Rumors of today, and a rumor of old

Some things to think about for your Saturday morning...

*Robin Ventura's bench coach might be managing a minor-league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, but it's not Ryne Sandberg. According to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury:

The Chicago White Sox have asked for and been granted permission to speak with Phillies minor-league manager Mark Parent about a job on their major league coaching staff, according to a baseball source.

Parent, 50, has managed two seasons in the Phillies system. He guided Single A Lakewood to the South Atlantic League championship in 2010 and led Double A Reading to a 74-68 record and a playoff berth in 2011.

For what it's worth, when I think about Mark Parent, this card immediately comes to mind.

*Salisbury's Chicago counterpart Brett Ballantini throws out some possibilities for the coaching staff:

So in spite of all the speculation (Frank Thomas, etc.), is Harold [Baines] ticketed for the next batting coach? If we are to believe the timeline, that things moved quickly and Robin may have been approached before Ozzie’s official departure, Ventura may well have signed on for a new Baines role.

So that leaves openings for base coaches. Would Joe McEwing be promoted into a Cora role, working with the defense and manning third base? Devon White promoted to first base/baserunning coach?

White as a first-base coach makes a lot of sense, if only because he learned how to steal bases more efficiently himself. He was successful on 81 percent of his steals (190 for 236) after age 29, compared to 75 percent (156 for 208) over his first seven seasons. No word on how well he collects shinguards and other protective armor.

*The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Paul Konerko on waivers after the trade deadline passed, and Kenny Williams tested them. According to Daryl Van Schouwen:

The Arizona Diamondbacks, conveniently located where he lives, put in a waiver claim on Konerko after the trade deadline. Williams reportedly asked for young Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, among others, in return, and the Diamondbacks declined. With that, Konerko was pulled back off waivers.

Were the Sox to deal Konerko for a package that did not include Goldschmidt, or perhaps to another team, Williams might want to call the Red Sox and propose sending them Floyd and Quentin for 24-year-old outfielder Josh Reddick and 24-year-old first baseman Lars Anderson. Or, perhaps Floyd for Reddick and two minor-league prospects. Floyd is 6-0 with a 3.47 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox, so they probably know who he is.