After trade deadline, newest White Sox may be old ones

While the low hum of a potential John Danks trade drones on and on, no other White Sox seem to be generating any noise in the trade rumor mill. The scout sections aren't much busier, Dan Hayes says:

Very few major league scouts are in attendance for Tuesday’s game between the White Sox and Detroit Tigers with one saying, "It feels like I’m the only one here."

The Sox may get some help after Aug. 1; it just might take the forms of players who were around on April 1.

Matt Lindstrom pitched a simulated game to Avisail Garcia at Comerica Park on Tuesday. Lindstrom is closer to seeing real-game action. He said throwing on Tuesday was "the best I've felt in a long time with my arm," and now he waits to see if the Sox will start his rehab assignment once the team returns to Chicago.

Garcia is in a similar holding pattern after the session ...

"I hit a couple of balls good," Garcia said. "Everything is fine. I hit a couple of good balls today. I threw to the bases today, too. I'm just waiting for the time when they send me down."

... but the Sox haven't yet suggested when a rehab stint might be considered, because it looks like medical evaluations have to take place before anybody gets too excited. Robin Ventura says nobody is pressing the issue:

"Where he's at right now, you expect at some point to be able to see him," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "But I'm sure he'll get home and doctors will look at him again and everybody has to make sure he's 100 percent when he goes out there.

"I don't think we're going to be pressing that he has to make it here. But if he's totally healthy and he's ready to go I know, I would be happy to see him."

The Sox might appreciate a little extra time with Garcia, because there's no easy way to free up a roster spot for him as long as the trade market for Dayan Viciedo, Alejandro De Aza or Adam Dunn continues to be dormant.

Early in the trading season, Viciedo was a popular alleged target for the Seattle Mariners. It's hard to tell how substantial that rumor might have been for a couple reasons. The Mariners need right-handed hitters and Viciedo could tempt with his bat speed if he's priced to move, so maybe the math checked out even if the reality didn't line up. Viciedo certainly isn't doing much to invite second thoughts.

Or ... maybe Jack Zduriencik doesn't know what he wants, and so rumors fly with no chance at any kind of resolution. That's what FoxSports.com's Jon Morosi is hearing, anyway:

To hear rival executives tell it, though, Zduriencik mostly has exasperated trade partners with his negotiating style while trying to guide the M’s to the postseason for the first time since 2001. Those executives say the Mariners frequently inquire on a number of players, only to shift direction when a deal appears within reach.

Such conduct is not unusual for teams navigating the complex trade market. But in numerous conversations, executives from other teams have singled out Zduriencik as one of the most difficult GMs in the sport with whom to do business. Zdurincik’s peers express frustration with his methods – and their complaints are not new.

That's only a brief excerpt of a fascinating article, with anonymous critical quotes and rebuttals from an on-the-record Zduriencik. Every team gets criticized to varying degrees for overvaluing its own players, but these comments go the extra mile to stand out.