DEPARTURES: RHP Javier Vazquez (traded to Braves), LHP Boone Logan (traded to Braves), OF Nick Swisher (traded to Yankees), LHP Horacio Ramirez (free agent, signed with Royals), C Toby Hall (free agent, signed minor league deal with Astros), INF Juan Uribe (free agent, signed minor league deal with Giants), OF Ken Griffey Jr. (free agent, signed with Mariners), 3B Joe Crede (free agent, signed with Twins).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. LHP Mark Buehrle

2. RHP Gavin Floyd

3. LHP John Danks

4. RHP Jose Contreras

5. RHP Bartolo Colon/LHP Clayton Richard

The "Big Three" have the White Sox coaching staff sleeping well at night, and life has become a little easier knowing that Jose Contreras looks to have fully recovered from a ruptured left Achilles tendon that sidelined him since last August. The concern is veteran Bartolo Colon getting the rust off after a cleanup surgery on his elbow in the winter. Plan B is Clayton Richard.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Bobby Jenks (closer)

RHP Scott Linebrink

RHP Octavio Dotel

LHP Matt Thornton

LHP Clayton Richard

RHP Jeff Marquez

RHP D.J. Carrasco

The back end of the bullpen is as solid as it comes as long as Linebrink and Dotel stay healthy in key setup roles. What is still a question mark is the middle-relief situation. The White Sox want to keep both Richard and Jeff Marquez on the roster as safety nets for Colon and Contreras. Manager Ozzie Guillen also wants to take 12 pitchers, so that leaves one more spot up for grabs if he does settle on Marquez and Richard.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Dewayne Wise

2. C A.J. Pierzynski

3. LF Carlos Quentin

4. DH Jim Thome

5. RF Jermaine Dye

6. 1B Paul Konerko

7. SS Alexei Ramirez

8. 3B Josh Fields

9. 2B Chris Getz

The hope at the start of camp was that a leadoff hitter would emerge -- specifically Jerry Owens. A month into camp, however, the center field spot and leadoff spot are still question marks. Wise has played better than the other candidates, but that still doesn't have the White Sox reassured. Guillen has said that he wants a speed guy at the top who can put pressure on the opposing pitcher, but the search continues.

As for third base, Josh Fields wrapped that up with Dayan Viciedo being sent to minor league camp, while Chris Getz has all but grabbed second base.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Corky Miller

INF Brent Lillibridge

INF Wilson Betemit

OF Brian Anderson

The reserve spots could be the toughest decisions Guillen and his staff will have to make. They lack a proven backup catcher but need a warm body for that spot. Betemit gives them insurance at third base, and Lillibridge will give them depth up the middle. That means either Wise or Anderson could be odd man out.

TOP ROOKIES: LHP Aaron Poreda jumped from Class A to Class AA Birmingham last season and was impressive in his time with the Barons, going 3-4 with a 2.98 ERA. After a dominant Fall League, he opened eyes as a possible big-league reliever. C Tyler Flowers, acquired in the Atlanta trade for Javy Vazquez, is a pure power hitter who will have all eyes on him this spring. He might be a year away, at least, but could also be a September call-up.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Bartolo Colon (elbow surgery) made his Cactus League debut on March 16 but was shaky. The White Sox are going to be very careful with the veteran, monitoring his pitch counts and bringing him along slowly.

--RHP Jose Contreras (ruptured Achilles tendon in August 2008) has been the talk of the camp, not only showing up 30 pounds lighter, but three months ahead of schedule. He is in the regular starting rotation now and is running through all the pitching drills with no setbacks.

--INF Jayson Nix (right quad) injured the leg earlier in camp, missed a week and then tried coming back, only to suffer a setback to the quad. The rest of his camp is now in danger, and Nix might not even make the 25-man roster.