This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin's White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Michael Kopech has been traded before.

In fact, the hard-throwing right-hander was part of a deal coming from Boston on Dec. 6, 2016, which officially began the previous White Sox rebuild. Now, he’s a veteran closer for a team struggling in the standings, but the 28-year-old is not looking or hoping to get away from this latest rebuild on the South Side.

“I try not to get too far ahead,” Kopech said during a recent interview. “I’ve been only a part of this Major League organization, so for me, a lot of what I do is a credit to the White Sox. I think about being with this team when it all turns around.

“But that being said, I know there’s a business aspect of it that I have nothing to do with. If it were to happen, if it were to come up, I know it’s a part of the game. I’ve been through a trade before. It wasn’t at this level, but I think I would be prepared for it.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean what I do or don’t want,” Kopech added. “It's just something that you have to know is a possibility within the game at all times.”

Kopech has a 4.01 ERA with five saves over 23 appearances since returning to the bullpen for the 2024 campaign after making 52 starts over the last two. He’s handled the transition well and has struck out 33 over 24 2/3 innings with his four-seam fastball, which he has thrown 345 times out of 442 pitches, averaging 98.9 mph with a .180 batting average against according to Statcast.

There’s understandable interest in a potential late-inning force such as Kopech, who has one year of contractual control remaining before becoming eligible for free agency in 2026. There’s also interest from Kopech in staying and seeing things change from the current 15-42 mark.

“You got guys like [Nick] Nastrini and [Jordan] Leasure, [Garrett] Crochet obviously, who were brought in to be a big part of change here,” Kopech said. “Those guys have an opportunity to be a part of a winning future Major League club. I’m sure it can be here.

“I’m sure they want it to be here just as bad as I do. I’ve been with this organization for seven years now, and I saw a glimpse of a winning culture and I would love to see that again. I only hope for a lot of the guys in here that they get to see it, too, because it’s a lot of fun when these South Side fans come show out for a postseason game.”

That glimpse came in 2021, when Kopech was an essential bullpen presence for the American League Central champions and appeared in two playoff games vs. Houston. Life is different since his only other trade, with Kopech being married with children, but his family also is prepared for a possible move.

“If it were to happen, we have a house we are renting through the season,” Kopech said. “We’ve got three kids in the house. We’ve got help [and] we’d have to find more help at some point. So, I mean things will be complicated in this regard.

“At the same time, I have a great partner in my wife, and she knows that it’s a part of the game, too. There are difficulties that come along with this game and part of that is being separated from them as much as [I am]. So, it’s give and take. But I think that we could prepare for it if the time were to come. Just trying not to get too far ahead.”