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Return of the white flag trade? How Cubs are setting themselves up for a difficult July dilemma

In 1997, the Chicago White Sox famously made what is known as the "White Flag Trade." Pitchers Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin and Roberto Hernandez were dealt to the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline for a slew of prospects, effectively ending any chance the White Sox had at the postseason.

The deal was the kind of move that teams out of contention make every year leading up to July 31. But this one was particularly controversial because the White Sox weren't clearly out of the race. On the final day of July -- when the three pitchers were traded -- the team was just three games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians, however, the White Sox were in third place and just .