The possibility is very much on the table.

According to sources, the Sox are looming as a key component in discussions over a sports talk station being added to Chicago's FM roster. The pieces fit together nicely.

The Sox are entering the final year of their deal with WSCR-AM 670. The contract pays them in the neighborhood of $3 million per year.

Meanwhile, ratings for WSCR and WMVP-AM 1000 are booming. Based on the success of the format, and with sports talk stations migrating to FM in other major markets, I wrote a couple of weeks ago that the option has to be considered here.

One man in particular stands out. Jeff Smulyan is the CEO of Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications, which owns WLUP-FM 97.9 and WKQX-FM 101.1. Mr. Smulyan is considered the father of sports talk radio, launching the format at WFAN in New York in 1988. A couple years ago, he started an all-sports station in Indianapolis.

With both of his FM stations struggling for ratings here, Mr. Smuylan reportedly is looking at the sports alternative for one of them.

Oh, did we mention that one of Mr. Smuylan's closest friends is Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf? Mr. Smuylan was a former owner of the Seattle Mariners during the 1990s.

If Mr. Smuylan wanted to start an FM sports talk endeaver here, he would want rights to one of the major teams to drive listeners to the station. Voila, his good buddy's team just happens to be available. The Sox ranked ninth in baseball in radio audience last year, averaging 122,700 listeners per game,according to an analysis by Arbitron.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Reinsdorf became a partner with Mr. Smuylan and owned part of the station. Mr. Reinsdorf already owns a share of Comcast SportsNet.

As for possible hosts for the new station, Mike North is free after his new "Monsters and Money" show on Ch. 2 gets off the air at 7 a.m. He has made it known that he wants to get back into radio. He also has a good relationship with Mr. Reinsdorf.

What about Steve Dahl? He is podcasting now since his contract with CBS keeps him off the air. However, that deal runs out in June. 2011. Hiring a big name like Mr. Dahl would be one way for a new station to create some buzz. Also, from a Sox perspective, it doesn't hurt that Mr. Dahl is one of the team's biggest celebrity fans.

Nobody is willing to comment, but there clearly is some activity here. Whether it gets beyond the talking stage remains to be seen.

At the very least, Mr. Smuylan could help his old friend in talks with WSCR. It doesn't appear that any of the other AM stations will bid for the Sox rights, or give them what they want. The prospect of moving to an FM station would create more of a market for the Sox's radio rights.

It should be extremely interesting to see how this all plays out. Stay tuned.