What is the White Sox's plan moving forward?
In life, and in major-league baseball, admitting you have a problem is the first step toward getting it fixed.
General manager Rick Hahn took that step on Thursday,
After conceding the White Sox are "mired in mediocrity," Hahn said the organization is open to everything but adding players before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline.
While he declined to offered specific details about the plan moving forward, Hahn did acknowledge the Sox's longtime strategy of "focusing on the here and now" is not working. Yes, the White Sox did win the World Series in 2005, but barring a miracle this is going to be the eighth straight season they've failed to make the playoffs.
Teams like the Royals, Pirates, Cubs and Astros have achieved great success by drafting well, signing impact international talent, developing young players and transitioning them to the majors.
The Sox have done a good job developing pitching, and Chris Sale and Jose Quintana are two of the best starters in the game.
The lefty duo have been in the rotation together for the last five seasons, but neither Sale nor Quintana have ever pitched in the postseason.
Both starters have seen their names floated in trade rumors the last few years, but the White Sox never seriously considered moving Sale or Quintana because they viewed themselves as contenders.
Now that they're apparently moving off the blueprint of constantly patching lineups and bullpens together with outside help, the Sox seem to be leaning toward trading veteran pieces for high-end prospects.
Trading players like Jose Abreu, Todd Frazier, Adam Eaton, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson and Zach Duke might bring some value back in return, but moving Sale and Quintana would really expedite a rebuild.
The Rangers are reportedly interested in Sale, but is a return package of Joey Gallo, Lewis Brinson and Jurickson Profar enough for the White Sox?
The Red Sox and Dodgers are two other teams looking for quality starting pitching, although Hahn did say doing a complete sell-off "might be a little extreme, especially if you expect to be able to put yourself in position to have a perennial quality product in the window of control for some of these guys."
That window of control make Sale and Quintana even more appealing. Sale is signed through next season with club options for 2018-19. Quintana is signed through 2018 with club options for '19-20.
If Sale and/or Quintana are still on the White Sox's roster after the Aug. 1 deadline, it doesn't mean they won't be moved.
Hahn can wait for the off-season, when teams that are contending now and teams looking to become contenders can get in on the bidding.
Hahn never mentioned Sale or Quintana by name when talking about various trade scenarios, but he did note the importance of the upcoming winter.
"The fact is, no one may meet that price at this point in time," the Sox's GM said. "It doesn't mean that won't change in the off-season or that there will be other opportunities for us to augment in the off-season. This is just one opportunity over the next 10 days to potentially change things up. It doesn't mean it's the last opportunity or the best opportunity."