Morel looks like a keeper at third

The White Sox haven't started mapping out the 2011 roster yet, but manager Ozzie Guillen already thinks rookie Brent Morel has shown enough to claim the starting job at third base next year.

"I think right now we have a third baseman, that's my opinion," Guillen said. "I think this kid playing third base right now, he deserves to get a shot for the season. That's my opinion."

Mark Teahen opened this season as the Sox' starting third baseman, but he was a defensive liability and lost the job to Omar Vizquel after fracturing his finger on May 30.

Teahen has been playing right field since coming off the disabled list, and that could be his position next year if the White Sox move Carlos Quentin.

Since he's still owed $10.25 million over the next two seasons, Teahen is likely to be back with the Sox.

"I think we will find a place for Teahen," Guillen said. "When he got hurt, that hurt him because all of the sudden Vizquel started playing very good. He hit .270, good at-bats, he started very slow and he struggled at third base. But we'll see what we're going to do with Morel. I think Morel should be our third baseman in the future."

Year in review: In his final start of the season, Mark Buehrle pitched all 6 innings of Saturday's rain-shortened 6-2 win over the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.

The left-hander allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and finished the season at 13-13 with a 4.28 ERA.

Buehrle also closed the year with 2101/3 innings, marking the 10th straight year he's reached 200 innings, 30 starts and 10 wins.

"Obviously, the record is not what you want it to be," Buehrle said. "But wins and losses are out of your hands. My goal is to get 200 innings every year. If you go 200 innings, you're giving your team a chance to win."

Buehrle just fell short of another goal 100 strikeouts. He finished the year with 99.

"Kind of embarrassing," Buehrle said. "Obviously, I'm not a strikeout pitcher. I get two strikes on a lot of guys, but I don't have that put-away pitch."

Overheard: Before Saturday's game against the Indians, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf walked over to Paul Konerko's locker for a quick talk.

"Did he say yes?" Reinsdorf was asked.

"Yeah," Reinsdorf said. "But you don't know what the question was."

Konerko is a free agent after today's final game.