By Mark Gonzales, Tribune reporter

1:10 p.m. CDT, October 22, 2011

Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Saturday that he’s willing to listen to offers this off-season but won’t settle for minor league talent in return.

In an interview with WMVP-AM 1000, Williams admitted that the offers might not be overwhelming because so many players had subpar 2011 seasons.

Without naming names, Williams appeared willing to listen to offers for right fielder Carlos Quentin and pitchers John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Matt Thornton if the right proposals were tendered.

“What we have to do is weigh whatever they’re offering up against our chances for the next season,” Williams told the “Talking Baseball” show. “Because if we’re going to move our valuable pieces, it’s going to be for major league-ready talent as they can grow with this nice nucleus in place.”

Williams mentioned Dayan Viciedo, Tyler Flowers, Alejandro De Aza and Brent Morel as part of the nucleus.

Williams could seek to follow a plan after the 2006 season, when he acquired Danks and Floyd in trades involving Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy.

Williams added that he would speak later with Adam Dunn, whom he said needed a break after the worst season of his productive major league career.

Staff report

9:44 a.m. EDT, October 20, 2011

Chicago White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn will interview for the general manager job with the Los Angeles Angels.

According to a tweet from Yahoo reporter Tim Brown, Hahn is one of five candidates who will interview for the position in the next week or so. Other candidates listed were Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto, Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees senior director of pro personnel Billy Eppler and MLB executive Kim Ng.

Dipoto is believed to be a favorite for the vacant Baltimore GM job. Oppenheimer is a Southern California native with strong scouting roots.

“They have the right people interviewing for the job,” said a Sox source who confirmed Hahn’s candidacy to the Tribune.

Staff report

8:44 a.m. CDT, October 20, 2011

Chicago White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn will interview for the general manager job with the Los Angeles Angels.

According to a tweet from Yahoo reporter Tim Brown, Hahn is one of five candidates who will interview for the position in the next week or so. Other candidates listed were Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto, Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees senior director of pro personnel Billy Eppler and MLB executive Kim Ng.

Dipoto is believed to be a favorite for the vacant Baltimore GM job. Oppenheimer is a Southern California native with strong scouting roots.

“They have the right people interviewing for the job,” said a Sox source who confirmed Hahn’s candidacy to the Tribune.

Staff report

1:29 p.m. CDT, October 12, 2011

Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski addressed reports Wednesday that Boston Red Sox players drank beer in the clubhouse during games last season and admitted that he has done the same.

“Yes, absolutely I have before,” Pierzynski told “The Dan Patrick Show.” ”Sometimes you’re just really struggling and you just say, ‘Hey, you know what, I need something to calm me down and let’s have a beer.’ A couple of us will do it together, and sometimes it works out.

“It’s just, sometimes you just need a rally beer. If you’re in extra innings and you’re in about the 15th inning and you really need to get going again, that sometimes works for you.”

Pierzynski, who is serving as an analyst for Fox during the American League Championship Series, later clarified that he wouldn’t drink an entire beer during a game, just a few sips. He also said that he and other Sox players drank shots before one of the 2008 Division Series playoff games in Tampa.

Pierzynski told Patrick he was surprised that Robin Ventura was named manager to replace Ozzie Guillen.

“He was a name I hadn’t heard,” Pierzynski said. “It’s going to be weird to have a manager that I actually played against.”

Asked about Sox general manager Ken Williams saying he considered asking first baseman Paul Konerko to serve as a player-manager, Pierzynski said, “I thought that was hilarious. When Pete Rose did it (with Cincinnati), he was basically a pinch-hitter coming off the bench. If you know Paul at all, he thinks everything through. He’s very analytical … he analyzes it until he’s blue in the face.

“To see him manage and play first base every day, he’d be out there at first missing balls because he’d be worrying about the eighth inning and we’re in the third inning.”

Greg Walker is stepping down as White Sox hitting coach. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune Photo)

By Mark Gonzales, Tribune reporter

11:28 a.m. CDT, September 28, 2011

Greg Walker is relinquishing his position as Chicago White Sox hitting coach, bringing an end to a turbulent nine-year tenure during which he clashed with general manager Ken Williams.

Walker said before Wednesday’s season finale that he decided about a month ago that he would step down and informed team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Walker said he will have dinner with Reinsdorf but has no other future plans at this time.

Paul Konerko expressed regret over Walker’s departure.

“I was rock bottom when I got here, and he rebuilt me,” Konerko said.

Walker said he was going to step down, regardless of manager Ozzie Guillen’s decision to leave.

“If Ozzie was back here as manager, I was not going to be the hitting coach next year,” Walker told beat writers. “I informed him a while back. I signed a contract  through the end of the year.  They have known ever since I’ve been here if they had somebody else to do this job more power to them.

“I want what’s best for the White Sox.  It didn’t have anything to do with the recent events. I was not going to be the hitting coach. That decision was already made.”

Walker, however, admitted the past few years have taxed him.

“Yeah, it’s been a tough few years on all of us,” Walker said. “Nobody involved in this organization involved the last three years has not been beat up. You have to go through tough times to make things happen.

“This organization is as relevant as it’s ever been. First got here, there were nothing but Cubs hats on Michigan Avenue. Now you walk down Michigan Avenue seeing Sox hats. My part in that, I am very proud of it.”

Walker expressed his gratitude to Reinsdorf, whom he’s cultivated a strong friendship with dating back to his playing days starting in 1983.

The Sox could look within their organization for a successor, with roving minor league hitting instructor Jeff Manto and Triple-A Charlotte coach Tim Laker as possible candidates.