The White Sox went down their list of needs one by one. Then they checked them off one by one.

Left-handed bat for middle of the order? Sign free agent Adam LaRoche.

Right-handed starter? Trade for Jeff Samardzija.

Bullpen help — and plenty of it? Sign free agent closer David Robertson, lefty Zach Duke and trade for lefty Dan Jennings.

Upgrade key spot near top of in lineup? Sign Melky Cabrera.

Improve bench with versatility and speed? Sign ultra-utility man Emilio Bonifacio.

“They solved a lot of their problems,” a National League scout told the Sun-Times. “I have to give [general manager Rick] Hahn credit. He did some good things patching up their holes.’’

Few in the industry saw the Sox’ rapid-fire execution of the offseason plan coming. General manager Rick Hahn is all about working in secrecy and flying under the radar.

“Nowadays nobody knows what they are planning,” an American League scout said. “They did a great job playing their cards close to the vest. And they hit so hard and fast this winter … everybody thought this was going to be the Cubs’ winter but the Sox stole their thunder. By the time the Cubs signed [Jon] Lester the Sox had reshaped their club.’’

While the Sox and Cubs’ front offices are both rank among baseball’s winners of the offseason (which still has four four weeks to go), a case can be made that the Sox were second to none (the Padres also played to rave reviews). Sox fans approved, gobbling up all passes for SoxFest this Friday through Sunday.

Meanwhile, on the North Side of town, the Cubs – who had the same 73-89 record as the Sox last season – skyrocketed in the court of public (and personal) opinions. They are listed by Bovada at 12-1 odds to win the 2015 World Series, while the Sox stand as a bigger long shot at 25-1. The Sporting News went so far as to pick the Cubs to win the World Series. On Thursday, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said the Cubs – who built their case by hiring Joe Maddon as manager to oversee a strong core of young players poised to blossom – cranked up the hoopla on the eve of the Cubs Convention by saying the Cubs will win the NL Central.

The NL scout has caught wind of the Cubs buzz and he gets it, but only to a degree. If the Sox stay healthy, he likes the South Siders’ postseason chances better.

“I think we will be talking about the White Sox more than the Cubs at the end of the year,” he said. “I’m telling you, if I was a betting man I would go to Las Vegas and put some money on the White Sox.’’

In any event, this offseason has renewed interest in baseball around Chicago, where the crosstown interleague series was kind of a ho-hum affair. Fan rivalries are already heating up this winter, with Cubs owner Tom Ricketts stirring the pot Saturday by cracking wise about Sox attendance (which has declined each year since 2006) at the Cubs Convention.

Both teams were 16 games under .500 last season, so both sides should chirp in measured tones. The Sox have their work cut out with four-time AL Central champion Detroit, American League champion Kansas City and improving Cleveland standing in the way in their division. But with an improved lineup, starting rotation and bullpen, the Sox will hold their own, an American League scout predicted.

“They head to Glendale as a contender for the AL Central in my eyes,” the AL scout said. “They can beat Detroit. It’s not inconceivable.”

Adding Samardzija, Robertson, Cabrera, Duke, LaRoche and Bonifacio to a young core that includes Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton changed the perception of the Sox. Having Robertson to lock down the ninth inning removes a sense of doom that languished last season.

“I wasn’t a big Robertson guy until this year,” the NL scout said. “He has improved with a little cutter that he didn’t have before. He’s not a real hard thrower but he knows how to pitch. Samardzija is scratching the surface — he gives them a great one and two with Sale. And Quintana will get over the hump this year. He’s a solid third starter.

“They will be a contender this year. I think they will be a surprise in the Central. Detroit has murderers row [with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez in the middle of the lineup] but they need a closer. So it’s going to be interesting.”

The White Sox have gone 2 years without having a better record than the Cubs.

Remember the Cubs were rebuilding, the Sox were reloading.

Chicago will win 168 regular season baseball games this year

Chicago will win 168 regular season baseball games this year

The only way to build a young team of quality players is by tanking for 3+ years while lying that you are intentionally tanking only to end by saying you are no longer tanking

So you are saying the Sox will tank for one more season while continue to call it RELOADING?

So they tried to be good and were still worse than a team that intentionally tanked and thats the manager of choice?

The Sox would have to start intentionally tanking now to follow up two years of unintentional tanking.

The thing is Sox fans won't accept it so they just have to win now.

Yes.

Actually, this is wrong.

The Sox were better. Tiebreaker is head to head.

Take that bigfan?

if the Sox aren't better than the Cubs this year, there is something seriously wrong with the Sox. Apparently Cubs fans think Bryant's going to come in and hit .400, Baez will figure out all his issues on day one, Arrieta will stay healthy all year, et al.

Actually, this is wrong.

The Sox were better. Tiebreaker is head to head.

Take that bigfan?

cant you just be happy for me and my fellow Sox faithful.

if the Sox aren't better than the Cubs this year, there is something seriously wrong with the Sox. Apparently Cubs fans think Bryant's going to come in and hit .400, Baez will figure out all his issues on day one, Arrieta will stay healthy all year, et al.

It irks me that you've staked out this position like you're on an island. I think many of us know a lot could go wrong

Did you read the reports from Cubs Fest?

if the Sox aren't better than the Cubs this year, there is something seriously wrong with the Sox. Apparently Cubs fans think Bryant's going to come in and hit .400, Baez will figure out all his issues on day one, Arrieta will stay healthy all year, et al.

Of course not, but I understand some fans are like that.

Im just saying CoF is not the only one. There are quite a few (majority) on this board who arent expecting 90 wins and MVP talk for Bryant.

so you're joining me on the island, or are you predicting a better record than the Sox?