GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A significant elbow injury suffered by Cardinals ace-hurler Adam Wainwright figures to eventually churn the rumor mill toward a Mark Buehrle-to-St. Louis scenario. Before those rumors start to fly, the White Sox are not looking to move any hurler from one of the American League's best starting rotations, once a healthy Jake Peavy returns.

Buehrle's full no-trade veto power as a 10-year veteran, with at least five years playing for the White Sox, also comes into play. There's no need for Buehrle to think about invoking the no-trade provision with the White Sox hoping to contend for a World Series title, let alone a division crown.

But if the White Sox falter early and look to trade away veteran salaries, with Buehrle in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal, the southpaw would judge the situation on a case-by-case situation.

"There are teams, if it came down to it and I didn't want to play for them, I would not waive it," said Buehrle, asked about his no-trade thought process before the Wainwright injury. "But if it came down to it, I would do it for [White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] and the team because they have done enough for me.

"I'm sure if we play bad in the first half and there's no way of getting back into it and they don't think there's a chance and they are starting to trade away guys, I would probably be one of the first guys to go. With my contract expiring, they could dump money and get prospects. But I don't want to think about it and hope it doesn't get close to that point."