"The White Sox and the agent for Scott Podsednik held a preliminary discussion this week with the aim being to bring the leadoff hitter back to the South Side.

"It's in the early stages," Ryan Gleichowski, Posednik's agent, said Friday of a brief chat with Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn. Gleichowski said the sides agreed to talk later this month.

The Sox have exclusive negotiating rights until 15 days after the World Series with Podsednik, who batted .304 with 30 stolen bases and a .353 on-base percentage in 132 games. Podsednik is a more affordable option than free agent Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels.

Quentin update: In addition to undergoing successful surgery to remove a pin from his right wrist, left fielder Carlos Quentin visited a foot doctor in Chicago this week to re-examine his left foot.

The doctor saw no abnormalities and Quentin was cleared to proceed with his offseason conditioning program once his wrist is healed. Quentin is expected to resume swinging a bat in 30 days."