Waiver move surprises Uribe

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Second baseman Juan Uribe reportedly has been waived, but the veteran White Sox player doesn't know anything about it.

Nor does White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

"I tell you the truth, I don't know," Uribe said when asked if the rumors of him being waived on Wednesday were true. "I'm surprised. My agent called me and said, 'What happened?' "

What did happen?

There were numerous reports the veteran -- who is battling for the starting second base job after moving over from shortstop during the off-season after the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera -- was put on waivers during the White Sox' 10-10 tie with Colorado in Cactus League action.

White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is not permitted to discuss the waiver list according to major-league rules, and he does not have to inform the players or their agents.

Players, however, are placed on waivers all the time, and if a team places a claim on them, the team has the option to pull them back. The waiver process is often used as a way to gauge trade interest in a player, and it's possible the Sox are doing that in this situation.

Uribe signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract on Nov. 7, two weeks before the White Sox traded for Cabrera to be their starting shortstop.

Uribe was moved to second, and now maybe off the club -- although that seems to be in doubt for a player who has a six-game hitting streak and a .333 spring average.

"We had a meeting this morning and we talked about Uribe as if he was on the team," Guillen said after the game. "It is news to me."

Uribe is slated to start today against the Dodgers.

Any news that he won't be a part of the White Sox' plans was a surprise to Martin Arburua, Uribe's agent.

"I haven't heard anything like that," Arburua said. "Everything I've been told by the club was positive about Juan. I heard he was hitting well, playing great defense. That would be a shock."

Uribe, who was not slated to play against the Rockies, was playing dominoes in the clubhouse before the game, and his personal belongings were there afterward.

It appears if Uribe is still part of the team, he could win the second base job with the other candidates not having proven themselves either this spring or in the big leagues.

Uribe, who was one of four shortstops over the last four years to drive in at least 68 runs in each of those seasons, played second base for 70 games during the 2004 season with the Sox. He has hit .251 with 80 homers and has 284 RBI during that span.

Danny Richar, who finished at second base for the Sox a year ago, was slated to have a MRI on Wednesday for recurring back pains that forced him out of the lineup against the Rockies.

Alexei Ramirez, who is in his first year at the major-league level, has hit safely in nine of his 10 starts this season and hit his first homer of the spring against the Rockies.

Ramirez, who played the last seven years for Pinar del Rio in the Cuban League, is batting .366 this spring.

Pablo Ozuna is also in contention for playing time at second base, but Guillen said Wednesday he didn't feel the multi-purpose fielder is ready for a full-time job at second just yet.

Uribe would seem to be the favorite, but anything seems possible.

"I wouldn't be shocked," Uribe said about being on waivers. "I'm not in control."