Buehrle sorry he can't make Chicago White Sox World Series reunion

After being hit on the right ankle by a Carlos Sanchez groundball Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field, Mark Buehrle was sporting a nasty bruise a day later.

"It's a little sore," Buehrle said. "But I've been hit worse."

When he was pitching for the Chicago White Sox from 2000-11, Buehrle always fielded his position like a hockey goalie.

Line drives, hard grounders, it never mattered. If they were hit up the middle, Buehrle tried to knock them down by whatever means possible.

Now pitching for the Blue Jays, Buehrle is actually feeling worse about not being able to make the Sox' 2005 World Series reunion weekend that runs July 17-19.

"A couple of guys have texted me about coming up," said Buehrle, who was 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA in the '05 playoffs. "I told them during the season I can't make it. It's unfortunate I can't get back for it, but I won't be here.

"I was hoping it would be on, whether it was an off-day for us, or maybe even the series where I could attend it. But the timing of it doesn't work."

Buehrle, one of the most popular players ever to play on the South Side, is in the final season of a four-year, $58 million contract he signed with the Marlins after exiting the White Sox as a free agent.

At age of 36 he is still productive, and Buehrle would likely be welcome by many teams next season and beyond if he wants to keep pitching.

"Well, I'm a free agent so if no one gives me a contract, what am I going to do?" Buehrle said. "I can't foresee the future. I don't know. Sometimes I am (tired of baseball), sometimes I'm not. I don't know what's going to happen after this year."

As for coming back and finishing his career with the Sox, Buehrle is understandably skeptical.

"I don't know," he said. "They didn't want me back four years ago, so who's going to say they're going to want me back now, four years older?"

Drive to survive:

The White Sox have been playing better baseball in July, but they are still underperforming for the season and the nonwaiver trade deadline arrives at the end of the month.

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, executive Vice President Kenny Williams and general manager Rick Hahn have been as patient as possible with the current roster, but multiple subtractions would not be a surprise.

"I think it's fair," manager Robin Ventura said.

"You put yourself in this situation. The way they're playing right now, the way you play the rest of this first half and the way you come out in the second half is going to give an indication for Rick and Kenny and Jerry of what they see and what's possible and what you can do."

Prospect watch:

Class AA Birmingham shortstop Tim Anderson ranks No. 42 on Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 prospect list.

Heading into Tuesday, Anderson was batting .304 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 31 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 74 games.