by Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, FOXSports.com

Comment

The list of available White Sox players, first reported by ESPN.com, included first baseman Paul Konerko, designated hitter Jim Thome, right fielder Jermaine Dye and relievers Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel.

"That's not a very exciting group at all," one veteran scout said Monday night.

White Sox officials will also consider trade proposals for outfielder Scott Podsednik, a major league source said on Monday. Podsednik, set to become a free agent after the season, is hitting close to .300 this year and has value because of his base-stealing ability.

Podsednik, who makes close to the major league minimum, is the least expensive member of the group. One official of a contending team wondered if any club would be able to pay the remaining money on the larger contracts.

White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras is also available, but he has negligible trade value. He is 1-6 with a 6.97 ERA after the All-Star break.

Chicago is only 8-16 over its past 24 games and has plunged four games below .500 (64-68). After their loss in Minnesota on Monday night, the White Sox trail the first-place Tigers by six games in the American League Central.

Several of the available White Sox players have complicated contracts that would be difficult to move before the midnight ET deadline for setting post-season rosters.

Thome and Konerko have full no-trade clauses. Dye has a mutual option for 2010 and a limited no-trade clause. Linebrink has a limited no- trade clause.

The San Francisco Giants had interest in Dye earlier this season, but it's not clear if the clubs are engaged in serious talks now.

The attempt to sell off veterans represents a dramatic shift for the White Sox, who acted as buyers earlier this summer, trading for right-hander Jake Peavy at the July 31 non-waiver deadline, then claiming outfielder Alex Rios off waivers from the Blue Jays in August.