LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It was a comment made by Kenny Williams late Wednesday night, during discussion of the Freddy Garcia trade, which even seemed to take the White Sox general manager by surprise.

That element of shock hit Williams with enough force that he stopped the next question coming from the media in order to focus on what he had just said. The topic at hand was the White Sox not needing to trade the big right-hander to the Phillies in order to free up his $10 million salary slot due to budgetary concerns.

"You know what I just said," asked Williams with a broad smile. "I just said that payroll was not a factor whatsoever. I don't know since I've been in this position that I've had the luxury to say that.

"It feels good. In order to keep that going, you better keep winning and I know it."

With Williams' overriding commitment to winning and the White Sox strong fiscal hold as a team, many fans have questioned why a rotation stalwart such as Garcia was traded for a talented right-handed prospect/project in Gavin Floyd and the return of equally talented left-hander Gio Gonzalez to the organization. But Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf once again stressed a look at the franchise's big picture beyond the 2007 campaign.

Trading away Garcia was a significant loss to the team, as expressed by Williams on Wednesday night, but the move in effect should include Brandon McCarthy stepping into the rotation within its analysis. The addition of Gonzalez and Floyd also gives the White Sox quality options to replenish the rotation, instead of overpaying for mediocre talent as part of this free-spending baseball economy.

This trade ultimately would continue the White Sox drive for a championship in 2007, while setting them up to move forward for years with that run, in Williams' mind. It's not so much a matter of spending money produced by a 2006 attendance at U.S. Cellular Field reaching near 3 million or brought about by increased sponsorship revenue, but moreso matching the funds to the White Sox perspective on a respective player's value.

"I'm less likely to react to the market than I am to react to my own instinct and evaluation of the player and what we believe his value is in contributing to our club and how, payroll-wise, to the whole of the team," Williams said. "I can't take someone, for instance, who is the superstar player and put him into this situation here, this equation here, and then have to move two to three less sexier pieces, less of the superstar variety, and then have a watered down team with a sexy superstar.

"We've had some of that before, and it didn't work," Williams added.

A prevailing theme during this week's Winter Meetings at the Swan and Dolphin Resort on the Disney World grounds focused on the White Sox sitting on their pitching riches until the market played itself out. But Williams explained Thursday, in a discussion with the Chicago media after the Rule 5 Draft, how that sort of process doesn't fit the White Sox style of operating.

"I've been consistent with this, in that we're not going to try and make up a deal," Williams said. "Going back to as early as last season, we began to target a handful of organizations, a handful of players. We followed them during the year, and we know what we want. In a lot of cases, I've sent four or five scouts out to see these guys over a period of time.

"If we're able to fit those players that we believe can ultimately win a championship, while at the same time not sacrifice too much on the present, we'll go ahead and do that. It's a difficult task and a very limited pool that we're looking at.

"All the stars have to align in order for us to do something along that line," Williams added. "Otherwise, we take a step back and remain happy with the young arms we just got."

As Williams mentioned during Wednesday night's press conference, the White Sox are still open for business. Another trade involving one of the team's coveted starters could take place before Opening Day, with rumors of Jon Garland's impending departure to Houston giving a little zest to Thursday's closing morning of the Meetings.

One reporter used the word "arrogance" in a column to describe Williams' unwillingness to sign his own quality starters to long-term extensions, let alone jump into the market and start spending. Williams sees it as the best plan to keep his team successful.

"This is about preparing to go to battle now and making sure you have an equal opportunity with a chance to win, but enhancing your chances for the future," Williams said. "That's what it's about."

"Look at what people are spending now for mediocre pitching," Reinsdorf added. "You have to load up. You have to have six can't-miss pitchers for at least two of them to make it. At least two-thirds of these can't-miss pitchers will miss."

Deals done: Traded RHP Garcia to the Phillies in exchange for RHP Floyd and LHP Gonzalez; re-signed utility player Pablo Ozuna to a one-year, $800,000 deal.

Rule 5 activity: The White Sox lost left-handed reliever Jay Marshall, selected 14th overall by Oakland, in the Major League phase. They also lost right-handed starter Paul Moviel to Tampa Bay in the Double-A phase.

Goals accomplished: A starting rotation spot was opened up for McCarthy, who would have started the season in Triple-A Charlotte if not for a trade involving one of the five veteran hurlers. Floyd will challenge McCarthy but could end up as the fifth power arm out of the White Sox bullpen. Staying true to his word, Williams traded pitching but also received young pitching in return to bolster his team in the present and the future.

Unfinished business: Moving Garcia does not preclude Williams from trading away another starter, but only as part of something he would consider another good baseball deal. In fact, rumors ran rampant Thursday morning that the Astros were close to acquiring Garland for a package including pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh and center fielder Willy Taveras. The team also might look to change the dynamic at the top of the order, although both Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen said they are comfortable with Scott Podsednik returning in the leadoff role.

GM's bottom line: "We could not continue to operate in the manner I've been operating for the last few years, which has been target, target, target, veteran player, veteran player, veteran player. First of all, those deals aren't out there right now. You are going to run into a brick wall sooner or later." -- Williams