Sox GM Williams can see payroll shrinking in 2012

Changes are undoubtedly coming after the White Sox wrap up their disappointing season on Wednesday.

Before Friday night's game against the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field, a dreadful 11-1 loss, general manager Kenny Williams didn't look — or sound — like a man that is going anywhere.

“Not in my leadership,” Williams said when asked if the Sox need any management changes. “And I don't know (about) anywhere else. I mean, listen, last year in September we were in first place. We didn't make the playoffs last year but it's not like we were, you know, scrubs.

“We have spent, over the last decade, a lot of time in first place. I'll be the first to admit that the goals haven't been accomplished because if they had there would be more banners up there on the rafters.”

With big-name players like Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Quentin on this year's roster, the White Sox were expected to contend for the playoffs, if not the World Series.

Instead, they have to win all five remaining games just to finish .500.

Changes are coming all right.

Depending on chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's mood, Williams and Guillen could both be in trouble.

Assuming Williams stays put, look for him to be busy this off-season reducing payroll.

That means Buehrle, an impending free agent, is likely headed elsewhere. Ditto for Juan Pierre.

Arbitration eligible players Carlos Quentin and John Danks are no locks to return, either.

Williams is not sure what next year's budget is going to be, but you can safely bet it won't be $128 million like this season.

“I do know that we won't have any room to add,” Williams said. “I can tell you that. But I don't know that I can tell you anything else. A lot goes in. People don't understand that it's not just about what Jerry and I sit down and talk about in terms of where we are talent-wise.

“We've got to sit and listen to the marketing department and the sales department and the projections, what are we going to reasonably expect to come in as revenue. And as everybody knows, you can tell from the stock market the last few days, predicting what's going to happen in the economy is very difficult.

“So, I wouldn't expect that we add. I wouldn't even expect we stay the same. I would expect we might have to trim a little bit. But again the decision hasn't been made.”

Has a decision about manager Ozzie Guillen's future been made?

“I'm just listening right now,” Williams said. “We have one week left to go in the season and I'm sure we'll all get to all of that soon enough. No need to rush it. It's been a disappointing season.

“We had a club coming out of spring training that we thought could do some special things and we haven't gotten the consistent play that we had hoped for. We'll just regroup at the end of the season and get after it again.”