Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for November 21, 2006

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Darko Milicic's yet-to-be-determined worth has a colossal impact on the Magic's salary-cap situation, their upcoming free-agent search and their future. If he proves he has the potential to become a starting power forward, the Magic have the option to pay Darko big money (a contract starting at a minimum of $7 million-$8 million per year), which will eat up a majority of their available projected cap dough for next season. This effectively would end any long-shot chance of signing free agents such as Vince Carter or Rashard Lewis to maximum deals this summer. The Magic don't want to pay the punitive luxury tax that affects over-spenders. They once figured that they could be in play for a star free agent if Milicic was not worth re-signing, Grant Hill retired and the league cap number was bumped up. Now a big year for Milicic not only precludes them from signing a Carter or a Lewis, but the Darko factor also affects their re-signing of Hill.

Heat coach and president Pat Riley announced Monday that the team's next coach will be promoted from within the organization. ''I hope it's a long time from now,'' Riley said. Riley's announcement means his successor likely will come from the current coaching staff, which includes Ron Rothstein, Erik Spoelstra, Bob McAdoo and Keith Askins. In his most recent interview, former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy -- who now is a consultant for the team -- said in April that he could not envision any scenario in which he would return to the Heat's sideline. ''The next coach of the Miami Heat is going to come from the guts of this team,'' Riley said. ``Guys that have been here for 11 years with me, unless they don't want, of course. . . . They're all very capable, confident guys. You reward that kind of loyalty. ``Stan Van Gundy came from within. The next one will come from within . . . if in fact [owner Micky Arison] wants that. It's up to him.'' ... Riley, 61, made the disclosure in response to a published report speculating that embattled Memphis Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello eventually might replace Riley.

Let me remind you that Sam Mitchell will be fired soon as the Raptors coach. ... Who’ll replace Mitchell? Maybe a legend, Larry Brown. Maybe.

Dajuan Wagner's release frees up a roster spot, and the Warriors have inquired about swingman Luke Jackson, according to Jackson's agent, Mark Bartelstein. Jackson was traded from Cleveland to Boston in October and was among the Celtics' final preseason cuts.

Look for Indiana Pacers guard Darrell Armstrong, 38, formerly of the Magic, to try to play one more season and then retire. He hopes to become an NBA assistant coach, and if the Magic have an opening, he'd be all ears.

The Cavaliers are continuing to be conservative with Larry Hughes, which is another way of saying he won't be back soon. Monday, the team said Hughes would miss tonight's game with the Memphis Grizzlies and Wednesday's game against the Raptors in Toronto. He is scheduled to receive a second MRI on his right ankle and to be examined by team physician Richard Parker this morning. Afterward, the team will have a better idea of when he'll be able to return to the lineup. Chances are slim he will be back this week. The Cavs have one off day, Thanksgiving, before going into another back-to-back Friday in Indiana and Saturday at home against Philadelphia.

The arraignment of Sacramento Kings coach Eric Musselman on drunken-driving charges has been postponed until Dec. 20. Musselman's lawyer, John E. Virga, made a brief appearance Monday morning on Musselman's behalf in Sacramento Superior Court. Virga said he needed more time to look into the case, including checking whether the Breathalyzer unit used on Musselman was properly calibrated.

The Knicks received good news on their prize offseason signing, Jared Jeffries. A CAT Scan on his wrist showed it's healing properly and he should be back in two weeks to make his long-awaited Knick debut. Jeffries will participate in today's practice, but only non-contact drills. There was fear he wouldn't debut until Jan. 1 after surgery Nov. 1.

Corliss Williamson, who will earn $6.5 million this season and be a free agent thereafter, said going out on his terms means he has six seasons of hoops left in that still-solid body. Sure, he played in just 37 games last season with the Kings, but it only gave him more time to condition enough that he was still considered among the strongest in the lot. And as revelations go, there's the one about wanting reliable minutes of playing time without taking on too much. "I don't want to start," Williamson said, laughing. "You've got to play too many minutes. That six years would be shortened to three."

Don't expect Fran Vazquez to play in Orlando until 2009-10, if at all. Vazquez, the Magic's runaway 2005 lottery pick, has changed teams in Spain again. He left Akasvayu Girona and now plays for FC Winterthru -- with former Magic center Mario Kasun. A European Web site said he signed for four years, plus an option. Fran The Fraud's value to the Magic? Nil. Listen to this quote from him: "I hope [Winterthru Coach] Dusko Ivanovic is able to get out of me what was lacking last year and I can start enjoying basketball again."

GM Mark Warkentien said the Nuggets traded their No. 49 pick in the second round in June after forward Paul Millsap, the last player that interested them, went No. 47 to Utah. He's averaging 7.6 points for the Jazz

Kings forward Ron Artest said he began the season thinking while playing but more recently has been just playing instinctively. "I think it's going to come for us," said Artest, who leads the league in steals per game (3.4) and is first on the team in minutes (39.7) and rebounding (8.3), second in assists (3.4) and third in scoring (17.9). "We have to find our identity, and I think we'll do that, but we haven't played together that long. "Coming into the season, I didn't know Kevin Martin was going to be playing like damned near a first-team All-NBA guard. I don't need to shoot from the outside all the time. I'm going to keep taking the ball to the hole, but I'm always going to also think I can make shots from outside."

Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics’ only functioning center at the moment, has been nursing a painful case of plantar faciitis in his left foot since a Nov. 13 game against Orlando. The inflamed-tendon condition, a common one among basketball players, finally was bad enough yesterday for Perkins to hop on an exercise bike and miss practice. Considering his physical style has keyed the Celtics’ defensive improvement during the three-game streak - the burly, 6-foot-11 center is averaging 3.7 blocks and seven rebounds in that span - the last thing Rivers needs is another lame big man. “We might have to start five guards,” said Rivers, only half-jokingly, of tomorrow night’s game in Charlotte. That might not be necessary. Perkins plans to practice today and play tomorrow night against the Bobcats. “I play through it all the time,” Perkins said. “After I get warmed up, I can play through it without any problem. I’m going to practice (today). They say it can take a few weeks to get over. Wally (Szczerbiak) had it for a while.”

Ever wonder what happened to the Hornets' original coach, Dick Harter? He's scouting -- personnel, primarily -- for the Indiana Pacers and would still like to return to an NBA bench.

Abbott Nutrition has announced that Ben Gordon of the Bulls is the EAS brand's newest professional athlete endorser. Gordon will be involved in a number of marketing initiatives.

Golden State coach Don Nelson admitted before the game that when he was coaching the Mavericks, he never thought young Maverick Raja Bell was going to be much of a scorer in the NBA. “I misread him as a player,” Nelson said. “He told me he could score 20 points any time, but that wasn’t the player I had.”

Forward Vladimir Radmanovic was hoping to get more playing time with the Lakers, but a nagging ligament injury in his right hand has limited his effectiveness. After averaging 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds with the Clippers and Seattle last season, he is averaging six points and 2.9 rebounds in only 15.7 minutes with the Lakers. "He's been struggling," Jackson said. "But I told him that players figure out how to contribute and they rebound and do other things. [Against Toronto], he gave us a lot of stuff off the bench — got offensive rebounds, got up to the basket and dunked a ball, got a three-point play."

Stu Jackson , vice president of operations for the NBA, informed Pistons president Joe Dumars that the technical assessed to Rasheed Wallace on Saturday had been rescinded. Wallace, who has four technicals, hasn't picked up one in six games.

Cavs coach Mike Brown said he will stick with David Wesley as his starting shooting guard. He's averaging 6.2 points and shooting 44 percent in place of Hughes.

The Sonics had three picks in the June NBA draft and were excited about the results -- center Mouhamed Sene and guards Denham Brown and Yotam Halperin. With the urging of Sonics management, Halperin signed an extension with Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv to get more seasoning while the club retains his rights. But Brown, a former Connecticut standout, failed to make the club and Sene, the 10th pick in the draft, is considered to be years away from making a major impact. The Sonics have reaped very little from this draft with Sene having yet to score a point entering Monday's game with the New Jersey Nets. Hill defended the Sonics' draft decisions. "If you are in our shoes with two young centers, there is never going to be another young guy like Mo in the draft," he said. "Does he need development right away? Absolutely. When he figures it out at the next level, he is going to be a factor. "If you draft Ronnie Brewer, then you're saying he's better than what you have. Where does he fit in? The reason they took Millsap is (former first-round pick Kris) Humphries was a bust."

Former Pistons and Eastern Michigan forward Grant Long visited practice Monday. "Just sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong," he joked.

Jamaal Tinsley said it's no secret why the Pacers haven't found their stride. "It's hard to run when you're taking the ball out of the basket," he said. "That's a big problem for us."
Tinsley forgot to mention protecting the ball and rebounding. The Pacers want to top 100 points a game. They're averaging 94.8 -- less than a point (93.9) more than last season when they ran predictable half-court sets through O'Neal in the post. The Pacers are averaging 13.9 fast-break points a game, compared to 16.0 for their opponents. Tinsley said they want to average around 20.

Both Chris Webber (back) and Steven Hunter (knee) sat out practice yesterday and nursed their ailments, but neither has been ruled out of tonight's game against the Detroit Pistons at the Wachovia Center. "We'll see how they feel" today, coach Mo Cheeks said after running the rest of the 76ers through a two-hour practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Rockets guard Kirk Snyder is expected to be out for 10 to 12 weeks after breaking his right hand on a drive in the second quarter of Monday's 97-90 victory over the New York Knicks. Snyder had made a move to the basket when Knicks center Jerome James came down hard with a swing that broke a bone between Snyder's thumb and forefinger. "He's got good size at the two to defend the bigger twos," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's got good quickness, and he takes the ball to the basket, just like the one he got his hand hurt on. He was going to the basket." Snyder, a third-year guard the Rockets acquired in a July trade with the New Orleans Hornets, had been averaging 6.1 points on 41.9-percent shooting.

Jeff Van Gundy -- who was cheered last night when introduced -- said he used to love it when the fans booed his Knicks teams. It wasn't very often, since Van Gundy's Knicks made the playoffs every year he coached from 1996-2001, but when they did he used it as a tool to illustrate to the players that he wasn't the only one who thought they weren't giving enough effort. "As a coach, it was great," Van Gundy said. "You didn't always have to be the one to get on your team." For him, each boo was worth a 1,000-word halftime lecture. "I always felt that was extremely helpful because you didn't always have to be the lone wolf challenging them about their effort," he said. "In that way, I thought the New York fans intolerance was very, very helpful."

Celts forward Al Jefferson met with Dr. Brian McKeon last night to better gauge his return from an appendectomy. Though a return tomorrow night in Charlotte is considered unlikely, he’s still hoping for a return Friday against the New York Knicks. “If I’m feeling healthy, nothing is going to stop me,” Jefferson said.

Wizards forward Jarvis Hayes, who hit his head on the floor and suffered a contusion to his lower back, was taken off the court on a stretcher and was brought to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Northwest, but X-rays showed no signs of serious damage and he was released late Saturday night. Hayes attended practice yesterday but was limited to conditioning work on a stationary bike, and he will be further evaluated at this morning's shoot-around in Dallas.

Hawks forward Marvin Williams had the hard cast removed from his left hand Monday and was on the practice floor, in between live drills, shooting. He's still at least a couple of weeks away from returning to live action. But he's getting closer. "It's super weak," said Williams, who broke his finger in practice Oct. 26 and has been on the inactive list since the season opener. "My wrist is so weak. But I was out there shooting today. I can dribble a little. I can't catch passes or anything like that. But it's cool. I can start holding stuff, I have to keep in mind what I'm holding." Williams said he hopes to be ready to play as early as the first week of December.

Magic Senior Vice President Pat Williams received a request for a J.J. Redick autograph on a photo. It was from Ron Wolf, the ex-Green Bay Packers general manager. "Ron said he wants to hang it with J.J.'s autograph in his study," Williams said.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

While talks have remained quiet, the Red Sox have pushed Texas owner Tom Hicks to once again consider trading for Manny Ramírez. ... This time, according to multiple sources, the Sox would like to pry All-Star shortstop Michael Young away, but there has been little evidence that the Rangers would part with Young.

The NY Daily News has learned that in the wake of the $136 million, eight-year contract the Cubs gave Alfonso Soriano, a bidding war has ensued between the Astros and the Orioles for outfielder Carlos Lee, the preeminent slugger left on the free-agent market.

The free-agent market is nearly devoid of legitimate power hitters. Carlos Lee has told the Dodgers that he doesn't want to play on the West Coast, and GM Ned Colletti reiterated that he has no interest in signing Barry Bonds.

If the Phillies do sign a small-step player - Preston Wilson? Bernie Williams? Gary Matthews Jr.? - they still are expected to try to deal leftfielder Pat Burrell. An obvious solution would be trading with Toronto for Vernon Wells but the Phillies' trade cupboard is pretty bare, unless Toronto would be interested in Burrell. Gillick has called a trade for Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez unlikely due to Ramirez' "headache" of a personality.

One industry executive insisted the Red Sox were dangling outfielder Wily Mo Peña to the Nationals for closer Chad Cordero, though Nationals GM Jim Bowden, through a club spokesman, denied any such discussions.

The Red Sox catch a break, for a change. They get lucky with Manny Ramirez. He wants to play somewhere else next season, and apparently he’s not all that picky about where. He has given the Red Sox a list of teams to which he would accept a trade, and according to TV analyst Jerry Remy that list is at least 10 teams long. So it is time to end this annual charade, and let the bidding begin.

The Cubs are also in heated talks with New York Mets free agent Cliff Floyd, a longtime Hendry favorite who could platoon with Matt Murton in left. Right fielder Jacque Jones could move to center or left, or be traded.

Shea Hillenbrand has received interest but no contract offer from the Yankees, who are seeking a right-handed hitting first baseman. And Hillenbrand is open to playing for his third different AL East team. In a phone interview from his home in Arizona, Hillenbrand said he has not spoken directly with the Yankees but that general manager Brian Cashman has contacted agent Dan Lozano. "He (Lozano) made it sound like the ball's in their court," Hillenbrand said. "We haven't talked any years, no (salary) numbers.

The Angels, who showed considerable interest in Manny Ramírez last winter, would appear to have positioned themselves for a possible trade by signing free agent setup man Justin Speier, freeing setup man Scot Shields in a possible package deal that also could include a starting pitcher, Ervin Santana, or a top prospect such as Brandon Wood. But one National League executive said that when his club asked about Shields, the response was that the Angels were keeping Shields and signing him to a long-term deal. Still another executive said the Angels are more focused on signing a center fielder, Gary Mathews, for a reported $55 million over five years. The Angels, who have a greater need for a center fielder than a corner outfielder, also have coveted Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells, who is eligible for free agency after the 2007 season.

The Yankees don't know if Andy Pettitte wants to pitch again. If he does, they will certainly talk to the classy lefty. However, the Yankees are making sure they have options if Pettitte retires. One of those options is Ted Lilly, who, like Pettitte, is a former Yankee lefty on the free-agent market. "We will be receiving multiple offers for Ted's services this week from clubs that we feel are going to be very competitive in their respective divisions," Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, said yesterday. Cashman refused to say how interested the Yankees are in the 30-year-old lefty and if the Yankees would make an offer. "I don't comment on who in the market we are talking to," Cashman said.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry still hopes to sign or trade for three veteran players—two starting pitchers and a left-handed or switch-hitting outfielder. If he signs three of the top guys on his radar (center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. and starters Ted Lilly and Gil Meche), he could wind up with a payroll of about $125 million.

Boston remains the likely destination of outfielder J.D. Drew, though his agent, Scott Boras, said there are a half-dozen teams interested. Julio Lugo appears their prime shortstop target, although the Sox aren't wild about laying out $32 million over four years for Lugo.

Are there considerable obstacles to a deal? Yes, the primary one being a difference of opinion in how Scott Boras believes his client should be paid and how the Red Sox calculate his value. Boras is expected to seek a contract similar to that given the elite pitchers in the majors today, which means at least eight figures a year, and he probably will want a clause making Daisuke Matsuzaka a free agent after just three years, perhaps four at the most. The Sox, meanwhile, are expected to argue that just as the Yankees didn't pay Hideki Matsui like a Barry Bonds or Alex Rodriguez, neither should the Sox be expected to pay top dollar to a pitcher who has yet to prove himself against major league competition. Who has the leverage? If Matsuzaka doesn't sign, he must return to Seibu, although it's conceivable Boras might be willing to challenge the posting system itself, or find a way to negotiate with Seibu to grant Matsuzaka complete free agency -- for a price. The Sox, meanwhile, would be missing out on a chance to upgrade their staff with a young top-of-the-rotation ace whose talents can't be matched by other available options on the market.

The Braves would love to acquire a leadoff man of some sort, or relief help, in exchange for Marcus Giles. The two teams have dealt before, and Walt Jocketty and John Schuerholz hold each other in high regard. So Atlanta is certainly a potential trading partner for the Cards, if Jocketty decides to go that route.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti confirmed that former Giants starter Jason Schmidt is among his targets, but said former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds is not, even though Colletti is still looking for a power hitter.

The Cubs still may be interested in signing free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who played with the Cubs in 2000 and 2001.

Speculation abounds that Lastings Milledge would be moved for a pitcher this winter, although Mets GM Omar Minaya indicated that he could be part of a platoon in right with left-handed hitting Shawn Green.

John Schuerholz did indicate the Braves would not be involved in the posting process for Japanese left-hander Kei Igewa, whose Hanshin Tigers team will review blind bids posted by major league teams this week. Schuerholz also wouldn't address any of the rumors circulating about several Braves including Marcus Giles, Tim Hudson and Andruw Jones.

GM Wayne Krivsky said the Reds talked to Rich Aurilia's agent as recently as this weekend, but it's doubtful that Aurilia, a free agent, will sign given the limited prospects for playing time. Krivsky said the club remains in the market for a right-handed bat to platoon with Scott Hatteberg at first base. Aurilia started at first nearly every time the Reds faced a lefty last year.

As they try to fill their open spot at first base, the Yankees have reached out to the agent for Eduardo Pérez, who split last season between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners. Pérez, 37, has never had 300 at-bats in a season, but he had 20 home runs in 347 at-bats over the past two years.

I would be absolutely shocked if Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen were traded, for a few reasons. One, it would be very tough to get value back for such a high-quality player. Two, on the flipside, he has a pretty hefty contract for the next four years, so there's a very limited number of teams that could or would pick it up. Third, and most important, he has a no-trade clause, and he has no desire to leave.

Gregg Zaun, on the verge of the biggest pay day of his career, has been having some "pretty encouraging conversations lately" about his catching prospects for the coming season and beyond. Unfortunately, none of these has been with the Blue Jays, his employers the past three seasons and Zaun's oft-stated team of choice before setting up his stall in the free-agent marketplace. "He's made another offer but it's not close," Zaun said yesterday, referring to Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "We're too far apart and it's way too early in the process for me to accept slightly better than back-up money for playing every day."

While free-agent pitcher Gil Meche has more than 15 suitors, the Yankees may have been able to make a recruiting pitch last week when Meche played in pitching coach Ron Guidry's charity golf tournament in Louisiana. Meche and Guidry are from the same area in southeast Louisiana.

According to the MLB constitution, the commissioner must be informed if a team is being placed on the market. A highly placed source indicated that Selig's office has not received such notification from Tribune Chairman Dennis FitzSimons. Reports that the Tribune Co. might sell its assets in a piecemeal basis have stirred interest from several groups in possibly purchasing the Cubs. However, Tribune Co. spokesmen have consistently said that the company does not plan to sell them. At least one potential purchaser has gone strangely silent. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, a dot-com billionaire, acknowledged interest in purchasing the team last summer but said he had been told it was not for sale. Asked what he thought about its attractiveness, he declined to answer, saying he would not "want to drive up the value." Cuban has declined to return recent e-mails about the Cubs.

Throughout baseball yesterday an unsubstantiated rumor buzzed the landscape that Derek Jeter and Twins first baseman Justin Morneau had tied for the AL MVP award. However, nobody from MLB or the Baseball Writers Association of America confirmed the rumor. "I am not allowed to say anything," said BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O'Connell, the man who counts the votes and will inform the winner this morning. The rumor gained steam when the Phillies' Ryan Howard won the NL MVP yesterday, because before the various awards were announced last week, somebody in MLB was shown a list of BBWAA award winners. After Howard won, that list was 7-for-7 and had Jeter and Morneau sharing today's award.

Phillies 1B Ryan Howard earned $355,000 this year coming off his Rookie of the Year award. He got $230,000 as a signing bonus as a fifth-round pick in 2001. He isn't even eligible for arbitration until after next season, so, technically, the Phillies can avoid a long-term commitment. It's the way baseball works; Pujols got only $900,000 after his sophomore season, in which he finished second in the MVP voting. What is Howard's worth in 2007? A million? More, for more years? "It's come up. We might address it. We might not," Gillick said. If not? "I'm not going to be incredibly [ticked] off," Howard said. "I'll just say, 'It's not my time.' "

Veteran catcher Jason LaRue wants to put last season behind him and figures Kansas City is as good of a place as any to do it. “I’m thoroughly excited about this,” LaRue declared Monday after joining the Royals from Cincinnati in exchange for a minor-league player to be determined. “If you look at the record, Kansas City was one of the best teams in baseball in the second half. There are a lot of good core guys, a lot of young guys, and they’re moving in the right direction.” LaRue, 32, will battle incumbent John Buck for the starting job. “It’s all about competition,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “Both guys are very talented. And because of the competition, I think both guys will have very good years.” ... Monday’s trade came just hours before the deadline for teams to set their 40-man rosters before the winter meetings. It also means the Royals are no longer pursuing free agent Gregg Zaun.

Estimates have the Cubs' salaries reaching as high as $125 million next season, which would have been second last year to the Yankees' $195 million and surpassing the Mets' NL-high $101 million and even the White Sox's $102 million. But, though admitting a "sense of urgency that hasn't been there before" prevails, team interim President John McDonough claims there really is a salary ceiling set by Tribune Co. bosses, although he would not say what that is. "The number is fair and realistic," McDonough said. "[General manager Jim Hendry] does have some room to acquire some pitching. He knows what our budget is, and he's going do everything he can to make it work."

The Red Sox rolled out all the top brass for their first face-to-face with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, who lives in Malibu, Calif., played host to the Japanese pitcher and his agent, Scott Boras, Saturday night at a dinner attended by principal owner John W. Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein, and manager Terry Francona, all of whom traveled across the country for the occasion. No details on the menu, but Boras called the occasion "purely social, almost quaint, and well done." There are 23 days left in the 30-day window the Sox have to negotiate with Matsuzaka after their $51.1 million bid to talk with him was accepted last Tuesday night by his Japanese team, the Seibu Lions.

The Yankees are deciding whether to "post" a blind bid by Monday's deadline for the right to negotiate with 27-year-old Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, who last season was 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA for the Hanshin Tigers.

Infielder Andy Green is still on the roster but may not be for long. He is in discussions with the Japan Series champion Nippon Ham Fighters, and is expected to reach an agreement to play for them next season, at which point the Diamondbacks would receive financial compensation.

Did You Know? Trading Jason LaRue means that Ken Griffey Jr. is the longest-tenured Red.

The Nationals thus must determine who will play left and center field and who will lead off. Asked if the club could fill the spots from within or look to acquire players through a trade or free agency, Jim Bowden declined comment. Manny Acta said there appear to be four candidates for the two outfield spots -- Ryan Church, Nook Logan, Alex Escobar and Kory Casto, the organization's minor league player of the year the past two seasons.

Moises Alou probably would not have signed with the Mets if he did not expect to return to the postseason. “I love to play, and I love to win,” Alou said. “That’s why I’m here.”

As for Trot Nixon, the free agent right fielder? Multiple team executives and scouts said his name was barely discussed at last week's GM meetings in Naples, Fla.

Who Knew? Yanks captain Derek Jeter never has won a batting title or led the league in homers and RBIs but has led the league in runs once (1998)

The Pirates could make roster room for him by releasing catcher Humberto Cota, who is eligible for salary arbitration. That makes it unlikely Cota will be retained.

The Mets acquired the left-handed pitchers Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick, both 23, from the Marlins yesterday for the right-handed pitchers Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom. After beginning the season in the Marlins’ rotation, Vargas had two stints in the minor leagues and did not pitch in the majors after July 29. He was 1-2 with a 7.33 earned run average, and Omar Minaya said that Vargas would contend for a spot in the rotation. Bostick has not pitched above Class AAA. Owens, a converted catcher, went 0-0 with a 9.00 E.R.A. in four appearances last season.

Former first round draft choice Michael Garciaparra and three other minor league players were added to Seattle's 40-man roster Monday. Garciaparra, who was the club's top pick in the 2001 draft, had a slow start to his career, prompting speculation the Mariners had overestimated him. But the younger brother of Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Nomar Garciaparra went from suspect to prospect this year. The infielder hit .311 overall in a season split between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma.

The Devil Rays added minor leaguers Elijah Dukes, Mitch Talbot and Elliot Johnson to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft in December. To make room, pitcher Doug Waechter, who underwent shoulder surgery after the season, was removed from the roster. If he clears release waivers on Wednesday, he’ll likely sign a minor league contract with the Rays, although his rehabilitation is expected to last until August.

Outfielder Larry Bigbie's injury-riddled, frustrated and brief time with the Cardinals likely ended Monday as the team requested release waivers on him as part of a handful of moves. Bigbie missed all but 25 at-bats of the season because of various injuries, including an abdominal hernia that required surgery. Bigbie, 29, had 63 at-bats in the minors while on a series of abortive rehabilitation assignments.

Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, who lives in St. Louis, noted that he has been hitting with some Cardinals players, including Albert Pujols, the past two offseasons. He has asked Pujols for pointers, and Pujols has obliged. "It was really just watching him, taking BP in the cage, watching to see what he does, his technique, trying to learn - any questions that I had, he'd answer for me," Howard said.

Though his 46 home runs in 2006 ranked third in the NL, Alfonso Soriano will continue batting leadoff, his preferred spot in the lineup. He figures to be the best power-hitting leadoff man the Cubs have had since Rick Monday cranked 31 home runs in the top spot in 1976.

The Rangers formally announced their coaching staff for the 2007 season Monday, and Gary Pettis is returning to Texas as a first base coach and base running instructor. Pettis, 48, was a five-time Gold Glove winner in his 11-year major league career. He played for the Rangers in 1990 and 1991 and was only the second outfielder in Rangers history to win a Gold Glove (1990). Juan Beniquez was the other. Pettis has worked with the Brewers, Mets, White Sox and Angels organizations. Pettis was one of two hires for new Rangers manager Ron Washington. The other was bench coach Art Howe, who also worked in Texas in 1985-88, when Bobby Valentine was manager. Howe has managed three teams, including Oakland (1996-2002), where Washington was on his coaching staff. Four coaches will be returning -- hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, pitching coach Mark Connor, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and Don Wakamatsu, who moves from bench coach to third base coach.

Jose Valentin, who re-signed with the team last week, was excited enough about Moises Alou's arrival that he quickly gave up his No. 18 so the Mets new left fielder could wear it. "I called Valentin and I said, 'We need your help here," Minaya said. "We've got a player who's going to help us get to the World Series. But he needs your number.' (Valentin asked) what player that was. ... (When he was told) he said, 'You tell him he's got the number.'"

Protecting two minor leaguers from the upcoming Rule V draft, the Padres yesterday added second baseman Luis Cruz and reliever Leo Rosales to their 40-man roster.

It appears the Pirates aren't vulnerable to a Rule 5 raid this winter as happened after the 2003 season. That year at the winter meetings, the Pirates had five minor-leaguers drafted by other organizations in the first six picks. One player who could be lost in the Rule 5 draft in Orlando in two weeks is right-hander Wardell Starling, who isn't on the 40-man roster. Starling, 23, was the team's fourth-round pick out of Odessa Community College in Texas in 2002 but didn't sign in time to pitch professionally that year.

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NFL Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Another quarterback that could draw Philadelphia's interest: Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. With first-round pick Jay Cutler waiting in the wings and expected to take over as Denver's starter in 2007, Plummer is not expected to return to Denver. The Broncos will wind up trading or releasing him, and Philadelphia could be an ideal landing spot. Plummer is familiar with the West-Coast-type offense, as well as the NFC East division, having played in it during his time in Arizona. The market for Plummer is not expected to be active. But the Eagles could be a potential suitor.

Receiver Randy Moss keeps saying it might be time for him to get out of Oakland. For the first time, his coach sounded open to discussing the idea. But first, Raiders coach Art Shell wants his leading receiver to stay focused on this season. "The concern is he needs to worry about right now," Shell said Monday. "Let's go ahead and take care of this year and then, if he feels that way, then we'll address that at the end of the year. But right now, we're trying to win football games. ... I expect him to try to help us win." Shell responded to Moss' comments on Fox Sports Radio Friday, when he said nothing has worked out since coming to Oakland. "It's done set in, man, and I'm tired of it and might want to look forward to moving somewhere else next year to have another start," Moss said, marking the third time this season he's broached an exit strategy. Moss has two years left on his contract. The Raiders have the option of trading or releasing him after this season.

With former Vikings coach Denny Green expected to be dismissed by Arizona after the season, one rumor is the Cardinals might try to get Dick Vermeil, 70, to return to coaching and reunite him with current Chiefs vice president of player personnel Bill Kuharich, who worked with Vermeil in Kansas City.

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells isn’t ready to dump kicker Mike Vanderjagt. But if the high-priced investment continues to be inconsistent, Parcells did say he will start to look for a replacement. "I’m not saying I’m losing my patience, but it’s what it is,” Parcells said. `"Right now it needs to get better.”

This is tough to write, tough to say and there is likely to be a lot of dissenters to the opinion, but the Donovan McNabb Era is over. So, too, is the Andy Reid Era. McNabb and Reid will forever be joined in Eagles lore. As the years pass their time will be remembered as successful, very successful, but just not successful enough. It is time to start over before the 6-10 seasons keep repeating like the answers in Reid's press conferences. ... There are rumblings and reports out of Tampa that Jon Gruden is testing the waters for another job. Bring him back. In a hurry. Gruden and Reid come from the same school, except that while Reid majored in even keel, Gruden took up emotion.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank is a staunch Michael Vick backer (as in a $140 million investment in the guy). Not only that, he suggested Monday that, despite the Falcons’ ugliest of three-game slides (did they really lose back-to-back to Detroit and Cleveland?) to 5-5, the younger Jim Mora isn’t going anywhere soon. Remember, too, that the Falcons are threatening to become turkeys before Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year after another flying start under the younger Mora. “But the coaches are still coaching hard, and the players are still playing hard,” Blank said.

One possibility for the Eagles: Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, whose contract expires after this season. Eagles general manager Tom Heckert once brought Huard to Miami, where he backed up Dan Marino and Jay Fiedler. Once Marino retired, the Dolphins opted to go with Fiedler over Huard. But Huard now would be open to reuniting with Heckert in Philadelphia, especially considering that he could wind up as the Eagles opening day starter in 2007.

Fox insider Jay Glazer said on the network's pregame show on Sunday that coach Jack Del Rio said at the start of the season that if Byron Leftwich didn't have a breakout year, the Jaguars would consider searching for another option at quarterback. "Before the year even began, Del Rio said to me this is pretty much [Leftwich's] make-or-break [year]. If not, obviously, we will have to see if there's somebody out there. We'll have to go in another direction," Glazer quoted Del Rio as saying. Glazer then said, "That's what it is looking like right now [the Jaguars going in another direction]." Leftwich injured his ankle against Arizona last season and hurt it again before the first Houston game this season. Leftwich's contract expires after the 2007 season.

The Packers contacted quarterbacks J.T. O'Sullivan, Todd Bouman and Bradlee Van Pelt Sunday night, according to an NFL source, and arranged to have them perform in front of coaches and scouts. O'Sullivan, 27, and Bouman, 34, both played for McCarthy in New Orleans - O'Sullivan was also on the Packers roster in 2004 - and Van Pelt, 26, has been in Denver's West Coast offense since being drafted in '04. ... The Packers are expected to make a decision today which quarterback to go with and will begin getting him up to speed on the offense immediately.

Much to the chagrin of some Jets fans, coach Eric Mangini said emphatically yesterday that Chad Pennington is his quarterback despite the recent slump in which he finds himself. Pennington, who threw two interceptions that killed drives -- one in the end zone -- in Sunday's 10-0 loss to the Bears at Giants Stadium, has thrown five interceptions and just one touchdown in the past three games. In the Jets' five wins, Pennington has thrown seven touchdowns and two interceptions. In their five losses, he has thrown three touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 11 interceptions this season are one shy of his career high in a season. Pennington opened the season with back-to-back 300-yard passing games but he has failed to crack the 200-yard mark in his past six starts. "Chad is the quarterback right now," Mangini said emphatically. "I thought there were a lot of decisions (Pennington made at the line of scrimmage -- run vs. pass play) I really liked in the game. ... The other reason Mangini is sticking with Pennington is because backup Patrick Ramsey may not be the answer and rookie Kellen Clemens isn't ready. The bottom would really have to fall out for Mangini to turn to Ramsey, who has disappointed many in the organization.

Why did the Patriots sign Vinny Testaverde instead of perhaps Doug Flutie? Flutie noted that he had no interest in returning to the NFL. "Bill [Belichick] and I talked about it during the offseason and I told him that I was done," Flutie said. "He could stick a fork in me. I'm staying with it. I've got a three-year deal with ESPN. But I'm excited for Vinny. I hope he gets a ring." Flutie said he thinks the 43-year-old Testaverde can help the Patriots, even if he doesn't take the field. "I think it helps to have a sounding board for Tom," he said. "Tom's amazing and nobody works harder than Tom Brady, but sometimes it helps just to have another person there to bounce things off of, and I think that's one of the reasons they brought Vinny in."

Saints rookie wide receiver Marques Colston has a sprained left ankle, Coach Sean Payton said Monday, and his status for Sunday's game at Atlanta will be better determined Wednesday after two days of rest and treatment. "I don't know yet; it's too early," Colston said Monday when asked if he could play. "It's a little stiff. I've been getting treatment all day. I'm going to get more right now. I've had this before (as a college junior). I was out about a week. I'm not sure about this yet."

Next week, the Texans have to decide whether to activate receiver Jerome Mathis or place him on injured reserve. He's recovering from offseason foot surgery. He returned to practice last week but did little. "If I had to make a decision on what I saw last week, I would say no, I don't think he's ready to go," coach Gary Kubiak said. "But if he makes that same amount of progress this week, I think that decision will be harder. But he still has another step to take."

Buffalo GM Marv Levy continues to scoff at critics who say the Bills should've drafted Matt Leinart No. 8 overall instead of safety Donte Whitner and insists that he was more tempted to use the pick on Jay Cutler (selected No. 11 by Denver) than Leinart.

Jay Cutler is coming. The only question is: When? It is unlikely a change will be made prior to the Kansas City game on Thanksgiving because of a short week. But if Denver were to lose in K.C., who Knows?

Dolphins FB Kyle Eckel, who reportedly was kicked out the Navy for an undisclosed reason, said he actually submitted his resignation for reasons he did not want to discuss. The Navy Times reported Friday that Eckel owes $96,229.56 to the Navy for failing to fulfill his service commitment. The Navy would not give a reason, the newspaper said. ''It was a good experience for me, a positive experience for me,'' Eckel said. ``I would say one thing the article failed to mention was that I was given the opportunity to submit a letter of resignation, which was accepted.''

All indications are Andy Reid is going to start Jeff Garcia at quarterback against Indianapolis on Sunday, although, for whatever reason, Reid wasn't ready to announce it yesterday. Regardless, A.J. Feeley should be the starter. While it is mystifying why Reid wouldn't just come out and say so yesterday, the Eagles will go with Garcia because he, in all likelihood, is the one offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg wants. Mornhinweg was the offensive coordinator at San Francisco from 1997 to 2000, when Garcia emerged as the 49ers' starter.

Orlando Pace had surgery Friday to repair the torn triceps he suffered Oct. 15 at Seattle. The seven-time Pro Bowler probably won't be fully healed until near the start of Rams training camp next summer. The operation "was relatively routine, as far as going in there and reattaching the tendon," Linehan said. "But it's going to be six months, at best, before he's active and playing again."