CHICAGO – Just getting to the playoffs was a chore for the Chicago White Sox.

They had to win their last regular-season game, the makeup of a rainout and a tiebreaker to win the AL Central.

And by the time they finally wrapped up the division title and had to play the young and talented Tampa Bay Rays, the veteran White Sox were a bit spent.

“It’s just tough to keep that level of play against a good team like that,” first baseman Paul Konerko said.

“We just out of gas.”

But there were no excuses after making it to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2005 World Series. The White Sox had some key injuries, as all teams have, but their season ended because the Rays deserved to win.

“We got beat by a better team,” ace Mark Buehrle said.

Now there are numerous personnel decisions to sort out.

“We have a lot of free agents in here and a lot of guys that have some decisions to make. The front office has some decisions to make,” right fielder Jermaine Dye said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera, center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., a trade deadline acquisition, and third baseman Joe Crede may not return. Juan Uribe, who filled in when Crede was bothered by back problems for the second straight season, can become a free agent. Crede had a strong first half with 16 homers but played in only 11 games after the All-Star break.

“We’ll come back and we’ll put together a club that’s going to give you another run for your money next year,” general manager Ken Williams said after Monday night’s 6-2 loss to the Rays, who won the series 3-1.

Williams did OK last offseason, acquiring two players who had a major impact in Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez.

Quentin, who had to make the team in spring training, became a surprising star and was leading the AL in homers with 36 when he got frustrated during an at-bat in Cleveland on Sept. 1 and broke his right wrist by slapping it against his bat. He did not return.

Ramirez, who could switch from second base to shortstop next season, developed into one of the AL’s best rookies with a record four grand slams among his 21 homers. He batted .290 with 77 RBIs.

Cabrera, who gave the White Sox an effective leadoff hitter, played maybe his first and last season with Chicago following a trade from the Angels.

A free agent, he had a public tiff with manager Ozzie Guillen after the shortstop called the press box to question some errors.

And his teammates were not happy with his late-season comments that the White Sox needed to have a more aggressive mental approach. Guillen responded by saying Cabrera thought he was a better player than he really was.

The White Sox looked for a lift and run production when they acquired Griffey from the Reds, but the 38-year-old hit just three homers and batted .260 in 41 games.

Griffey passed Sammy Sosa for fifth on career home run list, finishing the year with 611, but there is little chance the White Sox will pick up his $16.5 million option for next season.

Griffey said he has no plans to retire and wants to keep playing.

“We’ll find out soon enough. I’m just going into the offseason, and we’ll wait and see what happens,” he said.

Jim Thome’s $13 million club option for 2009 kicked in after he reached a plate-appearances clause, and Konerko, Dye and A.J Pierzynski – all veterans of the World Series winner – are all expected to be back.

The White Sox led the majors in homers with 235 during the regular season and much of their offense was reliant on the long ball.

Nick Swisher, acquired in a trade from Oakland, hit 24 homers but batted only .219 – including .164 in the final month – and became a platoon player with DeWayne Wise.

Young pitchers Gavin Floyd (17 wins) and John Danks, who won the tiebreaker against the Twins and beat the Rays in Game 3, will team with Buehrle. Javier Vazquez struggled down the stretch, losing his final three starts of the regular season and the playoff opener, failing to go five innings in any of the four starts.

Right-hander Jose Contreras ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in early August and his absence was felt in the final weeks when the White Sox had to use their other four starters on three days’ rest.

Lefty Clayton Richard probably will get a chance to join the rotation next season.

A shoulder injury to setup man Scott Linebrink, one of the top offseason acquisitions, hurt the bullpen late as he made only 50 appearances. Closer Bobby Jenks was 30-for-34 on saves.

Guillen had his Ozzie moments, especially after a frustrating series in June against the Rays when the White Sox struggled offensively. He went on a rant calling for changes that appeared to target Williams.

Guillen and Williams patched it up, as they always seem to do, and the White Sox led the division for 148 days.

The AL Central promises to be tougher next season. Cleveland and Detroit, which both had disappointing seasons, are expected to contend, along with the Twins.

“People forget how tough it is to get to the World Series and win it,” Guillen said.

“They forgot how much you have to go through. You have to be lucky. You have to be playing in the right places at the right time. So many different things got to go for you to make it what you want to make it.”