Uribe's gone?

TUCSON, Ariz. Reports continued to circulate around the White Sox camp that the club placed former starting shortstop Juan Uribe on waivers prior to Wednesdays game with Colorado.

The first news of this move came on The Score 670 AM.

If it was true, it would be news to Uribes agent Martin Arburua, who said, I havent heard anything like that.

Arburua, who is in Florida, also went on to say, Everything Ive been told by the club was positive about Juan. I heard he was hitting well, playing great defense, that would be a shock.

Depending on what type of waiver it was, the club could be either testing the waters to measure his value or could be flat-out distancing themselves from their leading second base candidate. If that is the case, according to major league rules, if another team doesnt claim him in 72 hours, the Sox will have to release him and pay him the $4.5 million salary for the 2007 season.

Could this be a prelude to a trade general manager Ken Williams has up his sleeve or are they that confident in rookie Alexei Ramirez to just hand him the job?

Danny Richar certainly isnt an immediate option, considering he was scratched from Wednesdays start, and sent for an MRI on the injured back that has had him on the shelf most of spring. Richar could likely start the season on the 15-day disabled list at this point.