Even so, he made it clear that possibility is on the table, just as he did recently when he said the White Sox are "mired in mediocrity."

He said the frustration extends all the way to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Adding to it is the fact that they have "some very special talent."

"There are certainly multiple pieces here that are capable of playing important roles on a championship club," Hahn said. "It's extraordinarily frustrating to all of us that it hasn't played out other than the first six weeks or so of the season."

Hahn said the White Sox had "intriguing" discussions with other teams, though nothing "we felt strongly enough to bring to Jerry."

Sale and Quintana would no doubt command high prices on the trade market if the White Sox went the overhaul route. That's something the organization has refused to do in recent years, instead trying to stay competitive through trades and free agency.

Further complicating any talks involving Sale and Quintana is that both are on team-friendly contracts that don't expire anytime soon.