CHICAGO -- The biggest White Sox offseason news to date as the Winter Meetings in San Diego approach this Sunday is more about who left the team as opposed to who was brought on to the roster.

That statement is meant as no offense to right-hander Mike Clevinger, who reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal to join the White Sox rotation. But first baseman José Abreu signing a three-year deal with the Astros was disappointing to many White Sox fans and startling to all as the nine-year-run for the organization staple came to an end.

Andrew Vaughn will move from the outfield to his natural position of first base, so general manager Rick Hahn doesn’t need to specifically replace Abreu. He does need to replace the everyday production and grit shown for almost a decade by Abreu on a team with 2023 World Series aspirations coming off a forgettable 81-81 campaign.

Key events
• Sunday, Dec. 4: HOF Contemporary Era ballot results released (Albert Belle, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling)

• Monday, Dec. 5: All-MLB Team announced

• Tuesday, Dec. 6: Inaugural Draft Lottery, AL/NL Relievers of Year announced

• Wednesday, Dec. 7: Rule 5 Draft

Club needs
Chicago's rotation appears to be set, with Clevinger replacing free agent Johnny Cueto. Second base is open, although the White Sox have internal options in Romy Gonzalez, Leury García and Lenyn Sosa. They also will be looking for an outfielder or two, with a left-handed hitter among that group being a necessity.

Yasmani Grandal enters 2023 in the finale of his four-year, $73 million deal, and he is coming off an injury-plagued ’22. A fully healthy Grandal already is working diligently to get back to top form behind the plate and is backed up by Seby Zavala and Carlos Perez, but Chicago still could look for a veteran to pair with the switch-hitter.

Potential trade candidates
There’s a definite upside to the White Sox Minor League system now being noticed, even if it’s still ranked near the bottom by MLB Pipeline. Prospects such as shortstop Colson Montgomery, who is Chicago's No. 1 prospect and No. 57 in MLB, and right-handed pitchers Sean Burke (No. 9 White Sox) and Cristian Mena (No. 10) figure to hold interest for other teams, as a few examples. They also are viewed as help for Chicago in the not-too-distant future.

Jake Burger, who has proven he can hit at the Major League level, has reportedly drawn some outside interest. Left-handed outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets also could be a fit with his raw power, but they both are 26, which takes them out of the prospect realm in baseball vernacular. Outfielder Yoelqui Céspedes is another player of possibility.

It’s unlikely the White Sox re-shape their roster by trading away an everyday contributor. Lucas Giolito, who was one of the steadiest starters in baseball from 2019-21 before working through a rough ’22 campaign, could be moved as he is set to become a free agent after ’23. But Chicago is counting on his bounceback as part of an elite rotation.

Prospect to know
Oscar Colas, 24, will provide some of the left-handed punch needed by the White Sox to balance their lineup. The team’s No. 2 prospect and No. 95 overall, proved he was Major League-ready with his 2022 Minor League debut across stops at High A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.

Colas posted a collective slash line of .313/.371/.524 with 23 homers, 24 doubles, 81 runs scored and 79 RBIs in 2022. He’ll be called upon in right field but has center-field defensive capabilities, while also fitting Hahn’s original plan of filling some needs from within.

Don’t overlook Sosa, who finished 4-for-35 in his Major League stints last season. Sosa, 22, also posted a .315/.369/.511 slash line at stops with Birmingham and Charlotte, adding 23 homers, 79 RBIs and 77 runs scored.

Rule 5 Draft
Chicago is unlikely to add anyone through the Rule 5 Draft. MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo listed outfielder Luis Mieses (No. 21 White Sox prospect) as the team’s most intriguing unprotected Rule 5 Draft option, while infielder Yolbert Sanchez (No. 26) is another unprotected player of note.

Burning questions
How does this talent-laden team put the major disappointment that was 2022 behind it? How do the White Sox upgrade a solid roster, banking on a number of bounce-back efforts and far better overall health, with seemingly limited wiggle room on the payroll?