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 -- The 2024 season won¡¯t be one circled for posterity by the White Sox as they approach the 125th year for the franchise.

With 21 straight losses, spanning the second game of a doubleheader on July 10 against the Twins through Aug. 6, the White Sox tied the 1988 Orioles for the longest skid in American League history. Chicago¡¯s 121 setbacks set a mark for the most single-season defeats in the Modern Era (since 1901).

But general manager Chris Getz and the White Sox front office view it as much as a building block for the future in the early stages of this current rebuild. As for 2025?

Well, it might be a similar outcome, with the White Sox not expected to contend. But through moves made in-season, important hires (including new manager Will Venable) and the four-prospect return from the trade of Garrett Crochet at the Winter Meetings, the Sox feel as if they are moving in the right direction.

Here are a few topics to be addressed at the start of the new year and with Spring Training six weeks away.

One free-agent target who would still be a perfect fit: LHP Jose Quintana

Let¡¯s make a couple of points clear up front: The White Sox won't be in on the high-end free agents this offseason, and the focus of the 2025 season is to give prospects a chance to show themselves and then assess where the club needs to improve the roster. But with those concepts in mind, the veteran left-hander would be a great fit for the rotation.

Quintana¡¯s extended run of success really began with the White Sox in 2012, and he could come back as a leader and innings stalwart to pair with younger starters such as Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, Drew Thorpe and Sean Burke. The Sox already have signed right-hander Bryse Wilson, and there¡¯s the question of Quintana fitting in at budget. But he¡¯s also a player who could be signed and moved at the Deadline for younger talent.

One player poised to have a breakout season: RHP Sean Burke

Burke is just two offseasons removed from ranking No. 5 among White Sox prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. He dealt with right rotator cuff tendinitis, limiting Burke to nine rough starts with Triple-A Charlotte in 2023, and he didn¡¯t exactly conquer the Minors over 19 starts in ¡®24.

Once the right-hander reached the Majors, albeit over a limited four appearances (three starts), Burke thrived, with a 1.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings. Burke also has shown a level of bravado, a level of confidence, on the mound where he seems to embrace the big moment. Although there should be a competition for the final spot in the rotation, Burke could take off with a regular opportunity every fifth day.

Prospects to watch in 2025: LHPs Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith

Schultz (White Sox No. 1 prospect, No. 16 overall) and Smith (Chicago's No. 3 prospect, No. 30 overall) are ranked as the top two left-handed pitching prospects in the game by MLB Pipeline, so let¡¯s include both in this category. Their combination view makes sense, considering their importance at the core of the White Sox rebuild.

Schultz, 21, was on a set pitch and innings count last season when starting once per week, but he should get elevated more into the regular every-fifth-day rotation work in ¡®25 and see an innings jump from his 88 1/3 total of ¡®24.

Smith, 21, and the team¡¯s fifth overall selection in last year¡¯s MLB Draft, threw 7 2/3 innings for High-A Winston-Salem after arriving from three years pitching for Arkansas. Both hurlers could reach the Majors later in ¡¯25, but they would likely pitch out of the bullpen for a first look.

One prediction for the new year: Colson Montgomery will be AL Rookie of the Year

Pundits might view this as a bit of a stretch, with Montgomery hitting .214 with a .710 OPS during his first full season with Triple-A Charlotte. But the No. 4 White Sox prospect and No. 37 overall found something over his final 99 at-bats, and he carried that success into a short Arizona Fall League stint, during which the shortstop played almost exclusively at third base.

Montgomery's changes were as much mental as they were physical in dealing with the first prolonged failure in an otherwise stellar athletic showing, and he brings a wave of confidence into an already confident demeanor for '25. There was much talk about Montgomery making his debut in '24, but he will have a chance to break camp with the team at shortstop.