Rozner: Would White Sox really consider rebuild?

It was 33 years ago when Lee Elia began his infamous remarks with, "We're mired now, in a little difficulty … "

You didn't figure that's where White Sox GM Rick Hahn was going when he spoke to reporters a couple days ago and offered, "We're mired in mediocrity."

But it was a bit shocking, nonetheless.

Since winning the World Series 11 years ago, the Sox have made the playoffs once and captured a single postseason game.

The approach is obviously not working. That's been known for quite some time. The surprise is that the Sox admitted what we already knew.

Each year, they attempt to win with a midmarket approach, spending just enough to play mediocre baseball, without ever committing to a rebuild.

This is the way owner Jerry Reinsdorf wants to do it, and it has been - since 2005 - an impossible task for Sox management.

Every winter, they make trades for players other teams don't want or need, hoping they'll get the very best from those players. Then, they fill holes with aging veterans who sign for nearly nothing, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

"We looked to get ourselves right as quickly as possible," Hahn said of last winter. "There was a spurt this season where it looked like it worked.

"As we sit here today, we've been wrestling with being a couple games over, a couple games under .500 for the last few weeks. We're mired in mediocrity.

"That's not the goal. That's not acceptable. That's not what we're trying to accomplish for the long term."

But is there really a long-term goal? That strains the bounds of credulity.

For years, the Sox have said they would not rebuild, could not rebuild, and the goal would always be to compete that particular season.

Of course, it was absurd. Unless you're going to spend like a major-market team, it's not going to work.

Though some provided the Sox inexplicable cover for their refusal to bust it up and start over, everyone knew this was not only possible but also the faster path to sustained success and consistent playoff appearances.

If there was a shock in Hahn's words, it's that he says management has spoken to Reinsdorf about the possibility of a total teardown, which would include shopping all of their best assets before the trade deadline.

The idea of trading Chris Sale or Jose Quintana "might be a little extreme," Hahn said, but he ruled nothing out, and the last couple of days have been filled with wild trade rumors involving both pitchers.

If that weren't ridiculous enough, Sale flipped out - again - Saturday and was sent home before he could throw a pitch.

It's just the latest in a series of anger-related issues Sale has had in Chicago, though it's not likely to affect his trade status one way or the other.

"Jerry is very open-minded to all the options in front of us," Hahn said. "This isn't the first conversation we've had about this or the first period of time in which we've talked about the notion of a more extensive or longer time horizon, is the way I would put it."

In other words, a total rebuild.

"We've had these conversations going back to 2013, about whether now is the right juncture to do it," Hahn said. "That's based upon not only the talent we have under control, but the talent we have coming and what's available via trade or free agency."

But what has occurred every time previously is the Sox have talked themselves into the notion that they can use the continued middling approach to move on from this season, while trying to put the next one in play immediately.

The standings tell you the results.

"Over the last couple of seasons we have not elected to go that route (of rebuild)," Hahn said. "We've instead been focused more on the immediate-term future.

"At this point in time, I'd say there's a very open-minded approach, not just from Jerry, but from the entire front office about what is the most prudent course to get us on an annual basis to where we want to be."

Now that sounds like a total rebuild.

Credit Hahn with addressing the obvious at the first home game back from the all-star break and a terrible road trip, and for suggesting that all possibilities - including a teardown - are on the table.

But if it's really true that Reinsdorf would consider that - and no one would blame you if you didn't believe it - then the Sox should have every name on the table and every scenario in play.

They don't have much that other teams would want, but their most desirable assets would bring a bounty in return and cut their rebuild time by 30 to 40 percent, helping the Sox get to where they want to be.

Many Sox fans are so frustrated by years of mediocrity and a tired formula that hasn't worked, that they are skeptical of any possibility that the Sox would start over.

This next week is an opportunity to prove otherwise.

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.