Jose Abreu may have to carry new-look White Sox

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

The Chicago White Sox started a major rebuilding effort at the MLB Winter Meetings, trading away ace pitcher Chris Sale and right fielder Adam Eaton. Several more veteran players could be dealt by opening day. As a result, fantasy owners have to fade just about anyone on the White Sox roster. Then again, the roster turnover could give their prospects the opportunity to contribute sooner rather than later.

2016 at a glance

Record: 78-84 (4th in AL Central)
Hitting: 20th (4.23 R/G)
Pitching: 14th (4.10 ERA)

Arrivals

C Geovany Soto
OF Cody Asche
SP Derek Holland

The Chisox aren't going to make any long-term commitments, so the offseason additions to their major league roster weren't very impactful. Soto hit left-handers very well last season, but he looks like he'll play most every day.

As things stand, Asche could be the starting DH, but his best season (2015) yielded only a .245/.294/.395 slash line in Philadelphia. Waiver pickup Rymer Liriano might also be in the mix.

Holland, 30, won 16 games for the Rangers in 2011, but has battled shoulder issues (and a freak knee injury) the past several seasons. If he can stay healthy, the White Sox could trade him to make room for one of their young pitching prospects.

Players to watch

1B Jose Abreu
3B Todd Frazier
SP Jose Quintana

Abreu is the team's best overall hitter with three consecutive 100-RBI seasons. However, his home run totals have gone from 36 to 30 to 25 last year. Unfortunately, he can't do it all.

Frazier had 40 homers and 98 RBI, but a .225 average limited his fantasy upside. Don't forget, he is a sneaky source of double-digit steals.

Quintana takes over the spot at the top of the White Sox rotation, but he may be the next to be traded. He's logged four consecutive 200-inning seasons, each of them with an ERA between 3.20 and 3.51.

Sleepers

SS Tim Anderson
OF Charlie Tilson
SP Carlos Rodon

Anderson took over the starting job midway through last season and hit .283 with surprising pop. He was a speed-first guy in the minors (49 steals in 2015 at Class AA), but only swiped 10 bases in 99 games with the White Sox. Look for him to run more in his first full MLB season.

Tilson came over from the Cardinals last July, then promptly suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. He's penciled in as the starting center fielder after hitting .282/.345/.407 at Class AAA.

Rodon took a major step forward in lowering his walk rate, while striking out 168 hitters in 165 innings. A .330 average on balls in play made him one of the unluckiest starting pitchers in the majors. At age 24, he could be on the verge of a breakout.

Bullpen

Closer: David Robertson
Next: Nate Jones

Robertson had issues with his control (4.6 BB/9) that contributed to his 3.47 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and seven blown saves. Signed through 2018, he's been the subject of trade rumors. Should one of those come true, Jones (2.29 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 10.2 K/9) looks more than capable of taking over as closer.

Position battles

Tilson will enter spring training as the leading candidate in center field with Austin Jackson and J.B. Shuck no longer around. Leury Garcia could be an option there.

The DH spot is a complete unknown with Asche, Liriano and infielder Tyler Saladino among the candidates. The Sox could also use the position to rest regulars Abreu, Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia.

Prospects

2B Yoan Moncada
SP Michael Koepch
SP Lucas Giolito
SP Reynaldo Lopez

The Sale and Eaton trades helped the White Sox turn a barren farm system into one with several impact players. But with the team not looking to contend in 2017, those top prospects could remain in the minors a little longer than fantasy owners would like.

Top prospects carry most fantasy intrigue in Chris Sale trade

Projected batting order

1. CF Charlie Tilson
2. SS Tim Anderson
3. 1B Jose Abreu
4. LF Melky Cabrera
5. 3B Todd Frazier
6. 2B Brett Lawrie
7. DH Cody Asche
8. RF Avisail Garcia
9. C Giovany Soto

Projected rotation

1. LHP Jose Quintana
2. RHP Miguel Gonzalez
3. LHP Carlos Rodon
4. RHP James Shields
5. LHP Derek Holland