Hahn: Sox ‘very pleased’ with Meetings action

NORTH HARBOR, Md. — If you were a fan of the White Sox — or covered the White Sox or worked for the White Sox, for that matter — it was dangerous to go to sleep during the final few days of baseball’s Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center.

You just never knew when Rick Hahn was going to strike.

The White Sox general manager entered Maryland with the plan for a full rebuild, although he hadn’t made it clear to the public. His actions immediately spoke louder than words.

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Chris Sale was traded to the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for four players, including Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect in the game per MLBPipeline.com, and Michael Kopech, a right-hander who features a fastball hitting 100 mph. Adam Eaton joined the Nationals on Wednesday, with three players coming to the White Sox, including Lucas Giolito, the game’s No. 3 prospect and top-rated arm.

Don’t believe this process sits as 100 percent enjoyable for Hahn. He had to trade away Sale, a five-time All-Star, a perennial Cy Young Award contender and a pitcher under potential control at three years, $38 million. Eaton falls as one of the game’s more underrated players, with the skill to influence a game both defensively and offensively.

But Hahn’s moves created a high level of excitement around the White Sox, something that was missing over the last few seasons. That thrill emanates from a group of seven players in total who most likely will start the 2017 campaign in the Minors.

“This is going to be an extended process,” Hahn said. “Any one of these prospects that we acquire or develop on our own that wind up in Chicago will be there because we feel they are in a position to succeed at the big …

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