All the talk about trading outfielder Jermaine Dye at the winter meetings has quieted, too.

Williams did say that the club would look to add a veteran free agent pitcher if the market continued to be slow moving, but it would be a pitcher the Sox could grab on the cheap.

Considering that the market for free agent outfielders is barely moving, it doesn't seem likely that there will be a rush for Dye by teams willing to give the White Sox what they want for him.

That doesn't mean Williams doesn't have his scouts out there at least putting some work in.

"We've not taken our eye off of some of the veterans that could make themselves available to us on the marketplace," Williams insisted last month. "My guys are under instructions to listen to deals and potential deals, whether they go along the prospect lines or the veteran lines.

"Clearly, as you guys have seen, I do have my eye on sustaining the success that we've had. We've had to make sure we acquired some young talent in order to do that."

At the same time, Williams has always insisted that the foundation of his teams would be pitching and defense. Considering that, the starting staff on paper is Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks and then the likes of Jeff Marquez, Lance Broadway and Clayton Richard.

Buehrle, Floyd and Danks are proven, while the No. 4 and 5 spots would be potluck from start to start. The White Sox could get a boost in July if Jose Contreras returns from his ruptured Achilles tendon, but that's a big if.

That's the reason that the Sox are still patiently waiting to see how the pitching market plays out.