Chicago White Sox desperately need a second baseman. Can a rumored deal for Eduardo Escobar come to fruition?

The Chicago White Sox reportedly are acting fast in their pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar, who is “on his way” from escaping a last-place team and joining the Sox, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

A tweet from Nightengale seemed to confirm a trade was imminent and created a stir Saturday night, and false “sightings” of Escobar in Chicago were posted even without the real Escobar in any of the photos.

That’s how crazy it has gotten on the South Side with a first-place team that finally matters, a crowded ballpark and a glaring hole at second base since the season-ending injury to Nick Madrigal.

Even crumbs on Twitter provide hope.

Escobar, a switch hitter with power who can play second, third or shortstop, went 4-for-5 Saturday and is “soon on his way … to the #WhiteSox,” according to Nightengale’s tweet.

The definition of “soon” was hotly debated on Twitter. Is it done? Tomorrow? Next week?

The trade deadline isn’t until July 31, but Sox manager Tony La Russa indicated Friday he could use some help from the front office now.

“End of next month is not as appealing as it would be right now to get help,” he said. “If there’s something that makes sense, they’re going to try to make it happen.”

After praising the front office, La Russa added: “It’s got to be something that’s reasonable. The fact that they’re trying means a lot to everybody in this clubhouse.”

No trade was announced before Sunday’s restart of the suspended game with the Seattle Mariners.

Sox general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Ken Williams were working the phones, La Russa said Sunday when asked again if any help was on the way.

“If my memory is right, I was confident they’re going to work very hard to help,” he said. “And I think I used the word ‘reasonable.’ I don’t know that something reasonable can be done. I just know, for two weeks or so, the way Kenny and Rick and their teammates up there work. They’re preparing and making phone calls. That’s what I’m confident in — they’re doing their best to help us.

“If it’s not reasonable, then we go with what we’ve got.”

The Sox’s definition of “reasonable” is also unknown, but it’s fair to believe Hahn would not give up too much for a rental such as Escobar, knowing this is only one season in what they hope will be a long window of sustained success.

And what they have now is Danny Mendick and Leury García, who started at second in both games Sunday. Escobar was 14th in the majors with 51 RBIs through Saturday and had 17 home runs. Obviously, he would be a significant upgrade over either player.

The Sox lineup has suffered due to numerous injuries, but particularly so since the start of June. And the loss of Madrigal may have been the biggest factor.

The Sox had a .233 average in June and a .681 OPS through Saturday. In their last seven games entering Sunday’s restart, they hit .192 with five home runs and only 18 runs scored, losing six of seven.

José Abreu was hitting .105 over that seven-game stretch, epitomizing the Sox’s struggles. Abreu then left Sunday’s first game with a bruised left knee after getting hit by a pitch.

Whether it’s Escobar or someone else, the Sox need to find someone soon to help pick up the offense.

And to ever-so-patient Sox fans, the definition of “soon” is “now.”