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Sox GM before 5-4 win: 'We still have a lot of work to do'

After trading Chris Sale and Adam Eaton last December and moving nine more veteran players for prospects in deals between July 13 and Aug. 31, general manager Rick Hahn has completed the first - and most important - phase of the Chicago White Sox's rebuild.

"We know we still have a lot of work to do," Hahn said before the Sox wrapped up the home portion of their schedule against the Angels Thursday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. "We know that we might be entering a slightly more difficult phase of this rebuild and that is the phase where we have to allow this talent the time and patience to develop."

The White Sox rallied to beat the Angels 5-4 in the home finale. Rob Brantly tied it on a 2-run homer with 2 outs in the eighth inning. Tim Anderson followed with a single and he scored all the way from first base on Rymer Liriano's single to left field.

While the Sox wait for prospects like Michael Kopech, Eloy Jimenez, Zack Collins and Alex Hansen to join Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez on the major-league roster, Hahn has time to think about holdover vets Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia.

Contractually, both players are under club control for two more years.

"I would like to stay here forever," Abreu said through an interpreter. "I would like to play with this team my whole career. But it is a business and we have to accept and respect what's in the future."

Hahn said there is no rush to make a decision on Abreu or Garcia.

"On both players, those decisions don't have to be made this off-season," Hahn said. "We have the luxury if we want to play it out another year, play it out another half a year, to see if the performance continues, see if the trade market changes."

Welcome back:

Tadahito Iguchi was the White Sox's special guest Thursday night.

The second baseman was a key player on the 2005 World Series championship team, and the 42-year-old Iguchi just retired after playing for Chiba Lotte in his native Japan this season. He played 21 years of professional baseball.

The next step? Iguchi said he would like to manage or coach in the United States.

With the Sox?

"Of course," Iguchi said through an interpreter. "Yes."

Attendance down:

The White Sox drew 19,596 for their final home game of the season Thursday night.

For the season, the Sox drew a paid total of 1,629,093. That is their lowest gate since 1999 (1,338,851).

Robert watch:

After agreeing to a contract with the White Sox in late May that included a $26 million signing bonus, Luis Robert batted .310 in the Dominican Summer League.

The 20-year-old outfielder is expected to receive an invite to the Sox's major-league training camp next spring and open the 2018 season with low Class A Kannapolis or high A Winston-Salem.

Los Angeles Angels' Kaleb Cowart (22) steals second on a throw from Chicago White Sox catcher Rob Brantly to Tim Anderson during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Chicago. Associated Press
Former Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, left, is honored by Naoki Ito, consul-general of Japan in Chicago, during a ceremony before a baseball game between the White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Chicago. Associated Press
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