CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 12: Aaron Bummer #39 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 12, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the White Sox 10-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox started a rebuild in 2016. The Chicago Cubs were the defending World Series champions and in danger of taking over Chicago baseball even more than they already have just based on branding. So far, the rebuild has been so successful.
It started by trading Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, and two others. The following day, they traded Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning, and Reynaldo Lopez.