GM Hahn says White Sox are open to making trades with Cubs

The Chicago White Sox wasted little time replacing Robin Ventura, naming Rick Renteria manager the day after the season ended.

If there was one perceived flaw in the hiring, it was found on Renteria's resume. In 2014, he managed the Chicago Cubs.

General manager Rick Hahn was asked about Renteria's link with the rival Cubs, and how it would play with Sox fans.

"You know, I get that," Hahn said. "I understand that. But I think it's ultimately far, far more damning if we had passed on him for that reason.

"That would strike me as extremely narrow-minded and cutting off our nose to spite our face, so to speak, to turn our back on an extremely qualified candidate because he had previously worked for the Cubs or anyone in our division or whoever you wanted to find as a potential rival. This is about hiring the best guy."

Hahn was back on defense against the North Siders on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the White Sox told the Cubs they would not be included in potential trade talks for all-star starting pitcher Chris Sale, who is very likely going to be moved this winter.

Like every major-league team, the defending World Series champion Cubs could use Sale in their rotation. Unlike most teams, they have the young talent the White Sox need to make a deal happen.

The two Chicago teams rarely make trades, but as far as completely eliminating the Cubs as trade partners - which heaped ridicule on the Sox - Hahn strongly denied Olney's report.

"To clarify any confusion regarding our stance on possible trading partners, we want to once again make it clear that our primary goal is to make our club better," Hahn said in a statement Wednesday. "We will consider any trade, with any team, that improves the Chicago White Sox.

"As I have said many times over the years, we are always open to discussing trades with all 29 other clubs. We even have completed trades within our division, despite facing these teams 19 times a year.

"And while trades between the Cubs and White Sox will always draw heightened scrutiny and attention, it makes no sense for us to ever eliminate any potential trading partners."