Rick Hahn conducted a Zoom conference with reporters for nearly an hour on Monday morning, so although most of the questions concerned the firings of Rick Renteria and Don Cooper, he was able to branch out and tackle other topics as well.
For offseason plan purposes, he highlighted right field and DH as positions with production deficits in need of addressing (for the second straight year), and said that he and every other general manager is on the hunt for more pitching. As for the payroll, it's a complete mystery.
"We don't know what the impact is going to be on the future economics of the game. We're going to have to wait and see how the market plays out. It's going to be a market that's very likely obviously impacted by these factors that we've never seen before in sports, and even in society.
So we're just going to have to wait and see how the market plays out and hopefully at some point get a better understanding of what next season is going to look like in terms of length, in terms of fan attendance, in terms of revenue, and all that will factor into how we make moves."
He also followed up on some of the season's injured or otherwise inactive players, and most of the updates are positive.
Garrett Crochet: In a report you heard first here from ceverettsdinosaurs, Crochet indeed suffered no ligament damage. Hahn said his first-round draft pick is dealing with a flexor strain in his forearm, but said Crochet's UCL is "clean, no issues there." He should be fine and fully operational by the start of spring training.
Nick Madrigal: He underwent surgery for the shoulder he separated on what appeared to be a routine slide into third in Milwaukee. Hahn said the procedure is meant to "stabilize the area and make it so that -- knock on wood -- he should not suffer another separation." The recovery period is five to six months, so Hahn said Madrigal could be rehabbing when spring training rolls around.
Michael Kopech: After opting out of the season under the guise of professional concerns followed shortly by the emergence of personal matters, Hahn said there is "zero mystery whatsoever" in terms of Kopech's readiness for the 2021 season, saying he's been in contact with minor league coaches about his throwing program. They may have to take some time to reintroduce him to live competition after two years away, but Hahn said there are no big-picture questions about his part in the White Sox's future.
Yoan Moncada: Hahn said it took a "hell of an effort" from Moncada, the trainers and physicians to keep him involved in the season, even if the effects of COVID-19 kept him from being the Moncada that earned an MVP vote last season. There's a general, low-level uncertainty about his immediate future given that it's a novel coronavirus and nobody knows how long effects may linger, but Hahn didn't express any concern about the aforementioned effort doing damage by itself.
"I'm at least happy to be able to say, every test we've given him, from EKGs to vitamin levels to every scan for blood or picture-wise, CT scan-wise, has come back normal. There doesn't seem to be any physiological damage to him, which is obviously a good starting point.
Jimmy Lambert: He's also dealing with a forearm strain, albeit a more serious one than the one Crochet is experiencing. He hit the injured list all the way back in July and hadn't been heard from since, raising concerns that a second Tommy John surgery might be on the table. Hahn said Lambert is supposed to begin a throwing program after a couple of weeks.
Jose Ruíz: Hahn said he had been pitching with a tear in his meniscus. He had his knee repaired and should be back by spring training.
(Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)
