David Fung of Beyond the Box Score put together a handy graph of the White Sox window to win, looking at player control through 2017. Take a look at it, although remember than Dayan Viciedo is under team control for six more seasons and should hit arbitration in 2015.
It's a good representation of the team's building blocks for the future. John Danks certainly is one. Players without as much big league experience like Brent Morel, Chris Sale and Addison Reed certainly factor in. Alexei Ramirez is under control through 2016, though he could become an attractive trade target if the White Sox fall out of contention in any of the next few years.
Beyond that, there are plenty of question marks -- and plenty of money coming off the books. Adam Dunn and Alex Rios will probably be out after 2014. Paul Konerko's contract is up after 2013, along with Gavin Floyd, Matt Thornton (if his option is declined) and Jesse Crain.
But the White Sox don't have a stable of young prospects that could be busting down the door in a few years. They have plenty of question marks -- some with upside, like Trayce Thompson -- that could fill the void left by departing veterans.
If some or all of those guys -- Thompson, Tyler Saladino, Jake Petricka, Nestor Molina, Keenyn Walker and Jared Mitchell, to name a few -- don't pan out, the Sox will have to look elsewhere to fill those holes. The good news is that there will be money to spend.
The future of the White Sox isn't necessarily bleak. There are still plenty of things that could break in the organization's favor over the next few years. Having some good luck in 2012 would be a nice start.