Adding right veteran talent critical for White Sox

On the rebuild side, the White Sox have been playing to favorable reviews the past three years.

Luis Robert, an international addition in 2017, is a budding superstar.

Trade acquisitions Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez have all shown the skills that fit on a team with championship aspirations.

Nick Madrigal, Andrew Vaughn and Zack Collins are first-round draft choices that can all be difference makers.

That's a solid core of young talent - you can add Tim Anderson to that mix as well - but the Sox have been widely panned for missing out on veteran help.

This offseason gives them another chance to get it right.

"I think we're entering the next stage and I think that's going to involve continued growth and a path toward heightened competitiveness and far more compelling baseball out there," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "How quickly we get to the most important stage, that being winning, I think it's premature to say right now.

"But we're moving to that next stage. It's time now to start having that progress toward a winning team on an annual basis out there, a championship caliber team ultimately."

With a promising young base in place, Hahn will accelerate the process of filling holes with outside veterans beginning Monday at the GM meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Here are five names to watch:

Yasmani Grandal

The Sox already have two catchers on the roster - all-star James McCann and Collins.

Why would they need Grandal?

First off, the switch-hitter has the left-handed power the White Sox desperately need. Grandal is also a solid defensive catcher, Game 1 of the 2018 NLCS notwithstanding.

With rosters expanding to 26 next season, the Sox have room for another catcher and Collins could play some first base while also sharing designated hitter duties.

Dallas Keuchel

In need of one or two starting pitchers, Keuchel to the White Sox is already being churned through the rumor mill.

Back on the free-agent market after sitting out until early June last season and signing with the Braves, Keuchel was 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts for Atlanta. The 31-year-old lefty was the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner when he pitched for the Astros.

Mike Moustakas

He's as good of a defensive third baseman as you'll find in baseball, but the White Sox are more than happy with Moncada on the corner.

Moustakas also plays second base, which eventually is going to be Madrigal's position, but he's a fit for the Sox at designated hitter.

Back on the market for the third straight year, the left-handed hitting Moustakas has a combined 63 home runs and 192 RBI with the Brewers and Royals over the last two seasons.

Zack Wheeler

Expected to command a five-year deal in the range of $100 million, Wheeler would be an obvious upgrade in the White Sox's starting rotation.

Slowed by Tommy John surgery earlier in his career with the Mets, Wheeler has come back strong and is 23-15 with a 3.65 ERA over the last two seasons.

A power arm, the 29-year-old righty also has 374 strikeouts in 377⅔ innings over that stretch.

Cole Kalhoun

In addition to looking for left-handed pop, the Sox also need a capable right fielder.

Kalhoun checks both boxes.

A free agent after spending six full years with the Angels, Kalhoun hit a career-high 33 home runs last season and is a Gold Glove caliber defender.