Konerko knows any White Sox trade is possible

Paul Konerko said every White Sox player is likely to be in play as general manager Rick Hahn gears up for a potentially massive trade spree.

“If that’s the way it goes and they wind up trading a bunch of guys, as a team we have to look at it like we earned that because we’re 80 games in and we’re at where we’re at,” Konerko said. “You kind of get what you earn in this game, and that’s the way it is.”

Along with starting pitcher Chris Sale, Konerko reportedly is one of two Sox players that are “untouchable.” Hahn didn’t completely shoot down the rumor, but he is listening to offers for everyone.

“As a general philosophy, I don’t think we’re doing our job if we don’t listen to people’s ideas on every player within the organization that they want to talk about,” the White Sox’ GM said.

“That doesn’t mean that some players are extraordinarily difficult to acquire, but you have to evaluate on an ongoing basis, not just in any July when you may be a seller or a buyer but throughout the off-season, what are the values of the players that you have?”

Konerko is a 10-5 player (10 years in majors, 5 with same club), so he has earned the right to veto any trade.

Before sitting out his sixth straight game Sunday with a sore lower back, the 37-year-old first baseman/designated hitter again said he has to get back on the field and show he can produce before any team would even want him.

Konerko is feeling better and expects to return to the lineup Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

If Hahn comes to the Sox’ captain with a trade proposal, look for it to happen.

“Most of the time, it seems like 80-90 percent of the time, a guy gets into that situation, it always turns out that one way or another it always gets worked out because, yeah, you don’t want to be where you don’t want to be,” Konerko said. “I don’t think that’s in a negative way for the team, but this is sports. This is business.”

Short Sale:Chris Sale closed out a frustrating month of June on Sunday with his start against the Indians.Despite pitching 8 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 10, Sale (5-7) took the loss and finished 0-5 with a 3.19 ERA in June.#147;Just another tough one,#148; Sale said. #147;You just have got to keep your head up, keep plugging along, keep chugging and try to put this one behind us.#148;Behind starter Justin Masterson, who pitched his American League-leading third complete game, Cleveland recorded its first four-game sweep in Chicago since 1948.Masterson (10-6) scattered 6 hits and had 8 strikeouts.#147;They were efficient, and when they got a hit, it seemed like it put them ahead,#148; Sox manager Robin Ventura said of the Indians. #147;It#146;s tough luck, but you see the stretch (Sale#146;s) been on with the strikeouts and getting to 8 innings.#147;It#146;s tough luck. You run into a guy (Masterson) that kind of carves us up. It#146;s frustrating.#148;