"At some point in his career, J.J. Putz would like to have that rush of nailing down the final three outs of a ballgame again.

For now, though, the right-hander is willing to put the closer role on hold if it means taking champagne showers in October.

And the way Putz was talking Wednesday, he thinks he's on the team to do just that.

''I definitely put it in one of the elite teams in the American League,'' Putz said when asked about his decision to sign a one-year, $3 million deal with the White Sox on Friday. ''They seem to have pretty much everything you're looking for -- great starting pitcher, power in the back end of the bullpen. They definitely have some power in the lineup, and I think adding Juan Pierre definitely creates some havoc at the top of the order. On paper, it looks like a team that's going to be a force this year.''

The Sox are banking on the 32-year-old former closer to be another reason why."