South Side Sox, a Chicago White Sox community

The White Sox exercised the option for next year on veteran right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia. Garcia, 34, will make a $1 million base salary plus a possible $2 million in incentives.

Jake Peavy passed all the tests Wednesday that pitching coach Don Cooper put him through during a 35-minute bullpen session that resembled a simulated game. This means that Peavy, barring a setback, will make his first start for the White Sox next week in Seattle or even this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.

About 10 throws into the Wednesday long-toss session, bullpen coach Juan Nieves whistled to the White Sox dugout and gave the throat slash sign. Just like that, Jake Peavy's day was done, and the pitcher's chances of making his debut for the White Sox this weekend in New York in doubt.

Confirmation

The White Sox kept their rotation intact so that Mark Buehrle will pitch Thursday night agianst Detroit and Jose Contreras will open the Texas series on Friday night. "We talked about [skipping Contreras]," manager Ozzie Guillen said after Wednesday night's game was called nearly 90 minutes after the scheudled start. "We thought about it. We're going to show him another vote of confidence that we believe in him and he can still do it. Hopeuflly he'll notice that. I hope he takes advantage of the sitaution. "I don't want to start moving people around and people miss turns, and all of a sudden have too many days off, too many breaks. Everyone should be the same way, and we'll see what happens."