Time running out for some Sox?
The White Sox will be on display at U.S. Cellular Field until Sunday.
Fans wishing to see popular players such as right fielder Jermaine Dye, starting pitchers Jose Contreras, Jon Garland and Javier Vazquez, shortstop Juan Uribe and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi might want to get their tickets now.
With the Sox tied for last place in the AL Central and hopelessly out of the playoff picture, contending teams continue to circle overhead, waiting for general manager Kenny Williams to finally hit the dump button.
Determined not to trade established talent for marginal prospects, Williams has yet to make a deal. But with the July 31 trade deadline coming next week, Williams still has some time to get maximum return on any trades.
A somewhat reluctant Williams met with reporters before Monday night's 9-6 loss to the first-place Detroit Tigers.
"Nothing new to report,'' Williams said. "It will be the same for the rest of the week. Until something happens, I have nothing more to add. There's so much stuff that's flying around this week.
"It's business as usual. It's not as usual, because usually we're trying to add a piece for a championship-type run, but we're approaching it the same.''
Depending on whom you believe, Williams is on the verge of trading Dye to the Los Angeles Angels. Or the Cubs. Or the Cleveland Indians. He's going to trade Contreras to the New York Mets and get shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Atlanta Braves for Garland.
And before the White Sox open a three-game series against the Yankees in New York next Tuesday, Williams is going to trade Iguchi to the Mets or the San Diego Padres and he's going to trade Uribe to any team in need of a wild-swinging shortstop.
What actually happens remains to be seen. But Williams reiterated that rising young stars -- think Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Michael Bourn -- still are not available.
"In terms of me having a set agenda, absolutely,'' Williams said. "But it takes more than just your ideas to get something going. You have to match up with other clubs. In the case of some clubs, you got to go through the three-way avenue. It's the same drill every year.''
The difference this year is the Sox are not operating from a position of strength in the standings. And baseball's worst bullpen, which allowed 2 runs on 4 hits over 2ˆ¿ innings Monday, is threatening to cost Williams, among others, his job.
"My day is coming,'' Williams said. "If we don't get this bullpen fixed, it will come sooner than later. I say it with a laugh, but with seriousness. It's the nature of the beast.''
Manager Ozzie Guillen wasn't overly critical of the bullpen following Monday's loss, the White Sox' fourth straight.
Rather, Guillen credited the Tigers' high-powered offense. Detroit pounded Sox starter Mark Buehrle, scoring 7 runs on 14 hits against the left-hander in 6ˆº innings.
"(Buehrle) gave up a lot of hits. He had heavy counts a lot of times, but he kept us in the game,'' Guillen said. "He's going to give up a lot of hits; he's around the plate all the time. And he faced a team in Detroit with pretty good hitters. It's hard to pitch around people on that ballclub because they have so many good hitters.''
Tigers 9, White Sox 6
On the mound: Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle allowed 14 hits, tying his career high. Only two other pitchers have allowed 14 hits this season: the Astros' Chris Sampson (twice) and the Angels' Ervin Santana.
At the plate: Josh Fields was 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer. The rookie third baseman is 6-for-11 with a home run and 6 RBI over his last three games. Andy Gonzalez singled in the second inning to snap an 0-for-18 slump.
-- Scot Gregor