White Sox put players on block

White Sox GM Kenny Williams called teams this afternoon to let them know a large part of their roster is available in trade, including sluggers Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome and veteran relievers Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel.

Word is, Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen are genuinely annoyed about their team's abject underperformance. But while they are apparently serious about the overtures, it's unknown how likely any trades are. The trade deadline is midnight tonight. Players have to be traded by the deadline to be eligible for postseason play.

The sluggers on this list all make $12 million plus. Dye, the AL home run leader among outfielders over the last four years, may be the most interesting of that crew. Dye, Thome and Dotel all could become free agents after the year, though Dye has a mutual $12-million option for 2010.

Williams has been the most active buyer during the season, importing pitcher Jake Peavy and outfielder Alex Rios. However, neither of those two talented players has contributed much as of yet, and the White Sox have struggled mightily in recent days. They were just swept at Yankee Stadium over the weekend after losing three of four in Boston and two of three in Baltimore.