Major League Baseball’s trade deadline came and went Monday without the White Sox making a deal to bolster their pitching staff.
The Sox (21-13), who opened a three-game series against the defending AL Central champion Twins (20-15) in Minneapolis Monday night, tied for first place with the Indians (21-13) in the division, like what they have and they will pursue the division title with the players on their current roster.
They seem to think they have enough for this 60-game season and are probably even more confident about next season and beyond.
“It came down to not wanting to do anything that was going to compromise what we’re excited about over the better part of the next decade around here,” general manager Rick Hahn said Monday.
With young talent blossoming all over the diamond, the Sox are enjoying a breakout season, and they had been linked to right-handers Mike Clevinger and Lance Lynn and other starters who would have bolstered a rotation that includes Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez. Gio Gonzalez went on the injured list with a groin strain over the weekend, and Carlos Rodon (shoulder) has been sidelined most of the season.
Right-hander Dane Dunning pitched five hitless innings against the Royals Sunday in his second consecutive good start as a major leaguer. Perhaps Dunning’s effectiveness diminished the Sox’ need for more depth in the view of general manager Rick Hahn.
“The [rotation] has done a great job,” Hahn said. “Dane Dunning has staked his claim to a spot in the rotation, Lopez is climbing his way back and Carlos Rodon had a nice outing yesterday in Schaumburg and is a potential option for us in the not too distant future.”
Clevinger was traded to the Padres and Lynn drew interest from the Sox and other teams including the Yankees and Dodgers but the Sox were unwilling to part with any of their top prospects such as right-hander Michael Kopech, first baseman Andrew Vaughn, second baseman Nick Madrigal and Dunning.
“We feel very good about what this team has accomplished in the early part of this season,” Hahn said. “We feel confident about this team is capable of doing over the next couple of months but just as importantly we’re excited about where this team is headed.”
The deadline passed at 3 p.m. The Sox made a trade Friday, acquiring outfielder Jarrod Dyson from the Pirates in exchange for international signing bonus pool money. Hahn explored other rental type acquisitions “but the pricing didn’t work out beyond the Dyson deal.”
Hahn, vice president Ken Williams, manager Rick Renteria and seven veteran players met Sunday, Hahn said.
“It was a very candid conversation about where we are and the clubhouse culture and the chemistry in that chemistry,” Hahn said. “We all came out of there very impressed with the environment that’s there on a daily basis and the commitment of those veterans to maintain that environment and their level of confidence about what this team is capable of doing over the next several months as well as the next several years. That matters in any acquisition.”
