White Sox kick start rebuild with mammoth haul in Sale, Eaton deals

The Chicago White Sox were largely forgotten during the crosstown Cubs' run to the World Series back in October. Today, after a madcap 48 hours on the trade market, they're the talk of the town.

Chicago needed to hit the reset button in a big way after posting a losing record for the fifth time in six years, and general manager Rick Hahn did that at baseball's winter meetings, swinging several trades that have set the South Siders up for a potentially very bright future.

It started on Tuesday morning, when Hahn finally pulled the trigger on trading Chris Sale. The southpaw was sent to the Boston Red Sox for a package that included infielder Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. Though he might need just a bit more seasoning, Moncada could anchor the White Sox infield for years to come. In other words, he could very well become the superstar the team needs.

That trade also included three other highly touted prospects: hard-throwing right-hander Michael Kopech, infielder Luis Alexander Basabe, and 22-year-old pitcher Victor Diaz. Kopech, the most intriguing non-Moncada name in the package, instantly became the White Sox No. 2 prospect behind Moncada and will start at Double-A next year, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

But Hahn wasn't done there. On Wednesday, the GM pulled the trigger on a second blockbuster trade that sent outfielder Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals for a stunning package that included Lucas Giolito, arguably the best pitching prospect in the game. The Nats also gave Chicago their second-best pitching prospect in Reynaldo Lopez, and young pitcher Dane Dunning, the team's first-round pick in 2016.

And the White Sox may not be done, either. Left-hander Jose Quintana is reportedly being heavily pursued by multiple teams including the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, and will likely bring in yet another boatload of young talent. Also potentially on the block: first baseman Jose Abreu, outfielder Melky Cabrera, third/first baseman Todd Frazier, and closer David Robertson.

Last season, the White Sox were simply treading water from start to finish, with an aging veteran team and a mediocre farm system preventing their growth. Now, thanks to some shrewd winter dealing, they head into 2017 owning one of the better crops of young players in the game, and potentially staring at a quick turnaround if they all pan out.