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What should an affordable ace like Chris Sale bring in a deal?

White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf knew the answer.

“You have to have four prospects who can’t possibly miss to get one,” Reinsdorf told CSN the other day at the winter meetings. “I’ve seen so many players over the years who were going to be phenoms, they were going to be future Hall of Famers, and we don’t even remember what their names are anymore. That’s why when you’re trading a player of stature you have to get multiple can’t-miss prospects back.”

So did White Sox general manager Rick Hahn get four can’t-miss prospects back from the Red Sox for Sale?

Or did he simply get two guaranteed major leaguers and a couple of maybes?

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When the deal is judged years from now, the White Sox probably will have made out well, but perhaps not as well as they could have considering Sale’s talent, age and team-friendly contract.

But kudos to Hahn for starting off the rebuild with a bang, and giving Sox fans something to argue about during the holidays.

Infielder Yoan Moncada, the 21-year-old switch-hitting Cuban phenom, should be the one sure thing in the deal. Power pitcher Michael Kopech, a 20-year-old first-round pick, seemingly has a good shot as well, assuming he progresses at his current rate and refrains from punching teammates.

The other two players in the deal, right-hander Victor Diaz, 22, and outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, 20, have talent but don’t have resumes that scream “can’t miss.” Basabe is a standout defender with speed, but also had 119 strikeouts and only 12 home runs in two Class A stops this year. Diaz, in his first season in Class A, had a 3.88 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.

That’s not to say they can’t become quality major-league players once they develop. But it’s fair to wonder whether the Sox could have gotten more in bidding for the best available starter, and one who didn’t have to be dealt right now with three years left on his contract.

Recall that the Red Sox had asked Hahn about Sale last summer, but the price, for good reason, was deemed too high. Red Sox President Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that when Hahn asked last weekend if he still had interest in Sale, he told Hahn it depended on the price.

“Well, we’re going to get away from some of the things we have asked for in the past,” Hahn told Dombrowski.

That suggests the Red Sox likely were able to keep an untouchable or two discussed last summer and still get Sale, who the White Sox obviously was deemed “must-go” after the season ended.

Hahn is just starting this winter, so let’s see how much he can overhaul in the next two months before making any judgments. Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier and Adam Eaton should fetch something of value in return, and shedding David Robertson’s contract is a no-brainer now that tanking is the new buzzword at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Hahn said the Sox are in “an extended process” of rebuilding, a process they have avoided for years. It won’t be easy.

But if he possibly can deal James Shields, who had 19 losses and the worst ERA (5.85) of any major-league starter, Hahn should be the early favorite for 2017’s Executive of the Year. Shields is due $42 million the next two years before they pick up the $2 million buyout of his $16 million option for 2019. He sticks out on a Sox rebuild like Edwin Jackson did with the 2013 Cubs.

Sale will be missed by most Sox fans, but he should thrive pitching on a winner in front of packed houses at Fenway Park.

His departure is unfortunate, but ultimately Sale did this to himself with his twin temper tantrums over Adam LaRoche’s retirement and throwback uniforms.

He clearly had a problem dealing with management and some in the organization enabled him because of his immense talent.

Oh, well. Live and learn.

Hahn said he called Sale after the trade and thanked him “for everything he did in our uniform,” politely neglecting to mention everything he did “to” their uniform.

No tears were shed, and the beat goes on.