GLENDALE, Ariz. - The White Sox still don't want to show their hand, even with a clubhouse that has fewer bodies in it after Tuesday's latest roster moves.
They still want Brent Lillibridge and Jayson Nix to think there's a competition for the final infielder utility spot, as well as the battle still going on for a final bullpen spot.
Fact is, Nix is on the team. Manager Ozzie Guillen made that obvious after the 6-1 loss to San Francisco, somewhat slipping up in talking about how many pitchers they would carry.
"We don't know yet,'' Guillen said. "Everything is ... it's tough because if we go more than 12 [pitchers], we need one more guy, utility guy would be [Omar] Vizquel and Nix. Everyone else would be rotating in the outfield and DH spot with [Mark] Kotsay.''
In other words, the real debate left is do they go 12 pitchers and go with Sergio Santos, who is out of options? Or do they take 11 and the lefty bat of Alejandro De Aza?
From the sound of it, Guillen would like the extra pitcher because of the uncertainty with Bobby Jenks and the fact that J.J. Putz is coming of a shortened 2009 season in which he needed surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
"He's coming from an injury,'' Guillen said of Putz. "We've got to be careful with how we throw him. He's thrown good. I'm talking about protection. He's come from injury and he's bounced back very well, but I'm talking about protecting him. The only way to protect him, I think [Scott] Linebrink has thrown the ball well. The way [Linebrink's] throwing the ball right now it makes it easy for everyone.''
Whatever the club decides, expect it to go all the way until the end of camp.