Buehrle gets the cover of SI

The way he was buzzing through the Twins' lineup Tuesday night, it looked like White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle was heading for a guest spot on "60 Minutes" and cover appearances on Time and Newsweek.

But Buehrle's bid for back-to-back perfect games ended with two outs in the sixth inning, when Alexi Casilla walked.

And Buehrle's bid for back-to-back no-hitters ended when Minnesota's Denard Span followed Casilla with a single.

So Buehrle will have to settle for Monday night's appearance on The Late Show with David Lettermen, which came in the Top 10 segment.

Buehrle, who pitched a perfect game Thursday against Tampa Bay at U.S. Cellular Field, also is going to be on the cover of the Aug. 3 issue of Sports Illustrated.

The feature story's title is: "Perfect: Why Mark Buehrle's Masterpiece is the Season's Coolest Moment."

The White Sox have been featured on several SI covers through the years. Here are the most recent:

• Oct. 31, 2005, with Scott Podsednik's homer to beat the Astros in the World Series.

• 2005 commemorative edition with closer Bobby Jenks, catcher A.J. Pierzynski and the team celebrating their World Series victory.

• March 13, 2000, with Frank Thomas in a story "Don't Question My Desire."

• March 14, 1994, with Sox minor-leaguer Michael Jordan striking out and a story on how "Jordan and the White Sox are embarrassing baseball."

Trade talk: White Sox GM Kenny Williams told reporters Tuesday he was on the phone most of the day leading up to Friday's nonwaiver trade deadline.

"There are lots of discussions taking place, as there always is," Williams said. "Whether it leads to anything, I don't know."

In the fold: The Sox on Tuesday agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with outfielder Trayce Thompson, their second-round choice (61st overall) in the June first-year player draft.

Thompson, 18, attended Santa Margarita High School in Ladera Ranch, Calif. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder batted .333 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs and 22 RBI in 27 games last season.

Thompson is the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson.