"The White Sox are attracting trade interest in John Danks and Gavin Floyd and likely have fielded calls about Carlos Quentin and Matt Thornton. At the general managers meetings in Milwaukee on Monday and Tuesday, GM Ken Williams will look the suitors in the eye and perhaps get a better gauge on what he might receive in return.

Gauging the degree of Williams' intent to wheel and deal is no simple task, though, especially at this early juncture in the planning process. The Sox, still wondering who Adam Dunn is and what he'll be, are still mapping out a plan for next season.

One thing is certain: The payroll will fall short of the 2011 total of $127 million, a club record that returned a 79-83 bust, attendance that barely topped 2 million and red ink in the financial ledger. As the roster stands now, with $91 million committed to 13 players and Danks and Quentin in line for $8 million-$9 million and $6 million-$7 million in arbitration, respectively, there is no room to add, especially if the Sox re-sign free agent Mark Buehrle.

Aside from a utility infielder to replace free agent Omar Vizquel, the Sox have no glaring needs. The greatest need is to have Dunn (.159, 11 home runs), Alex Rios (.227, 13 homers) and Gordon Beckham (.230) return to form.

Therein lies Williams' predicament. If the production from the pricey Dunn and Rios resembles their good years, it's reasonable to assume the Sox can contend in the American League Central even without Buehrle, assuming Chris Sale steps into the rotation and eats up Buehrle's innings. If Williams projects that they won't produce, he'll be more inclined to deal."