According to Sports Illustrated's Web site, White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras has cleared waivers, meaning he can be traded. Though Contreras is due $10 million over each of the next two seasons, he's pitched well in each of his two relief appearances. Contreras, who is scheduled to start Friday for the Sox at Seattle, could be a valuable piece for a contender. (Postseason rosters must be set by Aug. 31.) "When he wasn't right, velocity was down, command was down, confidence was down," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. "Over the last two times coming out of the bullpen, all three of those things are up. They're back. We saw the guy we know."