Guillen deals with tough part of trade

MINNEAPOLIS - For White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, getting Ken Griffey Jr. in a trade from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday was a lot of fun.

Telling captain/first baseman Paul Konerko he's likely facing a platoon situation with Nick Swisher was a downer.

"It makes me a little more relieved when I talked to him,'' Guillen said. "Making the lineup is easy. The tougher thing about it is making everyone happy. Both players, especially Paulie, understand the situation. I think to me, it was the biggest release for me as a manager ever.

"He's a man. I appreciate the way Konerko handled it. I know there's going to be some playing time for him. I gave him what I got on my mind, and he told me what he's got on his mind.''

Konerko (. 214, 9 home runs, 35 RBI) doesn't view the Griffey trade as a slap in the face.

"This is just the business I'm in,'' he said. "I've been on the good side of a lot of things with this business. I'm pretty sure it will cut playing time, so I'll just do what's asked of me. I don't know what, where or whenever, but I'll just do what's asked of me. That's it. Make the best of it. We've got a good team here, just help when I can help, that's all I can do.''

Swisher, who started at first base against the Twins on Thursday night, had the same attitude.

"Kenny (Williams) knows what he's doing,'' Swisher said. "He got Griffey and he thinks it's the best thing for this team and organization, (so) we're all behind him and excited to have him.''

Williams said he waited as long as possible for Konerko and Swisher to get it going with the bat.

"One thing I've got to stress is that everything that these guys have done to this point is respected, it is appreciated and it's not personal,'' Williams said. "It's just all about trying to get to the playoffs and, very important to me, is when you get to the playoffs having enough weapons to visualize yourself winning it.''

Injury update: Injured starting pitcher Jose Contreras (elbow tendinitis) is ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment and pitch Sunday after throwing off the mound Thursday.

"To make a long story short, he could not have been better,'' said pitching coach Don Cooper. "Everything, stretch, full windup, rhythm, tempo, all the pitches, location, times to the plate. Everything could not have gone any better.''

Injured third baseman Joe Crede (back) headed to Class AAA Charlotte and is expected to play for the Sox on Wednesday.