen as a part of the organization's long-term future -- even being removed from the 40-man roster before the start of Spring Training -- but he's suddenly playing himself into consideration for something deeper. "That was definitely a blow to the confidence," Smith said of his career outlook this spring. "You think, not that you're untouchable, but that you would never think coming into the spring that you would be designated like that. When I was told about it, it was kind of a blowback, like, 'Maybe I'm not as important to this organization as I thought I was.'" Injury, circumstance and performance have combined to position Smith in Majors, where he's finding his own. He's hit over .300 the last month and is splitting time with Narvaez, getting more and more comfortable. With each positive -- such

as crediting a new shipment of Louisville Slugger bats for his first Major League home run -- there are the realities of the negative, such as the fact he's caught just one of 30 basestealers this season, and his pitch-framing numbers fall below the league average. "The big word for me is being comfortable," Smith said. "Being comfortable with the game plan, being comfortable on the field, not letting the adversity or the distractions or the negativity, any of that stuff get to you." Smith's name falls below those of the White Sox top prospects, like 2016 first-round selection Zack Collins, Seby Zavala or even 2017 selection Evan Skoug, but the former seventh-round pick is hoping his continued development can help keep him as part of the White Sox future plans. The 29-year-old Smith is learning the variety of frazzling decisions that can enter a young catcher's mind during a game. What he's excelled at, White Sox manager Rick Renteria said, is an unteachable skill for a catcher -- dealing with a pitcher. "Pitchers and catchers have their own language," Renteria said. "I think when there's a trust involved in their work -- I think he's able to calm down pretty much anybody if they need to calm them down or speed them up, whatever the case might be." Smith's time in the Majors may not be guaranteed, but he's making the most of it. "A lot of players can get overwhelmed with it," Smith said. "I think now I have some time under my belt working with these older guys and the confidence is coming. I feel comfortable. I've just got to keep rolling with it."

Heart and Hustle winners named by MLBPAA By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | July 18, 2017 The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association revealed the 30 preliminary winners of the 2017 Heart and Hustle Award on Tuesday. The honor is the only one voted on by former players, and is bestowed each year upon the active player who most represents a passion for the game of baseball, and best embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game. Past winners of the Heart and Hustle Award include David Eckstein (2005), Hall of Famer Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014), Anthony Rizzo (2015) and Todd Frazier (2016). The 30 preliminary winners for 2017 are: AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones Boston Red Sox: Rick Porcello Chicago White Sox: Avisail Garcia Cleveland Indians: Jose Ramirez Detroit Tigers: Ian Kinsler Houston Astros: Josh Reddick Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer Los Angeles Angels: Andrelton Simmons Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton New York Yankees: Brett Gardner Oakland Athletics: Yonder Alonso Seattle Mariners: Nelson Cruz Tampa Bay Rays: Logan Morrison Texas Rangers: Elvis Andrus Toronto Blue Jays: Kevin Pillar NATIONAL LEAGUE Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant Cincinnati Reds: Adam Duvall

Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Turner Miami Marlins: J.T. Realmuto Milwaukee Brewers: Hernan Perez New York Mets: Jay Bruce Philadelphia Phillies: Freddy Galvis Pittsburgh Pirates: Adam Frazier San Diego Padres: Clayton Richard San Francisco Giants: Brandon Crawford St. Louis Cardinals: Jedd Gyorko Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon "This year's Heart and Hustle Award winners are a true representation of the legacy of the game and the players who have come before them," said Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, president of the MLBPAA. "It is clear that these 30 men chosen all play the game with relentless pursuit." Voting for the 30 preliminary players took place before the All-Star break. Thirty voting committees were formed, comprised of alumni players with established relations to each team, to select the winners. Each of the winners will be recognized prior to an upcoming home game for their team, beginning with the Braves on Wednesday. Toward the end of the season, all alumni and active players will vote for a final winner from among the 30 teams. The final winner will be announced on Nov. 14, during the 18th annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. The Legends for Youth Dinner is the primary fundraiser for the series of free Legends for Youth clinics that are held around the country, which have enabled more than 16,000 kids to learn from and interact with players who have left a lasting impact on the game.

Gonzalez returns from DL to face Dodgers By Glenn Sattell / Special to MLB.com | July 18, 2017 The Dodgers and White Sox open a short two-game series in Chicago on Tuesday. The two franchises have been a Major League staple. The Dodgers date all the way back to the late 1800s in Brooklyn, while the White Stockings sprung up in 1901. Both franchises have played for more than 100 years, but only 27 games against each other, mostly after the implementation of Interleague play. The teams first met in the 1959 World Series when the Dodgers claimed the title in six games. The teams first got together during the regular season in 2003 with the White Sox taking two of three games. They haven't played each other since Chicago took two of three in '14. The White Sox hold a 16-11 advantage all-time over the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers in his first appearance since the All-Star break. He'll be opposed on the hill by White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who makes his first start since going on the disabled list with A/C joint inflammation in mid-June. Kershaw has won 10 straight decisions. Three things to know about this game • Gonzalez dropped three consecutive decisions in June before going on the DL. He gave up 25 hits, including five home runs, over 15 2/3 innings as his ERA swelled to 8.62. • Kershaw earned the win the last time the Dodgers beat the White Sox. On June 2, 2014, Kershaw went eight innings of two-run, four-hit ball, striking out nine in a 5-2 win at Dodger Stadium. • Gonzalez has never faced the Dodgers, but over his career he has pitched to two current players on the roster: Chris Taylor has four hits in seven at-bats (.571), while Logan Forsythe has four hits in 16 trips to the plate (.250).

Al Leiter's Advice to Michael Kopech Could Transform Him from a Thrower into a Pitcher By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | July 17, 2017 Part of Michael Kopech’s All-Star experience last weekend was advice from Al Leiter that he immediately finds more comfort with his secondary pitches.

The pitching great and current MLB Network analyst spent 20-25 minutes with the White Sox No. 1 pitching prospect shagging fly balls during batting practice before the All-Star Futures Game on July 9. Leiter -- who averaged 3.1 f-Wins Above Replacement from 1994-2004 -- suggested Kopech take advantage of his time in the minor leagues to learn how to use his slider and changeup and rely less on his fastball in critical situations. Leiter believes Kopech -- ranked the No. 11 prospect in baseball by MLBPipeline.com -- has a great future that could be even brighter if he learns how to become more of a pitcher instead of a thrower. “Even with exceptional fastballs, you need to have a complement to your fastball and your number one secondary pitch,” Leiter said. “I’m a big advocate of having pitchers like Kopech believe you’re not giving in and you’re not wimping out by throwing offspeed pitches. It actually empowers you more because of the breadth of your options and the confidence you have in it, in particular slider/changeup, that he would have other places to go. And the only way you do that is that you have to trust it and the only way you trust it is if you use it.” Leiter would probably be pleased to hear Kopech followed that plan in his first post-Futures Game start on Friday. The franchise’s minor league pitcher of the month for April produced his best start since May by incorporating a steady diet of sliders with a few changeups into his 97-pitch effort. Kopech threw 31 sliders and six changeups as he allowed a run, four hits and walked two with five strikeouts in six innings at Biloxi. While Leiter would prefer a higher number of changeups --- ideally 15 with 20-25 sliders --- the concept is to get away from heavy reliance on the fastball. Kopech will make mistakes, of course, by hanging a slider or a changeup, Leiter said. But now is the time to make those mistakes so Kopech can be more well-rounded by the time he reaches the majors. “I’ll let you pick your spot,” Leiter said. “But I want you to throw it not as an emergency but for you to feel and recognize that it’s an important pitch. “If he brings out a slider early and a changeup early and gets results, he now gets more empowered on pitches other than his fastball. “The reason why he needs to experience it on the mound and not on the side is you have to see the results. You have to get positive results to reinforce what everybody is telling you. The only way you do it is there. “Don’t give up on it because at some point he will need it. He’s going to need it to be dominant.” Kopech said the two also spent a fair amount of time talking about getting ahead in the count. The right-hander has 106 strikeouts this season in 84 1/3 innings. But he also has issued 55 walks, which in part has run up his pitch count and prevented Kopech from going deeper into games. Through 17 starts, Kopech is averaging a tick under five innings per start. He said the Futures Game experience was enhanced by his discussion with Leiter and thinks the entire day would give him a boost to finish his second half on a strong note. “(Leiter) said in his career that he had a lot of walks, too,” Kopech said. “Just the keys that helped him get ahead in counts and to not worry so much when I am walking guys. Play to my strengths, but don’t put too much pressure on myself. “To get a chance to talk to a big leaguer about pitching, to be in the big league environment, it’s really everything I wanted.” “We all get to kind of experience big league lifestyle for a day and, hopefully, get a taste of what it's really like. That's all we really want to experience out of this, is kind of get a taste of the big leagues. It kind of makes us a little more hungry for the real thing.”

Paul Konerko is a Big Tim Anderson Fan By CSN Staff / CSN Chicago | July 17, 2017 Consider Paul Konerko a fan of the White Sox rebuild. The South Side legend attended the team's charity golf outing on Monday and shared his excitement over the team's direction. But it's one player in particular who stands out to the former first baseman. "I'm a big Tim Anderson fan," Konerko said. "He's going to have a long career here."

That may come as a surprise to some Sox fans who have watched the 24-year-old shortstop spiral into somewhat of a sophomore slump. Anderson leads the MLB with 21 errors, already seven more than he had in 98 games last season. At the plate, he's producing a .241/.266/.368 slash line, down from .283/.306/.432 in his rookie campaign. Konerko, though, doesn't seem worried about his stats. Instead, he's been encouraged by Anderson's relaxed, mature approach to the game. "I just like the way he goes about his business," Konerko said. "I just think he's very calm, cool and kinda steady. I would like to see him be a guy that is here for a long time. I just like his get-up out there. I like the way he carries himself." While Rick Hahn has flashed his unflinching approach to trades, Konerko thinks Anderson could be a mainstay with the club. "He has the feeling of a keeper that you kind of want to build a team around," Konerko said. That's a big vote of confidence for a young shortstop in his first season of a six-year deal.

Blockbuster Jose Quintana trade injects new energy into Chicago baseball By David Haugh / Chicago Tribune | July 17, 2017 Around 11 last Thursday morning, a TSA official in the Bahamas threatened to confiscate my phone. I kept staring at it in disbelief, incredulous, reading the words of an email from the White Sox as if trying to interpret a foreign language. The sign on the wall of the airport in Nassau clearly prohibited the use of electronic devices in a security line — but this irresistible news was worth bending the rules to digest. After all, this was a blockbuster deal still shaking the sports landscape back home in Chicago, the baseball trade that saved the summer from redundancy, released simultaneously by the Cubs and Sox at exactly 10:27 a.m. This was the reason the cranky uniformed worker told me to shut off my phone or turn it over to the man lurking with a badge and a gun. This was a lot to process while fumbling for my passport. Days later, as reality slowly settled in after returning to our baseball city, the residue of surprise remains. Logic really prevailed. The Cubs really traded the Sox four minor-league players, including top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, for pitcher Jose Quintana, who will fit in at Wrigley Field as seamlessly as another patch of ivy. Cubs President Theo Epstein and Sox general manager Rick Hahn really did what so many of us had been clamoring for them to do for months. What is going on in our sports town in 2017, the Year of the Transaction? This used to never happen, risk-averse pro sports executives doing something a consensus of fans and media have been urging them to do ad nauseam. Yet since April, every Chicago major-sports franchise has made a move bold enough to be accused of trying to sell newspapers or get web clicks. The Bears traded up in the NFL draft to take quarterback Mitch Trubisky second overall. The Bulls unloaded All-Star Jimmy Butler to begin their rebuilding. The Blackhawks dealt All-Star Artemi Panarin for forward Brandon Saad to shake things up. Heck, even the first-place Fire got in the act by signing global superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger. We live in an opinion-based, sports-talk radio culture saturated with men and women who often pay closer attention to their fantasy rosters than their checkbooks. The trend has created an expert at nearly every cubicle and advice at every turn for guys like Epstein and Hahn who, in reality, run the teams. Until recently, those decision-makers typically ignored the advice. But this time, as the Quintana-to-the-Cubs chorus echoed from Bridgeport to Wrigley's bleachers, to the delight of so many Chicagoans, both executives acted in a way that validated it. Again. Yet that wasn't even the best part of the biggest trade in years between Chicago's two baseball teams, each at opposite stages of development with different agendas. The best part was nobody lost the deal; the Sox added elite prospects and the Cubs gained someone good enough to impact a pennant race. Sox win. Cubs win. Chicago baseball wins going away. Check the box score again in three years, but nobody's complaining now.

We can stop chiding Hahn for not following through on his pledge to rebuild after months of relative inactivity that followed the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades. We can quit pointing out the obvious to Epstein — that Quintana and his sacred contract control were right there in front of him, 8.1 miles south. We finally can change the subject to what such a trade says about the direction of both teams. For the Sox, it removed any doubt that the organization fighting for relevance can put aside any pettiness and do whatever is necessary to accumulate talent, even if that means improving the Cubs' chances of going deep in the playoffs. It reaffirmed the shrewdness of Hahn, whose team-friendly contract extensions for Sale, Eaton and Quintana from 2013-15 made it possible for the Sox to acquire 11 prospects that suddenly gave them baseball's top-rated minor-league system. It re-established Hahn's priority list, with trading closer David Robertson and third baseman Todd Frazier — minor deals in comparison — barely ahead of calling up second baseman Yoan Moncada and pitcher Reynaldo Lopez to kick off the South Side parade of potential in early August. For the Cubs, the move reflected an aggressive win-now mentality they should have with goals of catching the Brewers and winning the pennant still realistic regardless of the uneven start. It gave a struggling pitching staff a steady veteran capable of starting Game 1 of their first playoff series if Quintana continues the consistency he has shown since June 1. It made the Cubs' next key addition injured starter Kyle Hendricks, not an overvalued pitcher on another staff likely to cost minor-league prospects suddenly in short supply. It underscored how little to believe any public comments by baseball executives this time of year, what with Epstein trading for Quintana exactly one week after proclaiming "our biggest fixes are inside the clubhouse." It restored a sense of inner confidence throughout the clubhouse evident in the sweep of the Orioles for a Cubs team that returned from a break refreshed and ready for a second half of a season that promises bigger and better things. "We're back," catcher Willson Contreras declared. What a fun place to be.

Miguel Gonzalez eager to return to White Sox rotation after injury By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune | July 17, 2017 Miguel Gonzalez almost ruined the surprise. The White Sox right-hander was so relaxed while talking about his soon-to-be-expanding family and his upcoming start against the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday that he barely stopped short of revealing the sex of his second child, which is due in a month. "It's gonna be, well, that will be a surprise later on," he said while catching himself. First, though, Gonzalez will make his first start in more than a month against the team for which he grew up rooting. The sixth-year pitcher has been sidelined since late June with joint inflammation in his pitching shoulder, which left him more time than usual to spend with his wife, Lucia, and their 4-year-old daughter, Leah. But it's back to business — for now, at least — for Gonzalez, who last started June 14 against the Orioles. Gonzalez's rehab stint included appearances for Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. "She appreciated (the time) a little bit more," Gonzalez said of Lucia, who was unable to travel to Gonzalez's rehab starts. "But she always wants me to be a baseball player. She wants me to be able to do what I do." What Gonzalez has done this season has fallen short of his own expectations. He has a 5.15 ERA and is 4-8 with 45 strikeouts, 26 walks and 92 hits allowed in 78 2/3 innings. But he's just a year removed from rejuvenation. The Orioles granted Gonzalez his unconditional release in spring training last season after he went 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA in 2015. In 2016, his ERA improved to 3.73 in 135 innings spanning 23 starts. He's also recently removed from what felt like three weeks of isolation. Being on the disabled list left Gonzalez feeling detached from the team, a sentiment shared by many who go through it.

"You get anxious; you want to get out there again," he said. "You want to be part of the team. You feel like when you're here and rehabbing, you're not really a part of the team. "Now that I have the opportunity to be able to do that, I'm pretty excited. I can't wait." Gonzalez is one in a long line of injured pitchers for the rebuilding Sox. He was placed on the disabled list the day James Shields came off it. Carlos Rodon spent the better part of the first half on the shelf, as well. Among those eager to welcome Gonzalez back is first-year Sox manager Rick Renteria. "Everybody's excited about 'Miggy' being back," Renteria said. "He's been trying to get back as quickly as possible. "He's one of the guys who has given us some pretty good outings. We're hoping he can do that for us again." Gonzalez had back-to-back starts of at least eight innings and just one run allowed in April. He allowed a season-worst eight runs (five earned) in his last start, though. Five times in all he's allowed at least five earned runs. Gonzalez admitted it can be difficult to admit when he's not feeling 100 percent. But he said he's learned to read the signs. "Your body tells you when things aren't where they need to be," he said. "The velocity starts going down, you start breaking down and just don't have that ability to be able to perform the way you know how. "I don't want to hurt the team going out there for four innings and shut it down. I want to go nine every time and help out the team." He'll get his next shot Tuesday.

White Sox prospect Reynaldo Lopez making case for a call-up By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | July 18, 2017 White Sox No. 5 prospect Reynaldo Lopez added another piece of evidence Sunday to his case to be called up to the big leagues. Lopez struck out a season-high 12 while allowing one earned run on two hits with two walks over seven innings in a Triple-A Charlotte game against Gwinnett. The right-hander hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts since June 29 and has pitched at least six innings in each of them. He has struck out 33 in that span and lowered his ERA to 3.78. Sox general manager Rick Hahn frequently has referred to a "two-pronged test" to see when the Sox might call up their top prospects. "One is when they'll have the opportunity to take the ball every fifth day, which obviously a trade like (the Jose Quintana deal) enhances that possibility," Hahn said. "But two, and frankly far more importantly, is when we feel they've done everything they need to do at the minor-league level and they're ready for that last stage of development that happens at the big-league level." Even without Quintana, who was traded to the Cubs on Thursday, the Sox have a full rotation with Carlos Rodon, James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland and Mike Pelfrey. But the Sox could part with or move one of them to the bullpen to make room for Lopez. Yoan Moncada, 2B, Triple-A Charlotte Speaking of looking primed for a call-up, Moncada, baseball's top prospect, was on a five-game hitting streak through Sunday and was hitting .324 with two homers, six RBIs, three walks, 15 strikeouts and two stolen bases over his previous 10 games. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Class A Winston-Salem

The prize of the Quintana trade went 4-for-10 with a double, five RBIs, four walks and two strikeouts over his first three games with the Sox organization. Michael Kopech, RH, Double-A Birmingham Returned from his All-Star Futures Game appearance to give up one earned run on four hits with two walks, two hit batters and five strikeouts over six innings in a start against Biloxi. Owns a 3.84 ERA. Zack Collins, C, Class A Winston-Salem Hit an 11th-inning, walk-off grand slam in his first game back after the Futures Game. Was hitting .286 with two homers, nine RBIs, seven walks and nine strikeouts over his last 10 games through Sunday. Jordan Stephens, RH, Double-A Birmingham Still hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 3, posting a 1.48 ERA in that span. Pitched a season-high 72/3 innings in his last start against Biloxi.

Dodgers come to South Side riding the perfect wave By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Sun-Times | July 18, 2017 The Los Angeles Dodgers were in prime position to go to their first World Series since their 1988 championship, holding a 2-1 lead over the Cubs in last year’s National League Championship Series with a chance to close it out at Dodger Stadium. But they lost the next two home games, and then Clayton Kershaw lost in Game 6 at Wrigley Field as the Cubs won their first pennant since 1945. Now the Dodgers are back and seemingly unstoppable. With the best record in baseball and a general feeling of omnipotence, they bring their act to the South Side on Tuesday for a two-game interleague series against the White Sox. Can anyone stop the Dodgers from ending their 29-year Series drought? After failing to get there in their last 10 postseason appearances, anything less will be considered a flop. “That’s the part of the challenge that’s fun for us,” closer Kenley Jansen said. “We want to win the World Series. Who doesn’t want to win the World Series? Every team wants to win the World Series when you get to the playoffs. It’s just a matter of who makes the last mistake. “We have the best team in baseball right now, yes. If we continue to improve and get better, and get ready, hopefully we get back in the playoffs and once we get back we’ll take care of it from there.” While the Cubs waved goodbye to Dexter Fowler, David Ross, Jason Hammel and other key contributors to their 103-win title team, the Dodgers re-signed their biggest free agents, Jansen, Justin Turner and Rick Hill, putting their faith in the status quo. It’s worked out so far, and now the Dodgers may be the most dominant team baseball has seen in years. They started out 10-12, but have gone 54-17 since April 26 — a .765 winning percentage — including nine straight wins heading into Tuesday night, where Kershaw faces Miguel Gonzalez. Their run differential of +172 is far and away the best in baseball, and they have the major’s stingiest pitching staff (3.12 ERA) while ranking fifth in runs scored. It’s a long way to October, but the Dodgers seem to have caught the perfect wave, while the Nationals are still trying to fix their bullpen issues and the Cubs are still trying to catch the Brewers. While former Rays general manager Andrew Friedman gets the bulk of the credit, most of the stars, including Kershaw, Jansen, Justin Turner, MVP candidate Corey Seager and rookie sensation Cody Bellinger, were wither acquired, signed or drafted by former GM Ned Colletti, now a senior advisor to the president. Gatorade All-Star Workout Day

Called up on April 25, Bellinger already has 26 home runs, and on Saturday became the third Dodger since their move to L.A. to hit for the cycle. When Bellinger and Turner are in the lineup together, the Dodgers are an astounding 36-9 and averaging 5.9 runs per game. Bellinger didn’t blink during All-Star Media Day when a TV reporter asked: “Cody, is it that easy to play in the major leagues?” “No, not at all,” he replied. “It’s constant adjustments.” Kershaw, meanwhile, has been his usual untouchable self. The Dodgers ace is 14-2 with a 2.18 ERA, and 10-0 with a 1.98 ERA over his last 13 starts. Along with Hill and Alex Wood, they form the best 1-2-3 punch in baseball and will be difficult to solve in any postseason series. Still, Jansen may be the most important piece of the Dodgers’ puzzle. The converted catcher is 23-for-23 in save opportunities with a 0.90 ERA, and has thrown scoreless relief in 20 of his last 21 outings, with a 0.39 ERA over that span. He was one of the big three closers on the market last winter, along with Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon and ultimately received a five-year, $80 million deal. The Nationals, desperate for a closer, offered more money, but Jansen chose to stay put. “That was the plan, and once they signed J.T. (Turner), we had a close friendship, and he talked to me and it felt awesome to come back,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave. All this respect. I love what Washington did for me, but I didn’t feel like it was time to take the (Dodgers) uniform off.” Chapman is now struggling with the Yankees, Melancon is pitching for a bottom-dweller in San Francisco and the Nationals have the worst bullpen in baseball. The uniform still looks good on Jansen, and the Dodgers’ bullpen overall is the best in the game. “We’re more experienced and balanced with veteran guys, younger players,” Jansen said. “Even if a starter doesn’t go more than five innings, we can come and shut the game down. That’s going to be a hard core part for us, the bullpen.” With a 10 ½ game lead in the NL West, there will be no pressure on the Dodgers until October begins and reminders of their postseason flops crop up once again? Will they still be riding that perfect wave, or are the Dodgers just setting us up for another spectacular wipeout?

Cubs' Kris Bryant, White Sox's Avisail Garcia win Heart and Hustle Awards By Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune | July 18, 2017 Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia were each named their team’s winner of the Heart & Hustle Award, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced Tuesday. The MLBPAA gives the award to players who “emobdy the values, spirit and traditions of the game.” One player on each team receives an award with an overall winner announced in November. Former players with connections to each of the clubs vote on the award and take into account a player’s “passion, desire and work ethic demostrated both on and off the field.” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was the overall winner in 2015 while White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier was the overall winner in 2016.

Baseball by the numbers: Who did best after a Cubs-White Sox trade? Only five players in Cubs-White Sox trade history have contributed more than 10 wins above replacement in their post-swap careers. By John Grochowski / Chicago Sun-Times | July 17, 2017 As a frontline player in his prime switching sides in a Cubs-White Sox trade, new Cubs starter Jose Quintana is a rarity. Trades between the teams have been dominated by bench players and prospects, with the occasional veteran at the end of the line. Only five players in Cubs-Sox trade history have contributed more than 10 wins above replacement in their post-swap careers. Here’s a look at them:

SAMMY SOSA (Sox to Cubs; total bWAR, 58.4; post-trade, 57.7): As a youngster with the Rangers and Sox in 1989-91, Sosa hit .228 with a .650 OPS, 29 home runs and 116 RBI. The Sox dealt him to the Cubs at age 23. From 1992 to 2004, his career took off to .284, .928, a Cubs-record 545 homers and 1,414 RBI before two seasons with the Orioles and Rangers brought his homer total to 609. Sosa has the second-highest career WAR among players in Cubs-Sox trades, trailing Ron Santo’s 70.4. But while Santo was -1.6 after leaving the Cubs, Sosa had his best years post-Sox. SCOTT FLETCHER (Cubs to Sox; total bWAR, 32.0; post-trade, 31.8): After brief stints with the Cubs in 1981-82, Fletcher was traded to the Sox at age 24. He totaled 10.5 bWAR in Sox stints in 1983-85 and 1989-91. Fletcher wasn’t a big bat, with a career .262 batting average, .674 OPS and 34 homers. His value was as an exceptional shortstop and second baseman. His 17.9 defensive WAR ranks 39th all-time among those who played 90 percent or more of their games at second, short or a combination of the two. JON GARLAND (Cubs to Sox; 22.2 bWAR, all post-trade): Garland was an 18-year-old minor-leaguer when he was dealt to the Sox in 1998. After the Sox called him up in 2000, he went 92-81 — including 18 victories each in 2005 and 2006 — with a 4.41 ERA and an 18.3 bWAR in eight seasons on the South Side. After leaving the Sox, he went 44-44 for four other teams. STEVE STONE (Sox to Cubs; total bWAR, 18.9; post-trade, 14.6): A 107-game winner overall, Stone was 17-28 with a 3.84 ERA and a 4.3 bWAR before joining the Cubs for his age-26 season. In three seasons with the Cubs, he was 23-20 with a 4.04 ERA and a 6.2 bWAR, including 12-8 with a 3.95 ERA and a 3.5 bWAR in 1975. His best season was the 4.0 bWAR in his Cy Young season of 1980, when he went 25-7 with a 3.23 ERA for the Orioles. STEVE RENKO (Cubs to Sox; total bWAR, 21.0; post-trade, 10.1): Renko is an outlier on this list. He had gone 68-82 with the Expos before joining the Cubs. After going 10-13 with a 4.02 ERA in 1976 and part of 1977, he was dealt by the Cubs to the Sox, where he went 5-0 with a 3.54 ERA in eight games. That gave him bWARs of 2.6 with the Cubs and 1.3 with the Sox. After that, he pitched for four teams, notching bWARs ranging from 0.9 to 2.3 and boosting his victory total to 134.

White Sox’ Frazier, Robertson stay close to their phones Because of Frazier’s and Robertson’s contracts, the significantly lighter expected returns rule the day. Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | July 17, 2017 The anticipated trades of Todd Frazier and David Robertson are not packing the same punch for suspense for the White Sox as Jose Quintana’s did while he was on the block. Because of Frazier’s and Robertson’s contracts, the significantly lighter expected returns rule the day. It’s believed the Sox and Red Sox, who hooked up on the Chris Sale blockbuster deal that got the Sox’ rebuild rolling full speed ahead in December, began talking about Frazier in earnest during the weekend after Sox general manager Rick Hahn moved Quintana for the Cubs’ top two prospects and two others. Frazier has about $5 million left on his contract, which expires after the season, sends him into free agency and makes him expendable. The rebuilding Sox would probably take one mid-level prospect in return while pushing to pay as little as they can of what’s left on his deal. The Red Sox, who are taking a $49 million hit on third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s contract after designating him for assignment last week (while underscoring the need for another third baseman), want to keep the cost for Frazier as minimal as possible. The feeling around baseball is that it’s a matter of when, not if, Frazier winds up in Boston, even though the Red Sox, leading the American League East, might also be considering the Marlins’ Martin Prado and the Padres’ Yangervis Solarte as solutions at third. But Frazier, 31, has a home-run swing built for the Green Monster in Fenway Park, plays sound defense and would offer leadership and chemistry pluses for the Red Sox’ clubhouse. Quintana admitted to being affected somewhat by the trade rumors, and Robertson and Frazier have done everything in their power to stay focused on their jobs while staying in close contact with their agents.

“Everybody understands if they do get traded now, it’s to a team that hopefully is in the mix to be in the playoffs,’’ Frazier said this past weekend. The Yankees also reportedly are interested in Frazier, but to play first base. They are likely even more interested in Robertson, who pitched for them from 2008 to ’14 before signing a four-year, $46 million contract with the Sox that pays him $13 million this season and $14 million next year. The Yankees, like the Dodgers or any one of numerous teams looking for bullpen help, could use Robertson in any of the last three innings. Robertson is probably having his best season with the Sox, but the Sox — who signed top Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert for $26 million and must pay a tax of equal amount — want to eat as little of Robertson’s contract as possible, and trade negotiations could be getting sticky because of the money. The bullpen-needy Nationals, long thought to be a potential landing spot for Robertson, acquired left-hander Sean Doolittle and right-hander Ryan Madson from the Athletics on Sunday. With Quintana, Frazier and Robertson on the trade block for weeks, the Sox have been scout magnets wherever they go. The Yankees and Red Sox were among the teams represented Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Sox lost for the seventh time in the last eight games. Trading Frazier and Robertson would potentially accelerate the Sox’ loss rate, a deflating development in the clubhouse but a positive trend toward a higher pick in the 2018 draft. For a rebuilding team, that’s not all bad. In the battle for the No. 1 pick, the Sox have the third-worst record in baseball behind the Phillies and Giants. Since their 13-10 start, the Sox are 25-42 in May, June and July (a .373 winning percentage) going into their game against the Dodgers and three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. NOTES: Miguel Gonzalez is scheduled to make his first start Tuesday since going on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder June 18. Gonzalez is 1-8 with a 6.79 ERA in his last nine starts.

◆ Carlos Rodon, who will start Wednesday, had the Sox’ last quality start July 3 in Oakland.

Bryant, Garcia win their team’s ‘Heart and Hustle’ awards The MLBPAA announced Tuesday that Kris Bryant and Avisail Garcia earned the Cubs and White Sox 2017 Heart and Hustle awards.

By Madeline Kenney / Chicago Sun-Times | July 18, 2017 The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) announced Tuesday that Kris Bryant and Avisail Garcia earned the Cubs and White Sox 2017 Heart and Hustle awards. This is the first time Bryant and Garcia have received this honor. This award, which is the only MLB accolade that is voted on by former players, is given to one active player on each team who exhibits a strong work ethic and a deep passion and dedication for the game. The MLBPAA forms 30 committees of Alumni players who have relationships to each team. As the end of the season draws near, all Alumni and active players will vote on a final winner out of the 30 current team winners. The winner will be announced Nov. 14, 2017 at the 18th annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. This event doubles as a fundraiser for free youth baseball clinics, which help more than 16,000 children at the 185 annual clinics. Past winners include Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in 2015 and White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier in 2016. Rizzo was also honored with the Heart and Hustle Award in 2016. If Garcia wins, the White Sox will be the first franchise to have back-to-back Heart and Hustle Award winners since Torii Hunter and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels won in 2011 and 2012. Bryant is hitting .272 and is on paces for 38 home runs this season. Garcia is batting .313 and has recorded the second most RBIs for the White Sox (54) this season. The 30 individual team winners are as follows:

American League Baltimore Orioles, Adam Jones Boston Red Sox, Rick Porcello Chicago White Sox, Avisaíl García Cleveland Indians, José Ramírez Detroit Tigers, Ian Kinsler Houston Astros, Josh Reddick Kansas City Royals, Eric Hosmer Los Angeles Angels, Andrelton Simmons Minnesota Twins, Byron Buxton New York Yankees, Brett Gardner Oakland Athletics, Yonder Alonso Seattle Mariners, Nelson Cruz Tampa Bay Rays, Logan Morrison Texas Rangers, Elvis Andrus Toronto Blue Jays, Kevin Pillar National League Arizona Diamondbacks, Paul Goldschmidt Atlanta Braves, Nick Markakis Chicago Cubs, Kris Bryant Cincinnati Reds, Adam Duvall Colorado Rockies, Charlie Blackmon Los Angeles Dodgers, Justin Turner Miami Marlins, J.T. Realmuto Milwaukee Brewers, Hernán Pérez New York Mets, Jay Bruce Philadelphia Phillies, Freddy Galvis Pittsburgh Pirates, Adam Frazier San Diego Padres, Clayton Richard San Francisco Giants, Brandon Crawford St. Louis Cardinals, Jedd Gyorko Washington Nationals, Anthony Rendon

Dylan Cease strikes out the side in White Sox minor league debut Dylan Cease, the pitching prospect the White Sox acquired in the trade for Jose Quintana, made his first minor league start for them on Monday. By Dan Cahill / Chicago Sun-Times | July 18, 2017 Dylan Cease, the right-handed pitching prospect the White Sox acquired in the trade for Jose Quintana, started his first game for the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators on Monday night. Cease was taken by the Cubs in the sixth round of the 2014 draft after coming off Tommy John surgery. The Cubs were slowly bringing him along the past few seasons. At Class-A South Bend this year, Cease averaged 68 pitches in his 13 starts. Taking the mound for the Intimidators in the first inning against the Columbia Fireflies, Cease showed why he’s currently the 83rd-rated prospect by Baseball America. The 21-year-old struck out the side on 13 pitches. Cease threw 58 pitches in five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs. He struck out four and walked one in the 2-1 loss.

Top White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada is a 'pure talent,' all-star Cano says By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | July 18, 2017 They have never met, but already there is a strong connection. Robinson Cano plays second base for the Seattle Mariners, and he's fresh off his eighth appearance in the All-Star Game. Yoan Moncada plays second base for the Chicago White Sox's top farm team at Class AAA Charlotte. He is baseball's No. 1 prospect.

As a child, Moncada's favorite player was fellow Cuban Freddy Cepeda. "Now, my favorite player is Robinson Cano," Moncada said. Moncada is such a fan of Cano, a native of the Dominican Republic, that he named his 2-year-old-son Robinson. And after signing his first professional contract ($31.5 million) with the Red Sox in March of 2015, Moncada wore Cano's No. 22 coming up through Boston's minor-league system. The connection does not end there. As Moncada soared to the top of the prospects list, his playing style drew more and more comparisons to Cano. "Moncada, the first clip I saw of him, he reminded me a little bit from his setup and everything of Cano," White Sox manager Rick Renteria told Comcast SportsNet at the winter meetings in December, when Moncada was acquired from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade. "I think he's a very talented human being." Over the weekend, the Daily Herald caught up with Cano, who expressed mutual admiration for Moncada. "I've watched him play a couple games; I saw him in the (All-Star) Futures Game," Cano said. "He has a great swing. He's pure talent." As for the comparisons, the 34-year-old Cano admitted he sees a lot of himself in the 22-year-old Moncada, who was hitting .287/.382/.457 heading into Monday's play, while ranking fourth in the International League in walks and runs scored and fifth in stolen bases and on-base percentage. "He has a swing that is gap to gap, and that's me," said Cano, a career .305/.354/.497 hitter over 13 major-league seasons with the Yankees and Mariners. "Like me, he hits line drives. I'm not a home run hitter. A lot of people say I hit homers, but if you see my homers they're more like line drives." The only offensive difference is Moncada hits from both sides of the plate, and Cano is a left-hander. Cano, a two-time Gold Glove winner, says he also is impressed with Moncada's defense. "Seeing him play second base, he's a good player, he moves very well," Cano said. "When he gets his chance, he's going to play this game for a long time." Cano said he is flattered that a rising star such as Moncada holds him in such high esteem. "It's a great thing to hear, of course," said the 6-foot, 210-pound Cano. "And it also keeps me humble and it makes me work harder every single day because you know someone's looking up to you, especially someone like him that has such great talent. "It makes me proud and it keeps me humble." While the Sox are unsure when Moncada will be called up to the big leagues, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder should be on the roster by September. Moncada played eight games for the Red Sox in the final month of the 2016 season and struggled. He likely will experience similar failure in his early stages with the White Sox, but Cano said that's all part of the process. "No. 1, just be yourself," said Cano, who idolized Roberto Alomar and Bernie Williams as a young player. "Secondly, work hard and play hard. When I came up with the Yankees, I overdid things. I tried to do too much. Just be yourself and do what you do. "The more you play, the more you learn, the more patient you become. You learn how to play the game and it becomes easier for you."

Transcript: Eloy Jimenez talks to 670 The Score By The Athletic Staff / The Athletc | July 17, 2017 Earlier today, new White Sox prospect Eloy Jimenez made an appearance on The Spiegel and Parkins Show on 670 The Score. Below is the full transcript of that interview, with questions paraphrased.

Q: What’s the past couple of days been like for you? A: It was a little sad, the first two days. My first two games with [my new team] was versus my old team, that was a little weird for me. But at the same time, I feel like this was the biggest step for me in my career, and I just say thanks God for the Chicago White Sox for giving me an opportunity. Q: You're a positive person and you like to be in a good mood. Where did that come from? A: It’s just me. That was my personality. I try to be the positive way and in a positive mood all the time. Take time for a smile all the time, and, that’s Eloy Jimenez. Q: Do you have a baseball idol when you were growing up? A: Yes, Miguel Cabrera and Adam Jones. Q: And Adam Jones? A: Yeah. Q: Why those two guys? A: [Miguel Cabrera]'s the same guy like me. Smiling all the time and, I try to be like him, hitting with power and contact. And Adam Jones because he’s kind of the same guy, and I like his defense. I try to be like him in the field. Q: Did you have dreams of playing center field? A: I try but, you know, that’s the organization's decision. Q: What would you like to get better at? What do you need to improve at to be better? A: Just, I think, in doing what I do and just get more experience. Getting more disciplined in the play and try to play hard everyday, like I do all the time. Q: What’s it been like being a young guy from the Dominican now in America and bouncing around to different teams? What has been difficult for you, in terms of adjusting to life over here? A: The first was the language. When I get here I don’t understand anything, [laughs] and after that, just kind of the style here. It’s kind of different because in the Dominican, every day is kinda, like, you know what is today and when it’s Monday, when it’s Tuesday. But here, for me, all the time, it always feels like Sunday. Q: It always feels like Sunday? A: Yeah for me it always feels like Sunday, I don’t know why. It’s kind of boring, Sundays. Like, I don’t know. Q: Was it weird playing against your former teammates the other day? A: It was really strange. You move from one house to the other one, but like, just as I say before, as soon as the game start, everything changes. Yeah, like I feel weird my first at bat, but after that I feel OK. My first at-bat vs. the Cubs was like, real weird, but after the game starts, yeah. That was like, OK for me. Q: What's learning a new language been like for you? A: Yeah, every day I learn something new. Because like, my english right now is kinda OK or good, but I know I can get better every day. Q: Do you think learning English at such a young stage in your development has helped? A: Yeah that’s gonna help me because the hitting coaches and the other stuff can work with me and [you] don't need a translator for that, and that's good. Q: When will you make the big leagues? Getting close?

A: I feel [like I am getting close] but you know, the organization, they make that decision for me. I’m just working.

Is Reynaldo Lopez ready for the majors? By James Fegan / The Athletic | July 18, 2017 Asking a single question about every interesting prospect in the White Sox farm system these days is a 25-minute interview, so when I spoke to White Sox director of player development Chris Getz a few weeks ago, I tried to boil things down to a single angle for everyone. To simplify it even further, I essentially asked: what’s wrong with Reynaldo Lopez? “He's gotten out of his delivery a little bit. His fastball's kind of been working on one side of the plate,” Getz said. “His offspeed pitches, when he gets out of his delivery, are not as effective as they can be. With that being said, he's got these weapons and when he is in line, it's pretty impressive. We know what he's capable of doing.” To sum it up, Getz saw the same results as the rest of us — Lopez entered his final start of June with a 4.48 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte and a walk rate over 10 percent — but didn’t share the same concern. Since then, he’s showed what he’s capable of, reeling off a four-start stretch of outings all six innings or longer with two runs allowed or less. He’s covered 25 2/3 innings with a 1.75 ERA with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate and a 4.9 percent walk rate. Through six innings on Sunday, he was pretty much the view of perfection, pounding the zone with heat that regularly touched 98 mph, and missing bats with his changeup, curveball and slider, all of which could be thrown for strikes. He faltered for the first time all game in the seventh, walking a pair and allowing his first run of the day with a wild pitch. In four starts, the debate has suddenly flipped from, “Is there a reason to be concerned?” to “Why isn’t he in Chicago yet?” These little blips at this point are the only development concerns standing in the way of the 23-year-old’s ascent. Perhaps he’s just a detail-oriented guy, but the three times I’ve spoken to Lopez this year have already revealed some new tweak he was incorporating: a slider that Washington had never allowed him to throw in games before, a two-seam fastball to generate more ground balls, a different quadrant of the strike zone he was working on. He’s the type of pitcher who always has a good answer to “What are you working on?” but also lent himself to the idea that he might have a midseason breakthrough when all these tweaks settled in comfortably to his game. There are plenty of skeptics, and plenty of top-100 prospect lists Lopez is not even on because of a lack of universal belief in his ability to start with the delivery he has. But the scouts and evaluators that believe in Lopez have not wavered all season, and now that he’s showing his dominant form, they’re confident in his ability to handle the majors as the next step of his development. “He’s an advanced arm, good to get him exposure now,” said a league scout. “He is shredding. It’s time, kids.” General manager Rick Hahn has said frequently that they are taking a patient approach with their prospects and waiting for them to answer “all the questions we have for them at the minor-league level,” but if they profile Lopez as a starter not in need of a major delivery overhaul, it’s not clear what those questions would be beyond more of the same. The other standard for promotion that Hahn has dictated is a permanent slot in the rotation, rather than just some temporary room for an audition, and there would need to be a move to make one. Carlos Rodon is a building block for the future, James Shields is owed $10 million from the White Sox for next season, and there’s reason to give Miguel Gonzalez an opportunity to show if he can regain his April form now that he’s back from injury. But on the larger scale, the Sox do not have options so compelling that there is no room for Lopez, and there’s no way to squeeze an extra year of service time out of him beyond holding him in Triple-A for a quarter of the 2018 season. Maybe that sounds palatable. After all, how many championships will Reynaldo Lopez help the Sox win in the last two months and change of 2017? It’s sort of a larger question of the rebuild in general: how much contortion — or outright subversion — of these next couple of years on the major league level is acceptable to turn up the sliders just the slightest bit for the team's perceived competitive window? As frequent as the cheers are on Twitter for every Sox loss going toward a slightly better draft position, manager Rick Renteria cannot simultaneously develop young players and even potential trade assets while managing to lose. Wins come from successful players, and successful players are more valuable for either the future or for trade, and good development is more important than the difference in a few slots of the draft order. By the same token, a logical development path for Lopez, where he is rewarded for his hard work and success and gets tested at the appropriate time, also takes precedent over some cynical attempt to build the worst team possible out of concern for the 2018 draft, where the primary object of fan obsession is not even projected to go in the top five.

The White Sox have traded away their best starter in Jose Quintana, and they’re liable to further gut their clubhouse of productive veterans in the coming weeks. They’re 38-52, and have lost seven of their last eight. They will not need help losing more games, certainly not enough to block Lopez from the next step that he’s earned. The Sox know this too, so I expect we will see him soon.

Finding returns for the White Sox’s remaining trade assets By James Fegan / The Athletic | July 17, 2017 The White Sox have all of two weeks to figure out fair value for their four most appealing veteran trade assets following the Jose Quintana deal. Considering that the Quintana trade required four days of negotiation by text message (part of one while hiding behind an exhibit) and an extra day or two of doing media appearances (while saying “wetbutt” on record a lot), it seems like a good idea to lend White Sox general manager Rick Hahn some help. Speaking to league sources and old friends at the Baseball Prospectus prospect team, here are some possible deals for Todd Frazier, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and Anthony Swarzak. All but Robertson are pending free agents. First, let’s bite on the now omnipresent chatter that the Boston Red Sox are narrowing their focus to Frazier. Boston gets: 3B Todd Frazier, $3 million. White Sox get: 3B Michael Chavis One of the big determining factors in a potential Frazier deal will be whether the White Sox will be willing to pay some of that sweet, cold, hard cash to spike the prospect value they get in return. They would certainly need to in order to pry away Chavis, a soon-to-be-22-year-old 2014 first-round pick who hit his way (.318/.388/.641 in High-A) into a midseason promotion to Double-A. Chavis had struggled to consistently produce at the plate before this year due in part to a thumb injury, and he’s not the rangiest third baseman ever, but he has the pedigree to inspire confidence that his plus right-handed power is here to stay. The White Sox would need to try to take care of a significant chunk of the roughly $5 million owed to Frazier for the rest of this year to get a legit prospect back, or they could get a package more like this: White Sox get: LHP Trey Ball, LHP Darwinzon Hernandez Ball, 23, isn’t having a good season in Double-A (5.62 ERA and 40 walks in 81 2/3 innings), but the former No. 7 overall pick from the 2013 draft still flashes three potentially average pitches, and could settle into a nice left-handed, middle reliever role at some point. Hernandez throws 97 mph from the left side, which may be exciting enough to cover up a lack of command or comfort with breaking pitches. The Red Sox are only getting two and a half months of Frazier, after all, so this might be the value level they’re looking at anyway. New York loves DRob, and DRob loves New York enough to probably not have the Yankees on his limited no-trade list, and there’s legit buzz that Yankees scouts are focusing on him, so let’s do this. New York gets: RHP David Robertson, $10 million White Sox get: RHP Albert Abreu or Dillon Tate, RHP Freicer Perez Robertson is an effective reliever who is still missing bats at an elite level with 91-93 mph heat and a wipeout curveball. The extra year of control makes him the White Sox's one great opportunity to land another high-level prospect, but also means he’s owed roughly $18 million through the end of 2018 for a Yankees club trying to get under the luxury tax. Abreu, 21, is currently on the disabled list for a “muscle issue in his shoulder,” and was part of the return from the Brian McCann trade to Houston this past offseason. He can sit in the mid-90s with more than enough stuff to have mid-rotation potential and enough command issues to wonder if he becomes a high-end reliever instead. He is still in High-A, so there’s a wide range of possibilities. If the Yankees balk at this, the White Sox could pivot to former No. 4 overall pick Dillon Tate, who is having a bit of a bounce-back year as a 23-year-old in High-A after a disappointing 2016. Perez is probably a reliever, but he has reportedly touched as high as 99 mph, and at 6-foot-8, 180-pounds, is an imposing figure on the mound. Arizona gets: OF Melky Cabrera, $3 million White Sox get: RHP Taylor Clarke, 2B Yan Sanchez

The White Sox have a shade under $28 million committed to the 2018 payroll, so yes, there is room to shell out some cash at the deadline. Someone’s going to lose out on the J.D. Martinez bidding, and it might as well be Arizona. Think of it as paying Cabrera a few million less while getting prospects back. Clarke is a big (6-foot-4) and athletic strike-thrower who shows enough command as a 24-year-old in Double-A to provide hope of becoming a back-end starter, even if the stuff is not electric. Sanchez is fairly unheralded but has decent raw power for an up-the-middle defender and has hit .311/.361/.525 with a high BABIP and a lot of strikeouts as a 20-year-old in Low-A. Washington gets: RHP Anthony Swarzak White Sox get: 3B Anderson Franco Part of what this exercise has shown is that it might be more difficult to move Swarzak, a highly effective reliever who is making $900,000 this season, than would be expected. He doesn’t have the name value of a high-impact reliever like David Robertson, but isn’t a cheap reclamation project that will demand almost no value in return. It might be easier — and spike the value of the prospect return — to group him in a deal with Frazier or Cabrera, but that would be taking a shortcut, which The Athletic never does. The Nationals just traded for two good relievers on Sunday, which brings them to a grand total of three good relievers, the longest-tenured one being a version of Matt Albers that strikes out more than a batter per inning. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll keep adding, even if it costs them a raw power 19-year-old who is currently scuffling at the Single-A level (.213/.284/.353). The Sox won’t be making any additions to their top-10 prospect list at the end of the deadline, but this period is all about loading up on prospect depth, and there’s some depth to be had.

Levine: Derek Holland An Unlikely Trade Candidate For White Sox At Deadline By Bruce Levine / CBS Chicago | July 17, 2017 CHICAGO (CBS) — The White Sox have done a quality job of garnering blue-chip prospects for three high-profile players they’ve traded over the last eight months. Looking ahead, it’s going to be a difficult process obtaining more top talent in any trade. Some of the veteran White Sox players looking over their shoulder after the trade of left-hander Jose Quintana to the Cubs last Thursday struggled over the weekend as the Mariners completed a sweep. On Sunday, left-hander Derek Holland allowed six runs, five earned, in 5 2/3 innings on seven hits and a walk. Holland’s trade value has plummeted over the past six or so weeks, as he had a 9.55 ERA in June and a 10.20 ERA this month, and he’s allowed seven homers in his past five outings. Holland was signed to a one-year deal last offseason with the thought that he could provide solid innings in the first half of the season — which he did for two months — and then be a trade chip in late July. That looks more unlikely now. “One pitch is what really killed me,” Holland said after Chicago’s extra-inning loss to Seattle on Sunday, referencing a three-run homer Danny Valencia hit in the fifth inning. “Narvie (catcher Omar Narvaez) said maybe we should have gone somewhere else with it. At the same time, if I make that pitch, everyone is saying what a great pitch. So I am not going to beat myself up over it. One thing took me out of it, and that is it.” On the same day the White Sox were swept, the Cubs finished off a sweep of the Orioles in Baltimore behind seven shutout innings from the newly acquired Quintana. White Sox manager Rick Renteria was asked if there was an emotional effect that distracted the White Sox after the trade of Quintana. “That is a good question,” Renteria said. “I have not sensed that the guys are down. Their friend, their teammate who threw very well in Baltimore — they are pulling for. They all know the game of baseball has elements that not everybody likes. Changes always occur. They are pulling for him, but from what I observed that has nothing to do with how we played this weekend. They have been able to separate that action. This was simply having to play better baseball.” Another possible trade candidate for the White Sox is third baseman Todd Frazier, who went 1-of-12 in the three-game set. He could be a fit for the Red Sox. For now, all players like Holland and Frazier can do is wait and play their hardest.

“We wish Q the best,” Holland said. “We saw he pitched very well today. Hats off to him. At the same time, we cannot get caught up in those types of things. We still have to play the game whether we lose a guy or gain a guy. We still have to show up and play every single day. To get caught up in that would not be right. It would show we are not focused. We were definitely focused and battled back. Seattle is a very good team. You have to give them credit. The outcomes didn’t happen the way we wanted them to. All the games were close. We just can’t get caught up in that kind of stuff.”

Nick Hostetler Excited By Progress Of White Sox Rebuild By CBS Chicago Staff / CBS Chicago | July 17, 2017 (CBS) Among the many happy people these days at the intersection of 35th and Shields is Nick Hostetler, the amateur scouting director of the rebuilding White Sox who has seen his organization reshape its future the last eight months with blockbuster deals. The latest came Thursday, with the White Sox sending left-hander Jose Quintana to the Cubs for a haul of four prospects that included outfielder Eloy Jimenez, viewed as a top-10 prospect in the game, along with right-hander Dylan Cease, another major prospect. Hostetler has a great feel for both of these new prized pieces to the White Sox farm system, which may now be the best in baseball. Jimenez joins a mix of position players that includes Yoan Moncada, ranked as the top prospect by MLB.com, and fellow outfielder Luis Robert, who signed out of Cuba in May. Last week, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said that Jimenez compares to White Sox great Jermaine Dye. Hostetler joined Hit and Run on 670 The Score on Sunday and declined to give a comparison for the 20-year-old Jimenez, but his belief in him is strong. “Eloy’s just a tremendous talent,” Hostetler said. “When you have a chance to see him in person and to see how big and strong he is — and to think that he’s still only 20 years old with that type of power — I can see why a Jermaine Dye comp has been put on him. Jed’s an extremely smart man, and I wouldn’t argue with him on a comp he gives.” Cease joins the White Sox as the latest talented pitcher to join their organization. They’d previously added Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning in trades last December. Now, Cease enters the fold as a 21-year-old with an electric arm. Hostetler scouted Cease out of high school in Georgia, before Tommy John surgery dropped his draft value in 2014. “He was a three-pitch mix with front-line starter ceiling,” Hostetler said of Cease. “It was about 97, 98 miles per hour on the fastball with a breaking ball that falls off the table. He’s got a solid feel for a changeup. Obviously, the numbers show there’s going to be some refinements that need to be done with the mechanics to help him throw some more strikes. “Look, with our track record with pitching, I’ll put that up against anybody in the league. I feel very confident turning a pitcher with his abilities over to our pitching guys.” The White Sox have made tremendous progress in their rebuilding efforts in short time. Their first major move toward a rebuild came with the deal of Chris Sale to the Red Sox in December, which acquired Moncada, Kopech and two others. Days later, the White Sox dealt Adam Eaton to the Nationals for Giolito, Lopez and Dunning. With the move of Quintana to the Cubs, the White Sox have further stocked a farm system with major prospects. MLB.com ranks the team with nine of the top 68 prospects in baseball. Hostetler knows well that there are more names in the pipeline, too. Rebuilding became the best route after the White Sox were “mired in mediocrity,” as general manager Rick Hahn declared almost a year ago. They’ve become better for the future by trading Sale, Eaton and Quintana. “Obviously, this is not something you want to have to do when you’re working for a club and you’re a scout or scouting director or GM,” Hostetler said. “You don’t want to have to do these things. But at times, you have to. We know that the effort that’s been put in now and 2016, ’17 and ’18 to hopefully, whenever that time comes that all these guys come up and start playing well for us and we’re winning championships, it’s all going to be worth it.”

White Sox Prospect Eloy Jimenez Focused On Improving Plate Discipline On Field, English Skills Off It By CBS Chicago Staff / CBS Chicago | July 17, 2017 (CBS) A 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic and one of baseball’s top prospects, Eloy Jimenez continues to have dual focuses after last week’s trade from the Cubs organization to the White Sox. He’s working on his baseball skills and his English skills. The former is what has often come so naturally. The latter is something he’s made quality progress in since debuting with the Cubs organization in 2014 and hopes to continue improving on as well. “I learn, every day, something new,” Jimenez said of picking up a second language during an interview he had with Matt Spiegel and Barry Rozner on 670 The Score. “My English right now is kind of OK, but I know I can get better every day. “That’s going to help me, because the hitting coaches and other staff working with me won’t need a translator. That is good for me. I’ll feel good about that.” On the field, Jimenez cited plate discipline as one area he’s working on. He’s hitting .279 with eight homers, 37 RBIs and an .858 OPS in 45 games this season at high Class-A. He’s struck out 37 times and drawn 22 walks. Asked when he thought he could be promoted to the big leagues, Jimenez responded by saying he felt he was getting close to ready but that he’d leave the timeline predictions up to the organization. Jimenez has admitted that the trade from the Cubs to the White Sox surprised him, but he also has expressed his excitement for a new chapter. “I was a little sad the first two days,” Jimenez said, noting the first two games he played for Winston-Salem were against his old Myrtle Beach teammates of the Cubs organization. “That was kind of a little weird for me. At the same time, this was a big step for me in my career. I just say thanks … to the Chicago White Sox for giving me the opportunity.” One of the first traits those close to Jimenez note about him is his warm, infectious personality — which he believes is even more likely to rub off on his new teammates as furthers his English skills. “It’s just like me — that is my personality,” Jimenez said. “I try to be positive, in a positive mood all the time, a good mood, take the time for a smile all the time. That’s Eloy Jimenez.”

Jon Heyman: Yankees A Frontrunner To Land David Robertson By CBS Chicago Staff / CBS Chicago | July 17, 2017 (CBS) The Yankees are a frontrunner to land White Sox closer David Robertson, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports and MLB Network said on the Mully and Hanley Show on Monday morning. “There are a lot of relievers available,” Heyman said. “So I’m not sure how quickly the other guys are going to go. So there’s going to be a lot of jockeying for position — Robertson isn’t the only guy. I do think the Yankees do like him the most of all the relievers out there. Obviously, there are a lot of good ones, but they had him before. They love Robertson, and they do know some help there. I could see something happening with them.” Heyman also mentioned the Red Sox as another possible suitor for Robertson and added that the White Sox may be willing to pick up some of the money owed to Robertson through 2018. He’s owed $13 million next season. The 32-year-old Robertson has a 2.70 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings this season while striking out 47 batters and walking 11. He played for the Yankees from 2008-’14 before he signed with the White Sox in free agency. Listen to Heyman’s full interview below. He also discusses the Cubs and their acquisition of left-hander Jose Quintana and the sweepstakes for Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray.

Bernstein: Cubs, White Sox Not Done Dealing As Trade Deadline Approaches By CBS Chicago Staff / CBS Chicago | July 18, 2017 (CBS) The dust has settled after the crosstown trade that caught Chicago baseball by surprise last Thursday, but both the Cubs and White Sox continue to work the phones to optimize their respective rosters. They have divergent goals to accomplish before the July 31 non-waiver deadline but are equally busy. For Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, that means adding a useful arm for the bullpen that can matter in high-leverage situations and staying involved in conversations regarding starting pitching, as sources say they have been regarding Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray and others. Also on the Cubs’ wish list is a veteran catcher, ideally one who hits left-handed — a platoon preference of manager Joe Maddon at the position. Tigers catcher Alex Avila would be an obvious fit, but his outlier offensive season could be driving up the price. The 30-year-old Avila is slashing .292/.420/.518 for an OPS+ of 150, posting a 2.3 fWAR that’s the equal of Willson Contreras for the second-best number among all catchers behind Buster Posey’s 3.1. That Avila is known to be a strongly positive clubhouse presence is all the better, too, but nobody expected him to be this good right now. As much as the Cubs like Victor Caratini, they’ve made it clear that they believe their newly bolstered and recovering pitching staff could benefit from a more experienced receiver involved now that both David Ross and Miguel Montero are gone. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is living in a vastly different world while trying to accelerate further his already rapid simultaneous teardown/stock-up, but the White Sox are reported to be open to selling off any of the older players who have now become vestigial organs left over from the go-for-it days. Closer David Robertson could go at any time the market seems right, and the same now applies to third baseman Todd Frazier, outfielders Melky Cabrera and other relievers like Tommy Kahnle, whose fastball has averaged an eye-popping 97.9 mph this year that makes it the 14th-hardest pitch in the game, per Statcast. Jose Abreu might appear valuable with a slash-line of .294/.347/.513, but bat-only first basemen are relatively easy to find and don’t often command a premium in trade. His worth as a DH also cuts away half the suitors. What the Jose Quintana deal did along with help both teams was enliven the possibility that the open line of communication could engender more discussions between the two that align with their differing timetables in a way that each side can continue to get closer to winning another World Series. The meatball narrative vaporized. We now know that these are reasonable people looking to do good baseball business, and some of it may still be close to home for all concerned.