White Sox Notes: Payroll, Peavy, Morel, Molina

The White Sox held another seminar with fans this morning as part of SoxFest 2013 with General Manager Rick Hahn and manager Robin Ventura fielding questions.  When asked what to expect out of the White Sox this season, Hahn encouraged fans to keep their expectations high, tweets Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com.  Here's more from today's Q&A…

• If the White Sox are in contention this season, Hahn says that they'll be able to add to their payroll if there are upgrades available, Hayes tweets.  The GM added that "the money has always been there", Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
• Hahn said that the club didn't have internal options to fill the void that would have been created if Jake Peavy left via free agency, according to Hayes (on Twitter).  The White Sox worked out a contract extension with Peavy early in the offseason rather than picking up his $22MM option for 2013.  The 31-year-old will earn $14.5MM in each of the next two seasons with an option for 2015.
• Ventura explained that third baseman Brent Morel will be in the mix this season and his lack of playing time last season was a result of his injuries, Hayes tweets.  Morel drew trade interest from the Marlins at one point last month as the free agent third base market was quite shallow.
• Hahn said that this season will be a rebuilding year for Nestor Molina, the right-hander who came to the White Sox in exchange for Sergio Santos last winter, Gonzales tweets.