Will the Chicago White Sox make a move? Here’s a look at needs and potential options as Friday’s trade deadline nears.

Tony La Russa has gone through the trade deadline week a time or 30.

With this year’s deadline of 3 p.m. Friday quickly approaching, the Chicago White Sox manager says it’s best for the players to block out rumors and remain focused on their daily tasks.

“If there’s one thing that beats you, (it’s) distractions,” La Russa said Tuesday. “Distractions will do more to mar performances, I don’t care if it’s a pitcher, position player, team and whether or not a player is going to join your team, the front office, are we selling or buying? All those are distractions.

“So as a staff we work hard and we try to communicate to the leaders on the team what the clubhouse has got to be. In our case, we’re buyers and there’s no doubt that our front office is trying to help, reasonably as I’ve said before, because that’s the way it should be. But we can’t get distracted with the game that’s being played that day.”

The Sox wrap up a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals Thursday at Kauffman Stadium. The players will know before Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Indians if anyone is added or if the Sox hold off making moves.

“We communicate, just play today and sooner or later we’ll find out if we get help or not,” La Russa said. “But don’t get distracted and lose an edge.”

Asked Wednesday if he gets excited as the deadline approaches, La Russa said, “I’m excited enough we are in contention getting into the fifth month of the season. Don’t need any more excitement. If the front office decides there’s something, then they will make a move and we’ll embrace it. If they don’t, we go with what we’ve got.”

Second base and relief pitching have been the two spots most discussed in speculation tied to the Sox. As the clock continues to tick, here’s a look at some possible options.

Second base

Starter Nick Madrigal is out for the season after suffering a proximal tear of his right hamstring June 10 against the Toronto Blue Jays. He underwent surgery on June 15.

Leury García and Danny Mendick have filled in. García is slashing .246/.322/.348 with three homers and 39 RBIs entering Wednesday while Mendick is slashing .197/.308/.270 with two home runs and 18 RBIs.

The Sox have four home runs from their second basemen this season, according to baseball-reference.com.

Some trade options recently have been taken off the table with Adam Frazier going from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the San Diego Padres and Eduardo Escobar going from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Milwaukee Brewers.

If the Sox are interested in more pop, they could look to Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story.

Story’s name came up as a possibility for the Sox in a USA Today article earlier this month, and more recently in an ESPN article. While he is a shortstop, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale mentioned the option of moving Story to second, something he has not done in the majors, according to baseball-reference.com.

Story is slashing .240/.311/.422 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. He had a career-high 37 homers and 108 RBIs in 2018 and hit 35 homers in 2019.

Relief pitching

During spring training, the general belief was that the bullpen would be one of the team’s strengths.

Closer Liam Hendriks has delivered, converting 25 of 29 save opportunities, and even saved the All-Star Game.

Michael Kopech has made a smooth transition from starter to a temporary relief role, displaying overpower stuff. Entering Wednesday, Kopech has a 1.56 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 22 appearances (three spot starts). He struck out the side in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 5-3 win against the Royals.

“Not only is that really a win for us, it’s really a win for him because he’s piling up game experiences where the game’s on the line,” La Russa said Wednesday.

But the consistency from the pen as a whole hasn’t been there. The Sox bullpen ranks eighth in the AL with a 4.12 ERA.

No specific relievers have been mentioned as Sox targets in the rumor mill, but there are plenty of players possibly available.

That list includes Pirates right-hander Richard Rodríguez (2.82 ERA, 14 saves), Los Angeles Angels right-hander Raisel Iglesias (3.35 ERA, 21 saves), Cubs right-handers Craig Kimbrel (0.49 ERA, 23 saves) and Ryan Tepera (2.91 ERA, 1 save), Texas Rangers right-hander Ian Kennedy (2.51 ERA, 16 saves) and Washington Nationals right-hander Daniel Hudson (2.20 ERA).

•Sign up for alerts on your phone, desktop and inbox to stay current with the latest news

•Sign up for our sports newsletter, delivered daily each morning