CHICAGO -- White Sox general manager Ken Williams has seen
enough poor play and decided it's time to make changes with his
lethargic team.
Last week, Williams said he would hold off on making trades
because there was a chance his underachieving club might show some
life, and players who have struggled might pick it up once some
injuries healed.
But after watching the White Sox score only two total runs in
consecutive losses to the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, Williams is
ready to shake things up.
"Something's got to happen. I'm tired of watching this," he
said before the Cubs completed a sweep with a 3-0 win on Sunday. "Change needs to happen and change is going to
happen. When that happens, I don't know."
Chicago's offense has been abysmal. The team ranks last in the majors in batting average, runs, hits, total bases, RBIs and on-base and slugging percentage.
"There's no energy, there's no production offensively," Williams said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The starting pitching is probably the most consistent aspect we have, so if you have to do some reshuffling and help the deck, at least if you have that in tow, it makes it a lot easier."
A Chicago Sun-Times story Sunday said the White Sox could be on
the verge of trading left-hander Mark Buehrle, who can become a
free agent after this season. According to the Sun-Times' report, the Boston Red Sox are the most serious suitors right now.
Something's got to happen. I'm tired of watching this. Change needs to happen and change is going to
happen. When that happens, I don't know.
Ken Williams
Asked Sunday if Buehrle was going to be traded to Boston,
Williams replied: "Not today."
Is it a possibility?
"Not today," Williams said.
According to the Tribune's report, the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays have scouted the White Sox recently.
Williams said there were 10 players on his roster that other
teams had asked about recently. The White Sox have lost 22 of 27
games, fallen 13 games under .500 and are 14 games
out of first place in the AL Central. Outfielder Jermaine Dye, who has an injured quadriceps but has yet to be placed on the 15-day disabled list, can also become a free agent after the season.
"We have some players that a lot of teams want. And people are
starting to be very aggressive," Williams said, adding that it
wouldn't be easy to trade some of the club's top players.
"The thought of trading people that, for instance, just helped
you win the World Series two years ago, makes my stomach turn,"
Williams said.
Williams reiterated that manager Ozzie Guillen's job is safe.
Buehrle, who no-hit the Texas Rangers on April 18, passed on an offer of a contract extension last year at
midseason, and Williams said there are no current negotiations.
Asked if he could see any way Buehrle would still be around
after the July 31 trade deadline, Williams said: "Sure. Sure.
Sure. Sure. I do. I don't know how realistic that is. I'm still
trying to do some math to see how we can get back into this thing."
According to the Tribune, Williams said it would be more difficult personally than professionally to move Buehrle "because I like the man and I like his wife [Jamie]."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.