White Sox scout bullish on offseason deals

CHICAGO — Behind every franchise-altering rebuild, much like the one currently undertaken by the White Sox, stands a group of scouts putting in valuable leg work to help make it happen.

And John Tumminia, who has been a Major League Baseball scout for the past 30 years, stands as one of the people able to share this tale.

“We are the unsung heroes, and that’s always going to be. That’s OK,” said the affable Tumminia, who is one of the White Sox pro scouts. “But when you [see] seven guys and this is what happens, it’s like candles on a birthday cake. It’s serious. You don’t want to blow the candles out.”

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Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Victor Diaz, Luis Alexander Basabe, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning are the seven referred to by Tumminia. He was one of the White Sox scouts who watched all seven, weeks and months before they were acquired in trades for Chris Sale with Boston and Adam Eaton with Washington.

Tumminia was assigned to Boston back at the 2016 non-waiver Trade Deadline, studying Moncada and outfielder Andrew Benintendi at Double-A Portland. He also was high on Washington catcher Pedro Severino, so imagine the potential up-the-middle White Sox strength running through Tumminia’s mind.

How about shortstop Tim Anderson and Moncada as the double-play combination, …

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