Stalemated talks between Mark Buehrle and the White Sox have the left-hander in a contract holding pattern as he takes the mound today against the Minnesota Twins. But two factors have emerged from the on-again, off-again talks: If Buehrle is traded to another team, he still is prepared to go into the free-agent market at season's end, and he no longer would give the Sox a so-called ''hometown discount'' if they chose to enter the bidding. ''If I do get traded and go to some team, I'm not saying that I wouldn't re-sign with that team, but I'm to this point in my career, so why not go out and test free agency and see what else is out there?'' he said. ''I let it be known because [agent Jeff Berry] was having questions of, 'If we trade for him, would he sign back here before becoming a free agent?' Some teams are asking or interested in it, so he let them know where we stand.''