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 -- I’m back from the GM Meetings as the culmination of a two-week trip and wanted to share a few White Sox storylines coming from the three days at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia.

Moncada moving?

White Sox general manager Chris Getz drew a great deal of attention with his “I don’t like our team” comment from his hour-long media session Tuesday, although he provided greater context than simply this bold thought. His ideas dealing with Yoán Moncada’s defensive versatility stood out just as much for me.

“He is capable of playing different positions,” said Getz, when asked if Moncada could go back to second base from his current third-base locale. “He has played second base with us. I think he’s a better third baseman than second baseman.

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be perhaps times where he goes over to second or plays first base and perhaps even the outfield. We’ll do what’s best for our club.”

Hearing outfield mentioned in connection with the 28-year-old brought about my follow-up question, with Moncada’s back in consideration.

“Well, health dependent,” Getz added.

When healthy, Moncada is a solid third baseman frequently bordering on Gold Glove capabilities. That fact has held true defensively even when the switch-hitter struggled at the plate. But health has been an issue for Moncada, who has played 196 total games over the past two seasons.

In fact, Moncada talked about extended moments on the sideline in ’23 where he had doubts about returning because of the back pain radiating into his glute. Yet, Getz believes in Moncada’s versatility.

“He’s a very good athlete. He is,” Getz said. “And if that means we need to have Yoán be more versatile to help our lineup on a nightly basis, you do that.”

With the White Sox owing Moncada $24 million in ’24, there’s less of a likelihood for trade as Getz retools this roster. Not after back-to-back seasons below his expected lofty level of production.

Moncada has never played anywhere defensively but third base and second base, both at the Major League and Minor League levels. The best scenario for the team is Moncada staying healthy and comfortable at a position he knows. He slashed .315/.354/.557 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 24 RBIs over his last 41 games after returning from injury.

La Russa’s contributions

I spoke with Tony La Russa for a few minutes last Thursday during Glendale’s Arizona Fall League contest at Camelback Ranch. The best news, once again, is he seems extremely healthy and getting healthier every day. La Russa, who managed the White Sox in 2021 and for part of ’22 over his second stint with the team, now will be in a White Sox senior advisory position.

“That type of experience is invaluable, and not only in the team-building aspect with so many little pieces that go into a Major league club,” Getz said. “There is going to be mentoring with some of our Minor League coaches and our players as well.

“He’s an asset. I’m going to take advantage of him. Tony is going to be around. We’re going to use him as a resource.”

La Russa, who has three World Series titles, six pennants and 2,884 victories over 35 years as a manager, was part of the organizational meetings last week at the White Sox Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale.

Thames gets hitting coach nod

Marcus Thames talked about the vision presented by Getz, assistant general manager Josh Barfield and manager Pedro Grifol when asked what attracted him to the White Sox hitting coach position, making him the third person to hold that role in the past three seasons.

“I heard Getzy’s interview, and he’s trying to make some moves to make the team a little more athletic and get some guys to put the ball in play a little bit more,” Thames said. “And I like that vision.

“The game has come to a point where situational hitting has been a lost art until the postseason, and then you see teams trying to bunt and hit-and-run and stuff like that during the postseason. We’re going to start hitting that in Spring Training and we’re going to change our identity a little bit, and I like that vision of what they’re trying to get done.”

“Bunt” is a four-letter word to many fans, but the overriding theme is the White Sox need to find a way to win. Old school sensibilities, newer school analytics or an expected combination of both don’t matter as much as extricating this team from a two-year quagmire and a 101-loss campaign. Whatever it takes.