Sox' Williams the jokester? You bet

General manager Kenny Williams usually bristles when the White Sox are linked to a player via trade or free agency.

But even after saying the Sox are “tapped out” financially Friday, he was asked about out two talented outfielders that are eligible to sign after defecting from Cuba: Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.

Instead of getting steamed, Williams had some fun with the rumors. And he did not completely rule out signing one or both players.

“Who are they?” Williams joked. “Are they any good? Should we be scouting them? I think I will choose not to answer that. There are some things you have to let play out.”

Cespedes, 26, is ready to play in the major leagues right now, and White Sox right fielder Dayan Viciedo, also from Cuba, has already reached out to the five-tool player.

Soler, 19, is viewed as a top-flight prospect.

Konerko as manager?

Before hiring Robin Ventura to replace Ozzie Guillen, White Sox GM Kenny Williams said he flirted with the idea of naming Paul Konerko player/manager.

Konerko had two views on the topic.

“It's a compliment,” he said. “I guess that means besides playing the game that I hopefully pay attention to it and that I follow the game.”

Konerko then laughed and said he was a pawn because Ventura was hired with no experience other than coaching his son's high school baseball team.

“I'm still playing,” Konerko said. “People could say, ‘Well, (Ventura) was a (heck) of a choice (in comparison).' Maybe that was part of it.”

Back story:

During Friday's Q&A session with fans, which featured few challenging questions, GM Kenny Williams talked about his trip California with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to offer Robin Ventura the manager's job.

Williams wasn't feeling too optimistic after seeing Ventura's palatial residence in Santa Maria.

“You want to leave here?” Williams jokingly said to Ventura. “Can we stay here?”

Ventura and Guillen have different personalities, but they were both star players for the White Sox.

“We want people that have a passion for the organization, city and the fans,” Williams said. “One thing I can say about Ozzie, he had a passion for the city and a passion for the fans, and that matters.”

Staying put:

Forget about Chris Sale moving back to the bullpen and closing games. He is in the starting rotation for good.

“That's what we drafted him for,” Kenny Williams said. “You haven't even seen his changeup yet. You've seen his fastball and slider — you should see his changeup. He's going to be special.”

Williams said the White Sox are going to be just fine in the bullpen, even though they have to decide between Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain and rookie Addison Reed at closer.

“(Sale) has comes a long ways and done a bang-up job,” Williams said. “But at this particular junction we have so many bullpen options ... some options you haven't even seen yet.”