Giolito eager to impress White Sox in 2017
The Chicago White Sox have already traded No. 1 starting pitcher Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for four top minor-league prospects.
The White Sox are listening to offers on No. 2 starter Jose Quintana, and they also are expected to move Miguel Gonzalez and James Shields, although the latter has little or no value.
Like the rest of the roster, the team's 2017 rotation is impossible to project right now. At some point next season, though Lucas Giolito hopes to be in the starting five.
"I definitely do believe I'm ready," said Giolito, who was one of three prospects acquired from the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in the Adam Eaton trade. "I had some experience in the big leagues last year. I took a lot of positives away because I did experience such a good amount of failure. When I made it up (there), I didn't perform up to what I believed were my best capabilities."
A 22-year-old righty, Giolito was a combined 6-5 with a 2.97 ERA in stops with Class A Hagerstown, AA Harrisburg and AAA Syracuse last season. The success elevated the 6-foot-6, 255-pounder to No. 3 on MLB.com's top prospects list.
Giolito had two stints with the Nationals last season and he struggled, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
"The debut was like a dream come true," said Giolito, Washington's first-round draft pick (No. 16 overall) in 2012. "It's really amazing being able to step on the field for the first time in a major-league uniform. And yeah, it didn't go as well as I would have liked it to go, obviously, if you look at the numbers and everything.
"But I feel that with the White Sox now, getting traded and everything, it's kind of like a fresh opportunity and a new start to get up to the big leagues again and contribute and do everything I can to stay there as well."
Like most young major-league starters, Giolito left himself plenty of room to improve.
"Last year, I was struggling with mechanics throughout most of the course of the year," he said. "I'm a big guy. Sometimes things get out of whack. I believe that I let too much get out of whack last year. So this year, with my training program, I've been lifting in the off-season and (doing) Pilates and everything. I'm trying to make sure I can stay as athletic as possible so I'm able to keep the right delivery more often."
Abreu, Moncada reunited:
In 2013, current White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was playing for Cienfuegos in his native Cuba.
He remembers a flashy 17-year-old teammate, Yoan Moncada.
"I was his captain," Abreu said. "Moncada is a five-tool player. He really has everything needed to succeed. I know with the proper guidance of veteran players and coaches, with experience he can become an all-star caliber player."
On Tuesday, the White Sox acquired Moncada from the Boston Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade. The 21-year-old second baseman is ranked No. 1 on MLB.com's top prospect list.
Moncada is expected to open the 2017 season with Class AAA Charlotte, but should join the White Sox sooner than later.
If he is not traded, Abreu will be eagerly awaiting Moncada's arrival.
"I already spoke with him to welcome him to the team," Abreu said. "I told him I'm going to be there for him for everything that he needs on and off the field."
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