They entered the off-season probably needing to consider a rebuild, but in an odd place where their movable pieces were diminished in value, and they weren’t sure what to do with the primes of Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana. Once attractive veterans like Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore are not only gone, but relatively devoid of value. Sure, there was still Shin-Soo Choo, but the Indians only had one year of control to shop around, and his comeback season was still a bit short of his ultimate peak. It’s fair to think that Choo could fetch some help, but not a bounty.

Trevor Bauer, the lauded pitching prospect the Indians received as part of Tuesday’s three-team trade with the Reds and Diamondbacks that also brought them CF Drew Stubbs, may not be that bounty. Over the course of 2012, Bauer made a somewhat curious journey from a top 20 prospect to out of favor with his own team, but still represents a high-ceiling arm with six years of control falling into Cleveland’s lap, in exchange for a veteran outfielder they had to move or lose.

They also get Drew Stubbs, which gives them a flier actually worth taking in the outfield. If nothing else, their outfield defense will improve, even if Stubbs’ Lillibridgian issues at the plate continue.

This trade doesn’t make the Indians a contender–in fact, it pretty much cements that they are completely out of the running–but it provides a young pitcher to center their rotation around, when nothing besides back-end starters were particularly close to graduating their farm system. Bauer’s development gives a purpose to the 2013 season, where there might otherwise have been listlessness.

Speaking of listlessness, last seasons’ ticket out of mediocrity–Kevin Youkilis–is officially out of the 2013 plans, and gone to the New York Yankees for one year, $12 million. That’s a very high annual amount, and obviously more than the Sox were willing to pay, since they declined his option and all.

But it is surprising that the awful market for 3rd basemen never pushed the demand for Youkilis past a single-season. The White Sox certainly needed a stop-gap at the position–they’re settling for Keppinger there, after all–so it’s questionable how much they ever were interested in Youkilis beyond an unreasonable discount, if they didn’t stay on to compete in the bidding when it never accelerated. There’s obviously risk in Youkilis breaking down and being financially committed to him for a year after he’s become ineffective and cannot play, but the Sox being unwilling to overpay to boost the offense even in the immediate short-term reflects a total lack of interest in the player, adherence to their budget, or the transitional purpose of this season.

Obviously, that’s not really nailing it down, but I would imagine it’s a combination of the last two. The White Sox probably shouldn’t pay $20 million to bring back the 2012 team, and it’s more important to move the organization forward than recreate another puncher’s chance at the division title.

Or again, Youkilis could be circling the drain. Knees should not bark, after all.

Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan

Mark Primiano of South Side Sox has the full transcript (which I put on The Hub earlier), and it includes good stuff about the way he and Kenny Williams interact in their decision process, his interpretation of the Sox organizational approach, and frank talk about Jake Peavy taking a hometown discount.

The most topical element of discussion–with the White Sox organizational meetings coming this weekend along with open free agency–was Hahn laying out the position areas of focus.  Let us parse through it.

“Third base is obviously going to be a priority as there is no clear answer for that on the roster right now.”

Certainly this excerpt deserves the top spot on the bulletin board with the other press clippings tracking organizational confidence in Brent Morel.

“We’ll look at the bullpen, trying complement what we have with some different types of relievers. We obviously need to figure out what we’re going to do with the backup infield and backup outfield positions.”

A relief improvement seems highly plausible since it’s an avenue where the White Sox could improve from last year’s taxi squad of rookies, and do so without completely blowing away Hahn’s previously stated budget goals. Mike Adams stands out as a once-elite reliever coming off a down and injury-hampered season.  Bobby Jenks, Jose Contreras, and Jason Grilli are former White Sox free agent relievers, and Grilli might even pitch again in life! There also many others, since these are relievers we’re talking about.

“If A.J. were not back, if Youkilis were back at third, we may be a little too right-handed and we need to look out for that. There are some moving pieces involved. Third base is probably the one getting the most attention as the positional need to be most addressed.”

This is probably not meant to imply that Youkilis and Pierzynski are in a ‘both or neither’ sort of relationship, because it’s hard to conceptualize either one.

Both returning would represent the White Sox very clearly departing from what they have indicated they would like to spend to throw their hat into the 2013 AL Central ring (in which case, why stop there?). Returning neither–assuring Tyler Flowers a job and prioritizing a lefty third-sacker–puts them in the market for the Eric Chavez and Maicer Itzuris-type of crowd, and other situations where it’d be hard to even hope for anything besides average.

Hahn acknowledged that quandary Friday to ESPN 1000 AM while stating his desire to pursue Youkilis. Jim Margalus posited that Flowers could be traded to fix other problems should Pierzynski returns.  The soon-to-be 27 year-old is more cost-controlled (and therefore more appealing) than trade candidates like Matt Thornton and Gavin Floyd.

So far, Hahn’s in on both marquee outgoing players, and into making improvements everywhere besides the rotation he’s already fortified and the pre-installed veteran offensive cogs. That makes sense to even just for the sake of going through the motions, since the conclusions reached organizational meetings and the reality of what will be affordable in free agency have yet to calcify.

Until then, off-season vision is hazy, try again next week.

Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan

It was a very well played baseball game, a pitchers duel of sorts, as only 3 runs were scored between the two power-stacked offenses, with the defense on both sides of the field executing at a very high level. The scoring began in the third, after a leadoff double by Gordon Beckham and a Dewayne Wise bunt single moving Bacon to third, Kevin Youkilis stepped up with a job to do. Youk didn’t disappoint as he lifted a sac fly to deep right, plating Beckham and giving the Sox a 1-0 advantage early.

The Yankees would eventually answer in the 6th when the most overrated player in baseball: Derek Jeter, drilled a solo shot to left center, tying the ball game at one. That would be the offensive highlight of the night for New York, as their bats were silenced by an outstanding performance by young Chris Sale.

Sale went 7.2 innings only giving up 3 hits and surrendering only the one homerun to Jeter. He struck out a whopping 13 batters while only walking 1. Chris looked strong throughout this one as his fastball stayed in the mid 90′s all night. The key for Sale was and always has been his ability to get ahead of the hitter by starting each at bat off with a majority of strikes. That and that alone puts him in position to knock guys out with his phenomenal off speed stuff. Tonight he showcased his great change-up and buckled one of the leagues top offenses with his filthy slider.

Back to the offense, the tie was broken in the bottom of the 6th as Alex Rios answered the Bronx Bombers right back with a solo shot to left center off Hughes. I think Hawk said it best after that Rios homerun when he said, a sign of a resilient team is the ability to answer back after their opposition has put runs on the board in a close game (well maybe Hawk didn’t put it as eloquently as that, but you get the drift). The Rios solo job would cap off the offense for the night.

Brett Myers came in and relieved Sale with 2 outs in the 8th, getting Derek Jeter to ground out to second and ending the inning. Cue Addison Reed in the 9th, he came in and looked solid, strong-handing 3 of the 4 Yankees he faced, ending the game with a ground out to short and securing the first White Sox sweep of the Yankees at the Cell since its inaugural year.

This was a big bounce back series for the Sox after getting swept in Kansas City. The Sox kept 2 games between them and the Tigers as they have been just as hot as the Sox this month. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling with the Seattle Mariners coming to town this weekend. The Sox have an off day tomorrow, when you lay in bed tonight, pray for a Detroit loss tomorrow. See ya Friday.