Doug Padilla, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Would White Sox part with Alexei?

CHICAGO -- If teams are going to try and pry a core player away from the Chicago White Sox, it’s going to come at a steep price.

As trade rumors begin to swirl regarding White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, general manager Rick Hahn neither confirmed nor denied those inquiries Tuesday, but did not sound as if he was shopping his All-Star infielder.

A USA Today report via Twitter on Tuesday said that the Los Angeles Dodgers were actively pursuing Ramirez.

“We are certainly open minded on all of our players,” Hahn said Tuesday, declining to talk about Ramirez specifically. “It’s our obligation to listen. At the same time we have what feel are some very valuable commodities in the game right now and we’re certainly not looking to move any of them without feeling very good that we are not only improving our competitiveness for 2015 but for ’16 and beyond as well.”

The Dodgers are in need of an everyday shortstop since they are not expected to re-sign free agent Hanley Ramirez, but if the White Sox move Alexei Ramirez, that would leave them in a similar shortstop bind. The White Sox do not have somebody waiting to take over at shortstop on an everyday basis, and their top prospect at the position, Tim Anderson, is two or three years away from arriving at the major league level.

The White Sox also have a team-friendly contract with their shortstop, who will make $10 million in 2015 and another $10 million in 2016 if a club option is activated. He made $9.5 million this past season.

The White Sox do have a number of holes to fill, though, as they continue with a roster rebuild that began at the non-waiver trade deadline during the 2013 season. Moving an All-Star and elite defensive player could land an impressive return.

The White Sox are in need of bullpen help, a right-handed starter and a left-handed bat that could deliver run production, among other things.

“You know, (a left-handed bat) is on the list of needs,” Hahn said Tuesday. “Obviously we want to have the balance in the lineup and allow (manager) Robin (Ventura) the flexibility to play the right matchups when the opportunity arises. Right now, we do tilt a little heavily right-handed, especially in the middle of the order, so it’s something we’re exploring.”

But Hahn cautioned to not believe every rumor.

“We try not to take things too seriously that are being bandied about there,” Hahn said. “It’s part of the fun, from at least outside these four walls, this ballpark, to speculate on moves that might be close or that teams may be considering. Inside these four walls we just try to focus on what is realistic and what is not.”

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