Levine: White Sox Players Can't Worry About 2017 Yet

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Many have been clamoring about the White Sox's plan for 2017.

But next year isn't on the mind of the current roster at the moment. For now, their main focus is to finish off the last 35 games of what has been a disappointing season.

"We can't worry about what the bosses do, because it's just not your decision," third baseman Todd Frazier said. "I control how to prepare, I can control how I can help my teammates. Once the offseason comes, then I will worry about it. All the moves are up to them. There is nothing you can do about it."

The White Sox were 8.5 games out of the second wild-card spot entering play Saturday. Any realistic shot at postseason play will have to include an epic finish and entail passing six other teams with better records for the second wild-card entry.

That seemingly impossible task aside, this White Sox team isn't oblivious to what may be waiting for them at season's end. Evaluation by all their front office will be taking place after every game over the next five weeks. In essence, the players are actually trying out for the 2017 roster over the waning days of this campaign.

There are only a few players who aren't under contract control by the team  for next year. That is both good and bad news. The good news is the long-term contracts consist of only a handful of players: Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton, Jose Quintana and Chris Sale have three years left on their deals. The White Sox have an option for two more on Quintana. Closer David Robertson has two years left after this season on his initial four-year contract, and James does too, though he does have an opt-out as well.

Every other player on the current squad will be in the last year of their contract in 2017.

"It's tough to tell which way they are going right now," Frazier said. "We are still battling trying to get wins. We want to get the numbers up and do our job. Whatever direction he (GM Rick Hahn) goes, he will know early in the offseason. We will see how it goes , maybe he will have a decision then."

Frazier understands that the season is a disappointment all-around. A team that was once 23-10 has gone 38-56 since early May.

"You think back on the year, it's been weird," Frazier said. "A lot of incidents have gone down. The losses have complied. The first month of the season we were the best team in the league. There is not just one thing you can pinpoint as to how it went wrong. Something just clicked and next thing you know, we are six or seven games out, instead of six or seven games up."

The White Sox are still making deals and probably won't stop until April 2017.

"The front office will look back and see what they want to keep and what they want to add," said Frazier, who has one year left before free-agent status. "Hopefully we can get it on an even keel going forward without heading down so drastically like we did."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.