Giolito thrilled to join prospect-heavy White Sox

Some would classify the Chicago White Sox as winners at the winter meetings.

By giving up Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, the team reeled in six prospects, all of whom are now top 10 prospects within the White Sox organization.

One of them is pitcher Lucas Giolito, who was shipped over in the Eaton deal from the Washington Nationals.

"It's amazing to be coming over to the White Sox with a bunch of young talent," Giolito said during a conference call Friday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. "It's a great opportunity for us all to develop and get better and hopefully put a really good team together in Chicago."

Washington also traded away right-handers Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, now the No. 4 and No. 10 prospects, respectively, in Chicago.

In the Sale deal, the Boston Red Sox sent over baseball's No. 1 prospect, Yoan Moncada, along with Michael Kopech and Luis Basabe, who are now No. 3 and No. 9 in the White Sox system.

Last season, Giolito got four starts in the majors, and struggled to the tune of a 6.75 ERA over 21 1/3 innings of work. The 22-year-old said his mechanics were out of sorts, even when he was doing well.

"So this year, with my training program, I've been lifting in the offseason and Pilates and everything," he said. "I'm trying to make sure I can stay as athletic as possible so I'm able to keep the right delivery more often.

"Once I start playing catch and doing bullpens and everything these next few weeks and right before spring training, make sure I put that all together so I can keep my delivery as best as possible."