The White Sox tried to contend this year.

They really did. Preseason deals brought Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie to town. Blake Ferguson Jerseys After their hot start turned into a May malaise, they went out and added James Shields to the rotation.

TRADE TALK: | | |

Nothings really worked, though. Theyre three games under .500 and 10.5 behind the first-place Indians in the AL Central. They are, as GM Rick Hahn said Thursday, Youll rarely hear a front-office type use such harsh wording.

Its hard to imagine they do anything other than sell at this point.

And they have plenty of a sets to deal, depending on how thorough they want their turnover to be. Hahn has been pretty aggre sive in his acquisitions since taking over the job, and it makes sense that hell take the same approach to this much le s palatable proce s.

So well take a look at the White Sox like we have with other sellers. Well look at one primary trade chip, then dig through the roster and figure out what other players would be available, should other teams be interested.

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Chris Sale: If the White Sox do decide to make him available, he immediately becomes the single most desired player on the 2016 trade market (yes, moreso than any of the Yankees relievers). Hes been one of baseballs best starting pitchers since moving into Chicagos rotation in 2012, but somehow hes just 27. Since 2012, Sale has compiled a 2.99 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 10.0 K/9 and 4.97 K/BB in 136 games (135 starts), and hes made the All-Star team all five of those seasons.

And then there is the matter of Sales contract. The White Sox gave him a $32.5 million guarantee after Sales first full season as a starter, and thats turned into arguably the most team-friendly contractin recent MLB history. He made a total of just over $10 Michael Palardy Jerseys million from 2013-15 (when he finished in the top six of the AL Cy Young vote all three years), and hes making $9.15 million this year. Hes making $12 million next year, and then there are club options for 2018 (at $12.5 million) and 2019 ($15 million). For a true ace like Sale, thats a huge bargain.

Its not a stretch to say most every team will at least internally discu s what it would take to land Sale, and were not just talking about 2016 contenders. Teams expecting to contend in 2017 or 2018 will be interested, too. Now, what teams have the young stars and prospects nece sary to actually land Sale? Thats a different question. The White Sox will demanda kings ransom. Worth pointing out that they, of course, don't have to deal Sale right now. If they don't land the ransom, Zach Thomas Jerseys they could try again in the offseason.

Other pitchers available: If the Sox are going to consider trading Sale, theyll certainly considering dealing Jose Quintana, too. Like Sale, Quintana is another outstanding lefty starter; he has a 3.13 ERA this year and a career 3.42 ERA in 141 games (138 starts), though hes been largely overlooked because the White Sox have been so mediocre and becausehes overshadowed in his own rotation by Sale. His contract might be even better than Sales hes guaranteed $14.35 million, total, in 2017-18, with identical $10.5 million club options for 2019 and Raekwon Davis Jerseys 2020. He would bring back a huge haul of talent (like Sale, though, they won't deal him unle s their price is met). James Shields has been really good (2.10 ERA in five starts) since his disastrous debut with the club (15.80 ERA in four starts), and hes certainly available.

If the Sox are resigning themselves to non-contender status the next couple seasons, they wont need a highly paid closer, so David Robertson would be available. Getting full value for him might be a bit tough right now, considering he has a career-worst 4.03 ERA and hes making $25 million in 2017-18. Still, his track record is pretty darn good and lots of teams need help in the late innings. ZachDuke, who has a 2.97 ERA and is making $5.5 million in 2017, is a lefty reliever who would fit well in any contenders bullpen. Lefty Dan Jennings has a spiffy 1.77 ERA in 34 games and is under club control through 2019 (which means the Sox absolutely wont trade him just for the sake of moving him).

Right-hander Nate Jones has been outstanding, with a 2.53 ERA in 43 games, mostly working the eighth inning, but they wont let him go cheaply. Jones, 30, is signed through 2018 for basically nothing, and he has club options for 2019-21 for basically nothing (roughly $8.6 million, total, for the three years). Matt Albers is a veteran arm in the bullpen, but with a 5.18 ERA, hes more of Mark Duper Jerseys a candidate for DFA than a trade.

Position players available: Todd Frazier is tied for the major-league lead in home runs, and the trade market is pretty thin when it comes to power. Fraziers current .217 average and .304 OBP are career lows, but the power will help teams overlook those numbers. Hes under club control for 2017 (last year of arbitration) and then eligible to become a free agent next winter. Same thing goes for Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie, who are free agents after 2017. Cabrera has been one of the few constants in the lineup; hes hitting .302 with an .813 OPS. Lawrie has a dozen homers, but just a .248 average and .713 OPS.

Dionner Navarro isnt doing much at the plate (.601 OPS), but he has playoff experience and would be a good backup catcher for a contender. Like Navarro, veterans Austin Jackson and Alex Avila are free agents after the season, but theyre both on the DL, so theyd be more likely to be dealt in August, if/when they clear waivers.Its Miami Dolphins T Shirts doubtful any contender would trade for perennial breakout candidateAvisail Garcia (he has a .641 OPS), but maybe the Sox could find a non-contender willing to give him at-bats to see if he ever reaches his potential.

Teams will certainly ask about Adam Eaton, but considering hes under club control through 2021 (including option years), its hard to imagine they would trade him unle s blown away with an offer (which isnt likely). Same thing with Jose Abreu, whos under contract through 2019; hes slumped a bit this year and his trade value is as low as its been during his short time with the club.