For Reinsdorf, time was finally right for White Sox to launch rebuild

GLENDALE, Ariz. - General manager Rick Hahn said the Chicago White Sox have discussed rebuilding the roster in past years, but chairman Jerry Reinsdorf never felt the time was right.

After a fourth straight losing season in 2016 with a roster loaded with veteran players, Reinsdorf green-lighted the change in direction. Hahn traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton for seven prospects, and more moves are coming.

"We've had these conversations over a number of years," Hahn said. "We've been at this pivot point, so to speak, previously. And obviously in the past, we made the decision as a group not to head down this path. When the decision was finally made this year to head down the rebuild route, Jerry felt the same frustration that all of us had, and all White Sox fans had felt, with what seemed to be on paper some solid efforts, but obviously in terms of results and bottom lines were disappointments.

"So he got it. I think his competitiveness and impatience are a constant presence through this in that he hopes it's done right and hopes it's done quickly. But he knows where we're at."

The White Sox might add veteran players at some point down the road, but only as complements to a young core.

"As competitive as (Reinsdorf), may be, and he's as competitive as anybody in the organization, he's also smarter than everybody in the organization so he knows where we were, what the realities were," Hahn said. "And part of making this decision is laying out the alternative and here's what it'd look like if we tried to patch this thing back together and keep ourselves in a position to jump up and get into the playoffs in 2017, or on paper make it look like we're going to get in the playoffs in 2017.

"I think he knew that based on all things considered, that was a path based upon trying to thread a needle, and I think he was tired of us trying to thread a needle and wanted us instead to build up something sustainable though his natural demeanor is to want to win and win now."

Down goes Frazier:

Todd Frazier was wearing a splint on his sprained left index finger late last month at SoxFest, but he was good to go when training camp opened.

The White Sox's third baseman is dealing with a new injury now, a sore lower left side.

Frazier appeared to strain his oblique during Monday's workout at Camelback Ranch, and he's not likely to be ready when the Sox open Cactus League play Saturday against the Dodgers.

"It's probably an oblique strain," Frazier said. "It's something I've dealt with before but at the same time, from what I've heard, they're not anything to mess with. So let's take a couple days and see how it is after a couple days and go from there."

With over a month left in spring training, Frazier has plenty of time to heal.

"From not swinging that much, or not swinging at all in the off-season, maybe that's what hindered it a little bit," Frazier said. "I'll bounce back. It's not something I'm really worried about. It's just something that comes with the territory. You've just got to get after it and pinpoint where it's at and feel better the next day each and every day."