Sox deal Eaton, do righty thing
Hahn trades outfielder to Nationals for three top- of- the- line right- handed pitching prospects
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — When it comes to this rebuilding thing, the White Sox mean business.
Pulling off his second blockbuster trade for high- end prospects in as many days Wednesday, general manager Rick Hahn continued on his quest to stockpile top minor- league talent. He traded outfielder Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals for a package of three right- handers, including the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball, according to MLB. com.
For Eaton, their most valuable position player in 2016, the Sox received not only Lucas Giolito — the No. 3 prospect in baseball and top pitcher — but Reynaldo Lopez, the Nats’ No. 3 prospect, and Dane Dunning, ranked No. 6.
It was a haul that played to raves from talent evaluators and media around the winter meetings, and it came 24 hours after the Sox traded five- time All- Star Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for four prospects — including infielder Yoan Moncada, the No. 1- ranked prospect in baseball — in the first of what is expected to be a series of major rebuilding moves for Hahn.
By almost all accounts, the trades immediately elevated the Sox’ farm system into one of the top five to 10 in baseball.
“We are ecstatic about the return we were able to secure,’’ said Hahn, kicking the Sox’ rebuild into high gear.
“An important part of the process we are pursuing is acquiring quality pitching talent. We feel like we’ve done that today — and yesterday — en masse. Giolito and Lopez rank among the top prospects in baseball, while Dunning is another young prospect who possesses front- of- the- rotation potential.’’
Eaton batted .284/. 362/. 428 with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 2016 and was a finalist for a Gold Glove, playing most of the season in right field after playing in center his first two years with the Sox.
Nats GM Mike Rizzo raved about Eaton’s overall skills as well as his hard- nosed, high- effort style. What made the deal possible for the Sox was Eaton’s contract, which keeps him under club control for five more seasons, topping out at a club option for $ 10.5 million in 2021.
Hahn went to the interview podium after the deal with mixed feelings, same as Tuesday after he traded Sale.
“We’ve received well- intentioned congratulations from scouts or executives of other clubs, and it’s a little awkward,’’ Hahn said, “because, yeah, we traded Chris Sale. That’s not something you feel great about. That’s not a feather in your cap, so to speak. But this is where we are.’’
After four consecutive losing seasons, the plan is to build the farm system as quickly and deeply as possible. More trades will follow, with third baseman Todd Frazier, closer David Robertson and perhaps Jose Abreu and Jose Quintana among those available for the right return.
By the end of the winter, Hahn might be looking for a few veterans to fill roster spots for the short term.
“We’ll have to augment the roster as we get closer to spring training,’’ Hahn said.
The Sox’ farm system has lacked position players more than pitchers, but five of the seven prospects acquired are pitchers.
“When you give up a pitcher like Sale, you have to get young, controllable pitching back that’s ready to come to the big leagues very soon,’’ a former executive said.
But it’s early. The Sox won’t stop there.
“We were looking for the best prospects, the most impactful position players or pitchers,’’ Hahn said. “After [ Tuesday’s] deal [ for Sale], we felt with the balance between the hitters and the pitchers, bringing back some high- caliber arms would be a nice follow- up. But this is going to be an extended process; it’s going to take some time.’’