Williams not giving up

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- White Sox general manager Kenny Williams says he's still trying to land a "big fish" this off-season.

So far, free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter spit out the hook at the last minute. And on Tuesday, third baseman Miguel Cabrera also slipped through the Sox' fingers.

While he's discouraged, Williams is not despondent.

"We're still very much on pace to accomplish what we want to accomplish," he said.

The Sox were longshots to nab Cabrera, who along with starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis, was traded from the Florida Marlins to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

But operating with a budget that Williams said is "flexible," the White Sox apparently still have the money to fill their biggest need -- center field.

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is a big fan of free-agent Andruw Jones, but Williams said the former Atlanta Braves star is "not on the list."

Jones, represented by agent Scott Boras, is reportedly seeking a bigger contract than Hunter, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Angels.

A 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time all star, Jones batted just .222 this season.

As for Aaron Rowand, Williams said he talked to the free agent on Monday but no deal appears likely.

Like Jones, Rowand is also seeking a five-year contract and Williams isn't willing to go that far, even though he remains close with the gritty outfielder who helped the Sox win the 2005 World Series.

"There is a certain responsibility to win now and you guys know what mode I'm in," Williams said. "But you also have to be responsible not to do something that can cripple the organization both financially and competitively."

When asked about Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome, Williams grinned and said: "No comment."

While he has yet to declare he's leaving Japan, Fukudome appears headed to the major leagues and the Sox and Cubs are both interested.

New Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman held a similar position in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters the past five seasons.

"I think he's very talented," Hillman said of Fukudome. "Given left-handed hitters over the course of my five years in Japan, there's really only one other Fukudome-type hitter, and I managed him, that I would put in the same classification. That was (Akinori) Iwamura."

Playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last season, Iwamura batted .285 with 7 home runs and 34 RBI in 123 games.

Second chance? Juan Uribe was apparently out of the picture when the White Sox acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera in a trade from the Angels.

But Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Uribe is still an option at second base.

"Uribe is a little bit underrated in baseball, but we needed Cabrera to make this ballclub better," Guillen said.

GM Kenny Williams likes Danny Richar at second base, but he didn't rule out Uribe.

"If Juan Uribe comes in and plays like the first year we got him (2004), plays second, third and short, it's going to be awfully hard to keep him off the field," Williams said. "There's nothing wrong with a little competition."