"The list is up to six ... and counting.

Bobby Jenks, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Buehrle, Andruw Jones -- and now J.J. Putz. He's the latest White Sox player to see his name pop up on the rumor mill.

As far as the right-handed reliever was concerned Monday, if the Sox players want that to stop, they have the power to control it.

''Obviously, we know if we were eight games up we wouldn't be hearing these types of rumors about guys going anywhere,'' Putz said. ''Basically it's just rumors, so I don't know how much there really is to look into. I think more in the offseason rumors are the ones that have more momentum behind them.''

Not that some of these rumors with the Sox aren't building momentum.

One National League scout said Monday that there were more teams than just the Philadelphia Phillies interested in Sox relievers, as bullpen problems seem to be springing up all over baseball."