CHICAGO -- The struggling Chicago White Sox aren't about to be turned into baseball's junk yard, where teams pick over the roster to find the spare parts they need.

But general manager Kenny Williams said Wednesday he is talking with other executives.

"When you believe you have the nucleus to compete at a championship level, you don't give up the ship," Williams said before Chicago's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

"However, in today's game of baseball, you must try to prepare for the plan not to go as you've drawn it up. In order to do that to the best of my ability, that means finding out what each player is worth.

"And if someone comes and knocks your socks off and you can make your club better ... we will do that."

The White Sox were expected to be one of the AL's best teams this season. Not only did they return the nucleus of the team that won the AL Central, but they added David Wells, Royce Clayton and Sandy Alomar Jr. in the offseason.

Instead of contending, though, the White Sox have gotten off to a horrific start. Frank Thomas is out for the season with a torn triceps, and Cal Eldred and Jim Parque are on the disabled list.

Two months into the season, the White Sox are already 14 games back, going into Wednesday's night game at 19-30.

"I believe in the talent in this club. I really do," Williams said. "I don't want to say what our plans are. But I think the important thing is I do believe in the talent we have on this club."

Still, when a club struggles like the White Sox, it's only a matter of time before rumors of a fire sale start. Especially when they've done it before.

Chicago was only 3 1/2 games out in July 1997 when they shipped Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to the Giants in what's now known as the "White Flag Trade." In exchange, the White Sox got closer Keith Foulke, and key relievers Lorenzo Barcelo and Bobby Howry.

"I would not be doing my job if I did not listen to overtures," Williams said. "Don't assume because a guy's name has been brought up here or there that I was the one who brought it up."

The first player mentioned as trade bait was Wells. The left-hander is 3-5 with a 4.54 earned-run average, and he's earning $9.25 million this year. Other names were mentioned, too, including Foulke and Magglio Ordonez, players once thought to be untouchable.

But Williams said he hopes he won't have to make any moves. He's been in negotiations with Ordonez and Foulke for long-term contracts, and he hopes to keep them around.

And the White Sox could make all this trade talk a moot point if they keep winning. Even with their eight-game losing streak, they're .500 over the last 22 games.

They had a season-high five-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night, but the beat the Blue Jays 4-3 on Wednesday.

"If we can fight through what we've got going on right now, who knows what could happen," Williams said.