The White Sox weren’t messing around on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, trading for Jeff Samardzija and signing free agent closer David Robertson – inserting the Sox at the very least into the wild-card conversation for 2015.

The Athletics, who acquired Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Cubs for Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, are receiving infielder Marcus Semien, right-hander Chris Bassitt and a third player from the White Sox. Unless that third player is ’70s era Reggie Jackson, Semien and Bassitt are a clear step down from Russell and McKinney, in exchange for half a season of Samardzija.

For the White Sox, it means a solid starting rotation that includes Chris Sale, Samardzija and Jose Quintana, at least for next season – backed up by a bolstered bullpen that was extremely shaky in 2014.

All in all, a good day for the White Sox.