Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for February 22, 2007

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Jason Kidd has been linked with the Lakers all along. But the Phoenix Suns, perhaps to block Los Angeles from getting Kidd, offered a package that included Kurt Thomas, Raja Bell and the Hawks' first-round pick that came in the Joe Johnson trade, the sources said.

Cavs GM Danny Ferry has eyed Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby for weeks, and the team stepped up its efforts to put together a deal for him during the past 48 hours. League sources said Ferry is willing to do something risky to land a player of Bibby's stature, despite the Cavs winning five of their past six games and reaching a high-water mark of 10 games better than .500. The Kings' main target on the Cavs' roster is Drew Gooden. But more pieces are needed, including a point guard to replace Bibby and expiring contracts that the Cavs don't have. The Cavs have been scrambling to find the right pieces. Sources have said that they've spoken to the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors, among others, about putting a package together. Neither Ferry nor Kings GM Geoff Petrie were optimistic about a deal late Wednesday, but the sides were still working.

League sources said the Knicks and Nets discussed a Vince Carter deal that would bring Channing Frye, Jamal Crawford and Malik Rose to this side of the Hudson River.

The NBA's deadline, which arrives at 2 p.m. Thursday in Chicago, will force Bulls general manager John Paxson to increase his offer for Pau Gasol, which is unlikely, or try to engineer any number of deals that might slightly upgrade talent—as well as payroll. Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim is the most prominently mentioned possibility in the latter scenario, though a late rumor Wednesday had the Bulls trying to pry Bonzi Wells from the Rockets. A Bulls team source said Paxson wasn't optimistic but had to wait until Thursday to see if Grizzlies general manager Jerry West would lower his asking price for Gasol. That chance has been rejected categorically in public comments from West and Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley.

The Maloofs have been talking about making a move for Jason Kidd by today's 3 p.m. trading deadline. It's regarded as a longshot, but if it comes to pass, Kidd would be taking on the Nets as a King tomorrow night at the Meadowlands. "The Maloofs are extremely frustrated by their team's lack of competitiveness," said an Eastern Conference executive who talked to the Maloofs in Vegas. "They're not happy with their record. They've got a lot of selfish guys and they would love to get Jason. He'd be only an hour or so from the Bay Area, where he grew up." Although he is more open to trading Kidd than ever before, Nets president Rod Thorn is not going to send him off to Sacramento, or anywhere else, for a package of expiring contracts belonging to a bunch of nobodies. As for the Kings, their package for Kidd would have to start with Mike Bibby to get Thorn's interest. Bibby isn't Kidd, but he comes more cheaply and he's five years Kidd's junior.

The Jazz's chips in a play for Corey Maggette may include shooting guard Gordan Giricek, ex-BYU center Rafael Araujo and his expiring contract and any of their own future first-round draft picks (they still have them all). If the Clippers would want more than that for Maggette, though, Utah apparently has little else of note it would be willing to offer in a two-club swap.

Hawks captain Joe Johnson felt compelled to offer his thoughts to Hawks general manager Billy Knight. "We had a brief conversation about it," the All-Star guard said before the Hawks hosted the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night at Philips Arena. "Everybody knows the deadline is coming. And we've got to do something. The rumors are out there about guys like [Memphis Grizzlies center] Pau Gasol and I think that's a guy that could really help us, a guy that could put us over the top. "But you definitely have to do something now, if you're going to do it. Because at least if we do it now, we can see if we make the playoff push with the new guys. And if not, we go into the summer with a little momentum and a chance to tweak things a little more and set ourselves up perfectly for the start of next season." Johnson is likely out of luck on the Gasol front, as Grizzlies general manager Jerry West has made it clear that despite rumors, Gasol is going nowhere.

As for Andrei Kirilenko, who insists he has no desire to leave Utah, O'Connor ruled out nothing. NBA greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain, the Jazz's basketball boss reminded, were all traded at one point or another in their careers. But, O'Connor was quick to add, the Jazz went into deadline week with no intention of dealing the 2004 All-Star."Look, I would trade me if I got the right offer," O'Connor said. "But are we looking to trade Andrei? No ... It's not fair to say he's 'on the trade block,' because he's not."

Barring a significant, last-minute development, the Grizzlies won't consummate any major deals at the deadline. At least that premise appears true with regard to Pau Gasol. Team president Jerry West insisted that 7-footer wouldn't be dealt because the Grizzlies had received only lowball offers. So Gasol will finish the season in a Grizzly uniform unless suitors such as Dallas, Golden State, Boston and Chicago dramatically increase its bids.

At least two general managers revealed that the Nets discussed a deal for Vince Carter that would have included Jamal Crawford and Channing Frye. Another player, believed to be Malik Rose, would have to be included for salary-cap purposes. A league source said that the Knicks are refusing to part with David Lee, and that could potentially kill the deal.

The Lakers even engaged in discussions with one of their main rivals, the Sacramento Kings, for point guard Mike Bibby. The talks were stopped upon being discovered by the Kings' owners, the Maloof brothers, one of whom had a particularly hard time envisioning Bibby in a Lakers uniform, a source said.

Golden State is said to be taking feelers on Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus is having his best year as a Warrior, but his tenure could be coming to a close regardless of whether he is dealt before the deadline. Pietrus is making $2.5 million this season and figures to command part of a team's mid-level exception (worth about $5 million) in free agency. Portland is believed to have offered Juan Dixon to no avail, according to a source. For his part, Pietrus says he isn't bothered by the possibility of getting traded from the only NBA team he's played for.

The Cleveland Cavaliers covet Mike Bibby, and almost had a trade worked out for him two weeks ago, according to a league source. But that deal fell through, leaving Cleveland to come up with another way. Late Tuesday, there was talk of a potential three-way deal with Minnesota and Sacramento, which would end with Bibby in Cleveland and James in Sacramento.

Nets president Rod Thorn essentially told the Lakers to stop calling him. Or, more specifically, he has told Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak not to call unless he is prepared to include New Jersey native Andrew Bynum in any deal; or to go out and involve a third team that could deliver a package of players that would make the Nets take his next call. "That's probably the truth," Thorn confirmed, matter-of-factly.

The struggling Los Angeles Clippers have been weighing whether to make a deal to shake up their team. Forward Corey Maggette has feuded with coach Mike Dunleavy all season. Dunleavy, according to a source, was making a last assessment of his team yesterday and deciding whether to take a shot at either Jason Kidd or Vince Carter, using Maggette and young guard Shaun Livingston as his primary chips.

The Rockets have had talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a long-shot deal in which they would acquire former Rockets Mike James and Eddie Griffin before today's trade deadline, two Western Conference officials said. ... Griffin and James earn almost $8 million, making it difficult if not impossible for the Rockets to make such a deal without including either Rafer Alston or Juwan Howard, options that could make a deal with the Rockets unlikely.

The issue of signing Scottie Pippen, 41, is something the Lakers expect to address after the trading deadline at noon Thursday.

The Lakers weren't the only teams making a pitch for Jason Kidd. The Nets had talks with, at least, the Cavs and the Knicks. Yes, the Knicks. But all indications were Kidd goes nowhere, unless a stunning offer materializes by the deadline or L.A. yields on its "No Andrew Bynum" stance.

From the Suns’ side, there are indications the club has expressed interest in defensive-minded forwards such as P.J. Brown of Chicago and James Posey of Miami.

Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld has taken calls inquiring about the availability of several players, including centers Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas. The two players have traded punches on at least three occasions the last two seasons, but neither Grunfeld nor Coach Eddie Jordan believes that one of them has to go for the team to succeed.

The Lakers were "not necessarily" the team that was "most eager" for Jason Kidd, Thorn said. Although virtually every team in the league has called -- mostly on the hope they could make a killing the way the Nets stole Vince Carter in 2004 -- only one is actually willing to put together a deal that includes a frontline player. That team is believed to be Golden State, which has been offering Jason Richardson to virtually everybody, but the Nets are unwilling to take on his contract (which runs through 2011) or that of Adonal Foyle (which runs through 2010), who has to be added to make the salaries match Kidd's $18 million.

The Kings have been actively trying to exchange point guard Mike Bibby for the right building pieces, and Cleveland continues to appear the most likely option. The Cavaliers have been aggressively trying to acquire Bibby in what they see as a vital piece toward a title run. Trades have been discussed involving three or more teams, though a Kings official said none of the talks had reached the point where deals were being turned down.

Is it worth one last effort for the Bulls to land Pau Gasol before Thursday's NBA trading deadline? Is it worth a final offer of, say, Luol Deng, Thabo Sefolosha, the expiring contracts of P.J. Brown and Michael Sweetney and a top-three protected first-round draft pick? The belief in Memphis is the Grizzlies would take that despite talk they want Deng and another of the Bulls' top three players. Money always has been an issue for both teams. Even to think about taking on Gasol and his huge salary, the Bulls would have to include Deng, Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon in the trade. Such a deal probably would have to be the Bulls' final big move because Gasol makes $12.3 million this season and goes up to about $17.8 million by 2010-11. Deng is terrific and should be an All-Star for many years. But 7-foot post players don't come along often, and when they do it's rare that teams give them up. Moreover, it seems less and less likely that the Timberwolves would consider trading Kevin Garnett, even this summer, because they are looking for deals to provide support for him. They could get the Pistons' Nazr Mohammed. The Bulls reportedly were close to a deal for Mohammed this week before talks broke off.

Heading toward the deadline, the Wolves player most often mentioned in speculation nationally had been Mike James, a valuable role player for most of his career but a disappointment as Minnesota's starting point guard after signing a free-agent contract last offseason. James was mentioned in connection with Sacramento, Detroit and Portland, among several teams.

With several teams looking for help at point guard, one Western Conference official said Beno Udrih's name was in heavy circulation Wednesday night. While the Spurs aren't looking to dump Udrih — coach Gregg Popovich called him a "great insurance policy" — they would trade him in the right deal. The team has looked at contingency plans to obtain another point guard should Udrih be moved. Atlanta, which is trying to obtain a veteran point guard in a separate deal, spoke to the Spurs about swapping Royal Ivey for a second-round pick. The Spurs also continue to explore trade opportunities for Jackie Butler.

Although Vince Carter has expressed an interest in returning to Central Florida, where he recently built a home, the Magic have not expressed the same interest. Carter must opt out of a contract paying him $16 million next season, and he is expected to ask for a multiyear deal this summer starting close to where his previous one is ending.

There were reports that the Lakers were trying to get another team in the mix. Portland was mentioned with Jamaal Magloire coming to the Nets with some of the above Lakers. But the Nets, who tried to get Magloire earlier this season, have no interest in him now.

With general manager Billy King on record as saying he will not entertain offers for either Andre Miller or Kyle Korver, Philadelphia's trade prospects are reduced to teams seeking a backup big man like Joe Smith - or teams that would want to get Smith's expiring contract ($6.8 million) and the salary-cap savings that would result from letting him go after the season.

In the real world, however, New Jersey Nets All-Star forward Vince Carter probably won't be sent to the Clippers for Shaun Livingston and an expiring contract. And it's doubtful the Clippers could acquire a star-caliber player for a package that included James Singleton and Yaroslav Korolev.

The Pistons don’t want to give up what could be a long-term solution for a short-term one like former Piston Chucky Atkins or Brevin Knight. They’d have to really love a deal to give that pick up, because they're not feeling desperate at all.

The odds are the Mavericks remain idle when today's 2 p.m. trade deadline hits, but not all is quiet. "We're not looking to change anything, but we've got a couple lines out there," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Wednesday night. "We're just not going to mess with the top 10 guys." Adding another frontcourt veteran does have value, though the chances of adding someone such as Eduardo Najera or P.J. Brown are slim. There is interest around the league at the bottom end of the Mavs' roster. Austin Croshere, in the last year of his contract at $7.3 million, is attractive for salary-cap purposes. Anthony Johnson is sought after by teams in need of point guard help. A number of GMs have inquired into rookies Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Jose Barea.

Two Indiana Pacers made the short trip from Conseco Fieldhouse to jail early today after the they were indicted Wednesday in connection with a bar fight earlier this month. Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels surrendered at the Arrestee Processing Center shortly after midnight. Earlier, Tinsley's attorney, James Voyles, had said the players would be in Marion Superior Court this morning. Tinsley and Daniels surrendered to police about 12:15 a.m. today, said Capt. Dave Wilkes.

Remarkably, even the Phoenix Suns called Rod Thorn yesterday, according to a Western Conference official who did not want to be identified because GMs don't comment publicly on other teams' operations. Ostensibly, the Suns are worried about Steve Nash's chronic back problem, and even though they don't have the kind of salaries it would take to land Jason Kidd, they wanted to get involved -- even if it was only to keep him away from the Lakers.

The Suns continue to have trade conversations about Marcus Banks, the reserve point guard who signed a $21 million, five-year contract with the Suns last year. Cleveland is among a number of teams talking about Banks, said David Griffin, the Suns’ director of basketball operations. “There’s interest there,” Griffin said. “People need point guards, and it’s not a deep point-guard draft (coming up in June),” Griffin said.

Sure, there are rumors about players being available; Salim Stoudamire's name has remained in the air since the June draft, and the Hawks have been linked to a slew of point guards with Seattle's Luke Ridnour, Portland's Juan Dixon and Dallas Mavericks veteran Anthony Johnson being the most prominent and persistent.

Will the Blazers be more likely to make a move -- perhaps involving center Jamaal Magloire or guard Juan Dixon -- now that they are theoretically involved in a playoff race? Or does it reinforce the status-quo, don't-fix-it-if-it-ain't-broken mindset? Allen, who will be in Los Angeles today for a board meeting, said he expects to be on call in case anything surfaces, but he said, "I don't think we will make anything of a block-buster move, but you never know. Most big deals would have been queued up by now. . . . But anything is possible." The chances of Magloire being dealt could be affected by a left knee injury to starting center Joel Przybilla.

One possible scenario would send Bulls forward P.J. Brown and a first-round draft pick to the Sacramento Kings in return for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and either guard Jason Hart or center Vitaly Potapenko. Like Brown, Hart and Potapenko each is in the final year of his contract.

Cavs veteran forward Scot Pollard has a $2.2 million deal that expires after the season, making him attractive to a team looking for help at the center position. He is taking the deadline rumors in stride.

A source said Monday that Chicago was interested in Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but Petrie said, "We have nothing going with Chicago."

Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray, the two Pistons players who seemed most likely to be dealt, apparently will remain with the team.

Pat Riley continues to insist that he doesn't anticipate his team making a move by today's 3 p.m. trade deadline. ''I don't really, no,'' Riley said. ``Unless it's something that really, really helps, sort of knocks your socks off a little bit. I'm fine with it. I'm going to go with it.'' Riley said the team likely would be willing to go over the luxury-tax threshold if it meant picking up a player that would clearly help the team's cause of repeating as champions. But the players Riley said are being made available would cause the Heat financial problems far past this season.

Hornets owner George Shinn said Wednesday night at the Headliner awards banquet that the team is discussing potential trades as the NBA's deadline for deals approaches, but he offered no specifics. Shinn said he had spoken earlier in the day with team officials, including GM Jeff Bower, about trade possibilities. "There's a lot of talk going on,” Shinn said. "Sometimes you hear stuff and you get excited and it never happens.”

Vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman said the Nuggets talked to New Jersey about point guard Jason Kidd, but the call was simply due diligence. "Chances are, we'll have no changes," Chapman said. "Unless something off the wall were to happen, we're pretty set where we are."

After former Suns star and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley criticized Mike D'Antoni's short rotation and challenged him to use his reserves more, D'Antoni said he wasn't sure he should take basketball advice from someone who "choked" away championships and had his own playoff conditioning questioned.

All signs continued to point to a quiet NBA trade deadline for the Celtics today. The club has made a number of calls and has investigated several scenarios, but nothing has struck its fancy. “It’s pretty quiet overall,” Danny Ainge said yesterday. “This is probably the quietest I can remember it in my four years here and three as a coach.” Doc Rivers seconded the sentiment before the C’s lost to the Suns, 118-108. “I would be very surprised (if the C’s made a deal),” he said. “Things happen quickly, but usually we’ve had some discussion. And we’ve had zero, besides just talking about our team. I don’t see us doing anything.”

Rockets center Yao Ming moved a step closer to his return, though team physician Tom Clanton said that after an MRI on Wednesday it was still too early to agree with Yao's prediction last week that he would play in "about two weeks."

Darko Milicic made his first return to The Palace on Wednesday since being traded to the Magic. He made no secret of his frustration and misery during his two and a half years in Detroit. Yet, somewhere in a drawer or maybe in a safety deposit box, is his championship ring from the 2003-04 season. For Milicic, that ring is a bittersweet piece of jewelry. "That ring means a lot for me," he said. "Those guys worked really hard all season for that. They gave 150 percent every game. But it's tough sometimes for me because I didn't do nothing to get that ring. I just sat on the bench It's just a different feeling for me."

State Treasurer Mike Murphy is blasting proposals to build a new Sonics arena in Renton and a NASCAR speedway near Bremerton, calling the plans bad deals for taxpayers. Murphy says state lawmakers need only look at the financial bottom line from Qwest Field to see how the state's last "public-private partnership" with a professional sports team turned out. The state will pay about $600 million over 25 years to pay off $300 million it borrowed to build the stadium, Murphy said. The debt is being repaid with a mix of King County taxes and state lottery money approved by a public vote in 1997 — sources that brought in more than $16 million last year.

So, Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks was asked before the game: Has the return of Larry Brown to the team as executive vice president helped him? "I talk to him all the time," Cheeks said. "I ask him about little things that can help us out. I talk to him quite a bit, just getting helpful hints and taking them in. Any time you have a guy like him around, with the knowledge that he has, it can never hurt us."

John Amaechi, appearing as a guest on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," on not wanting to come out while playing: “I felt there was a need to stay in the league…I played on a team in Utah, where the owner (Larry Miller) of the team wouldn’t let Brokeback Mountain play in his cinemas. This is not the kind of team where he’d be throwing a bear hug around me and saying, ‘That’s OK.’”

Who Knew? 15 — Rockets' wins in 17 games against Eastern Conference teams this season, including an 8-0 home record.

John Amaechi, appearing as a guest on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," on reaction around the NBA: “Doc Rivers has reached out and said some really good things. Apart from that, the silence has been deafening.”

The three-point shooting touch that led to several huge scoring games and made "hibachi" part of the NBA vocabulary has at least temporarily abandoned Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas. The three-time all-star has made 10 of his past 57 three-point attempts

Fox News Channel's Bill O’Reilly, appearing as a guest on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," on having an active athlete come out as gay: “Why do you have to have an openly gay basketball player? What does that have to do with basketball? What does being gay have to do with football? I’m for the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy. Do I need to know if the guy in the foxhole is gay? Has a girlfriend? Has three girlfriends? All I need to know is – is he going to shoot straight and help me? That’s all I want to know. If you’re going to go out there and flaunt your personal behavior in a public arena, no good is going to come of it.”

Afterward, Knicks Coach Isiah Thomas was frustrated and disappointed. His voice was soft. But his words were harsh. “Our desire and intensity just faded and went out the window,” Thomas said. “Right now, we have to make a decision of how bad do we really want it. Our fans want it probably more than our players want it right now. “There’s no explanation for what happened here tonight, other than it’s just a matter of desire. Tonight we didn’t want it bad enough. That’s what’s missing from our team right now. It’s a barrier we’re hesitant to cross. It’s almost like we’re afraid to succeed, afraid to push through. It’s very disappointing.”

Wolves guard Ricky Davis went with his Afro look, combing out his braids for a bushier, Ben Wallace look. "I just took it out on the plane after the [Washington] game," Davis said before Wednesday's game. "I'm gonna give people a little laugh. See if they like it." Davis said there was no special meaning to his full-blown look. "I usually only do it once a year. I think I've played pretty good [on those nights]," he said.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Jermaine Dye vowed Wednesday he won't break the White Sox's bank in a bid to stay in Chicago past 2007. "I just want to be fair, whatever market value is," Dye said, adding he accepts general manager Ken Williams' decision to refrain from contract talks until after the season. "Of course, to be here I probably have to take less money. I've done it before. For me, it's not about the money. It's about winning and having fun and, hopefully, finishing my career here." ... Two possible destinations for Dye if he doesn't stay with the Sox are the Rangers (he's friendly with new manager Ron Washington) and the Angels, who have struck out in bids to land right-handed power hitters Paul Konerko, Aramis Ramirez and Manny Ramirez over the last two winters. The Angels' spring training facility in Tempe is a 15-minute drive from Dye's Scottsdale home.

It's likely Nats closer Chad Cordero will continue to be targeted by clubs who enter spring training without a closer, namely Boston. But one Nationals official said Wednesday he didn't expect Cordero to be traded, adding that the club hasn't wavered on its asking price -- young, high-end starting pitching.

The Rangers have made more progress on a potential long-term deal with Michael Young and agent Dan Lozano than they have with Mark Teixeira and agent Scott Boras, but Young said Wednesday that there was "really nothing to report" on the situation and that he's not focusing his attention on contract talks. "My optimism is geared toward getting ready for the season," Young said. "Everything that I have, I'm pouring into this season. That's what I owe to the guys on the team. They don't want to hear about my contract situation or what my status is for '08 or '09 or past that." Teixeira, too, is worried only about 2007 for the time being. "This game's way too hard to play if you're thinking about the future," Teixeira said. "Who knows what's going to happen next month?"

Manny Ramirez has cited his mother’s medical condition as the reason why he can’t report to spring training until March 1, but it appears the Red Sox slugger never had any intention of being with the team for today’s first full-squad workout. Ramirez, a collector of classic cars, was scheduled to attend an auto auction in Atlantic City on Saturday, according to organizers. The Web site for the Atlantic City Classic Cars Auction lists one of Ramirez’ cars, a 1967 four-door Lincoln Continental Sedan convertible, in Saturday’s auction. A Sox executive said last night that Ramirez’ agent, Greg Genske, vowed to the team that his client would not be appearing at the event due to his mother’s condition.

Padres GM Kevin Towers said if Todd Walker is among the team's best 25 players he will open the season on the active roster. Towers also has shown a talent for dealing bloated contracts and has signed two other utility candidates in Geoff Blum, who is guaranteed $900,000, and Oscar Robles, who reported yesterday after getting a minor league contract. A third option, which Towers has downplayed, would be to release Walker by March 15, when he would be owed about $658,000. Walker said he wants to stay with the Padres, citing their World Series potential. He also reiterated that he sought a higher salary largely because it would make it harder for the Padres to trade him.

Dodgers 2B Kent signed an extension a year ago that included a $2-million signing bonus and a $9-million salary for 2007. He can earn another $1 million or so in performance bonuses. And if he reaches 550 plate appearances, the contract vests in 2008 for $9 million. Which would give him additional motivation to continue playing.

So there was Scott Linebrink yesterday morning, still wearing the blue-and-sand colors of the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. He went through his drills with the rest of the San Diego pitchers, but he did it knowing in the back of his mind that there was at least a chance that at some point he could be told to pack his bags and catch a flight to join the Phillies. "I don't think about it," he said, sitting in front of his locker before the workout. "I don't let it bother me. I've heard my name mentioned in trade rumors before. There's nothing I can do about that. I still have to go out, get my work in and prepare myself for the season." He wasn't exactly doing cartwheels over the idea of a trade, though, which is understandable.

Ichiro likely will be less of a distraction if the Mariners are competitive in the American League West. If that's not the case, speculation on Ichiro's departure and/or a trade will be a story all season, or at least until the July 31 trading deadline.

Twins CF Torii Hunter is so close to free agency, he can taste it. After another offseason salary explosion, he'd be hard-pressed not to test the market. He's about eight healthy months from getting offers in the $90 million range. Hunter, 31, said the team hasn't approached him about a long-term deal. He said any talks would have to come during spring training. "Once the season starts it's over," he said. "I'm 100 percent focused. I won't be a distraction. That's why I really don't want to talk contract [publicly]. It sounds selfish when you're trying to win a division or things like that." Hunter always has said he wants to stay with the Twins.

Lou Piniella blasted an erroneous Daily News report from last October that he was going to replace Joe Torre as manager of the Yankees. "I was embarrassed," said Piniella, now manager of the Cubs. "I've got too much respect for that situation and for Joe to have my name tossed around." Piniella was broadcasting the playoffs at the time of the speculation, and said he already was fairly certain he would be joining the Cubs. After the report, he had to assure Cubs general manager Jim Hendry that there was no truth to it and he wanted to manage in Chicago. Piniella, asked if there was any scenario that would have ended with him as the manager of the Yankees, flatly said, "No."

Sammy Sosa will arrive in Surprise today but will not meet with the media until Friday. The Rangers are expecting up to 80 members of the media to attend Sosa's first news conference. That will include reporters from several national publications and Web sites and newspapers in New York, Washington, Chicago and Arizona. Reporters from Sosa's native Dominican Republic also will be at the news conference.

Joe Torre and Brian Cashman can't get Bernie Williams on the phone, but Derek Jeter can. "I have talked to him, he called me back," Jeter said. "I don't want to talk about what we talked about. It appears he is not coming [to camp]."

Even though the Twins signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract, they expect him to win a job in the starting rotation, manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday. "I view [Ponson] being one of our starters," Gardenhire said. "I expect him to step up and take one of those jobs. Whether it happens or not is totally up to him." Spring training will create a wide-open competition behind ace Johan Santana, of course. But in a perfect world, the Twins would like to break camp with veterans Carlos Silva, Ramon Ortiz and Ponson behind Santana. That would leave youngsters Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey to compete for a fifth spot.

Phils OF Karim Garcia, 31, is contending for one of the final two bench jobs. Chris Coste and Greg Dobbs figure to be his top competition. But because Garcia has plenty of big-league experience, hits lefthanded, and can play all three outfield positions, he seems to have a better-than-average chance. Of course, he will need to show he can still play. "It's a good situation," assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We're creating competition, and any time you create competition, we're going to end up with the best players."

Astros catcher Brad Ausmus is nursing a tender right shoulder and won't throw for the next couple of days. Considering Ausmus won't play much early in the spring, manager Phil Garner isn't concerned.

Jimmy Rollins might need John Rocker-type protection when the Phillies visit Shea for the April 9 home opener if he keeps running his mouth like this. The Phillies shortstop continues to boast that his team is the one to beat in the NL East - a pronouncement met yesterday mostly by ho-hums and chuckles from the division's defending champs. "If that does motivate us, well, good. That's just a bonus," ex-Phillie closer Billy Wagner said. "But we're a veteran team that doesn't need that motivation. Our motivation ain't to beat the Phillies. Our motivation is to win the World Series."

Kris Benson will begin his rehabilitation program Thursday. In four weeks, he and team doctors will decide on the next course of action. Benson could continue to feel pain and opt for surgery. Or he could decide he can pitch despite the pain and begin a throwing program. Also at issue is Benson's $7.5 million option for next season, which the Orioles can buy out for $500,000.

Who Knew? Since winning the 2005 Home Run Derby at Comerica Park, Bobby Abreu has hit 21 homers in 813 at-bats (one every 38.7 at-bats) for the Phillies and Yankees. Before the Derby, he averaged one every 24.2 at-bats.

3B Ryan Zimmerman is the only unsigned National, though he is under club control. Both Zimmerman and GM Jim Bowden said there is no concern, and a deal should be forthcoming.

With Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little focusing on matchups as he sets his rotation, it should come as no surprise Brad Penny is penciled in to start against the Rockies on April 9 in Los Angeles' home opener. Penny went 5-0 with 2.67 ERA against Colorado last year and 11-9 against everyone else.

Right-hander Josh Johnson threw Wednesday as he tries to get ready for the season. Johnson (12-7, 3.10 ERA last season) had irritation in his right biceps/triceps area three weeks ago and was shut down. He reported to spring training Saturday, saying his arm felt fine, but the Marlins remain cautious.

The Yankees probably would like to retire Bernie Williams' No. 51 some day, but if he's still bitter enough to duck the ceremony, it might never happen. It would be the highest of 16 uniform numbers retired by the Yankees (honoring 17 players and managers), topping Ron Guidry's No. 49.

A little more than a year after the Red Sox allowed Johnny Damon to bolt Boston for New York for a paltry - by baseball standards, anyway - $12 million, the question remains: Why did Boston allow the heart of its team to leave for its biggest rival? Damon, now in his second spring with the Yankees, believes the Red Sox had the money to sign him, they just decided he wasn't worth it. "I knew they had the money back when they were negotiating with me; they just took their stance," Damon said. "I was probably the only guy who never begged them to sign me."

Pirates OF Jody Gerut, still held out of all drills, said he has no timetable for participation. "One thing I'm not going to do is look at the calendar," he said. Gerut had surgery on his right knee May 31, and he has not been able to run at any point since. Given his current pace, it is highly unlikely he will play games in spring training, though that has not been formally ruled out.

The Dodgers still don't expect Yhency Brazoban to appear in a Spring Training game or to be ready to help them before midseason. They do expect him to lose some weight and he has adjusted his diet. "He feels good right now but he could go too fast and have a setback and that's something we don't want to have," said Little. "It would surprise me to see him in a game this spring."

Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' shortstop, already claimed during the team's winter caravan that it was the Phillies who were the team to beat in the National League East. And Tuesday, he reiterated and accentuated that belief for a group of reporters, claiming, "We're the team to beat. I can't put it any other way. Look at our team and what we're bringing. Look at the improvements we've made. You look at the rest of the division." When the Mets had digested the words -- and their breakfast -- they answered back. "Good for him," Carlos Beltran said of Rollins' boast. "What'd they win? What'd they win last year?"

Although Barry Bonds is likely to occupy his customary fourth spot in the Giants' batting order, manager Bruce Bochy didn't completely rule out moving the slugger to the No. 3 position. Batting Bonds third, which would guarantee him a first-inning plate appearance, was something that perpetually intrigued Felipe Alou, the previous Giants manager. It's a potential issue now because the Giants lack a true No. 3 hitter -- although if Bonds were to vacate the cleanup spot, they'd have to fill a hole there.

Veteran outfielder Reggie Sanders checked into camp Wednesday morning, which made the Royals all present and accounted for in advance of today’s first full-squad workout. Sanders was the last member of the camp’s 59-player roster to arrive.

The Indians are hoping to complete their roster with only one utility infielder rather than two, which would enable Ryan Garko to make the team. Finding a player who is a solid defensive shortstop is the top priority of manager Eric Wedge, but that player also must be a reliable third baseman and second baseman. Then again, maybe not. Andy Marte will open the season as the everyday third baseman, but as an unproven novice, he will not be overworked. There's also the possibility he will stumble and have to be sent back to Triple-A.

What some see as uncertainty does not alter Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt's outlook. "I've felt good about our team since 2000. We've had great chances to win each year. We've been extremely successful — six out of seven playoff appearances. I feel as good about this team as those teams," he said. The Cardinals have won at least 98 games three of the past five years, but DeWitt declined to label the team as potentially dominant. "I don't know if any dominant teams exist right now," he said. "My belief is that you try to give yourself every chance to be competitive. I look at this team as very competitive." DeWitt said he believes this team will more closely resemble the one that stormed through October to win its first World Series since 1982 than one that struggled to 83 wins after last season's 31-16 start.

Scott Podsednik's supporters within the White Sox organization say he can bounce back from an off year. But they would like to see him alter his mental approach. They say he needs to forget unsuccessful at-bats rather than dwell on them and let them affect his fielding. "No question I've learned a lot in my last four big-league seasons," Podsednik said. "There were good times and bad times, ups and downs. I'm going to learn from that and put it all together into a solid year." Much of Podsednik's frustration was displayed out of camera range. "I've had some issues as far as being too critical at times," he acknowledged. "Let's see if I can make some adjustments."

After getting bashed by the Marlins Jon Lieber of the Phils got a phone call. From that point, Lieber looked like a different pitcher. He made 11 more starts before the season ended, going 5-3 with a 3.38. Now it can be told. On the line from the visitor's clubhouse was Marlins manager Joe Girardi, who once upon a time was Lieber's catcher when both played for the Cubs. And he had noticed a couple of things the veteran might want to work on. "He just mentioned that the hitters said everything that was coming in was just very flat," Lieber said recently after completing his workout at the Carpenter Complex. "Basically, I was underneath the ball. I wasn't on top of the ball like I should have been. And that's why the ball doesn't have that crispness when it gets to the strike zone or that sharp break on my breaking ball. It just kind of stays right there for the hitters to lick their lips at."

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove confirmed Wednesday that right fielder Jose Guillen reported to camp heavier than the team expected and is doing extra conditioning work on the side to slim down. "He's a little heavier than he would like and we would like," Hargrove said of Guillen, who is listed at 195 pounds. "We've got plenty of time. We're not worried about it. He's in great baseball shape. We're trying to take a few pounds off."

B.J. Upton will be playing third base, shortstop, second base and center field this spring in the Rays' attempt to create a super utility man, perhaps along the lines of the Angels' Chone Figgins.

The Marlins are paying Boone $925,000 to fill that leadership role, and Aaron Boone wants to make it a perfect fit. ''Anytime you sign with a team, you hope it's your last stop because that means it's going good for you personally and going good for them,'' Boone said. ``I'm not looking past this at all. I'm looking forward to being the best player and person I can be.''

In one season with the Baltimore Orioles, outfielder Corey Patterson reestablished himself as a quality major leaguer. Just how much he will play this season likely will depend on how well he hits left-handed pitching. Patterson, a career .229 hitter against lefties, hit just .207 last season. In case those numbers don't improve, the Orioles have signed Jay Payton, who can play center field and who hit .296 against lefties last season.

Frank Thomas said that the Rogers Centre's growing reputation of being a hitter-friendly stadium played a role in his decision to sign with the Blue Jays. "I've always hit well in the Rogers Centre," Thomas said. "[Toronto] always had such great pitching over the years, but I did find myself getting some hits sometimes that I wouldn't get at other ballparks." In 67 career games in Toronto, Thomas has hit .288 with 12 homers and 67 RBIs. He hit two home runs in six games at the Rogers Centre last season.

Astros 2B Craig Biggio, who begins this season 70 hits shy of becoming the 27th player to reach 3,000 career hits, flew to Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon and arrived at the clubhouse after most of the staff and all of his teammates had gone.

Astros manager Phil Garner revealed Tuesday that Woody Williams will start the team's exhibition opener March 1 against the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven, Fla. Roy Oswalt will make his 2007 Grapefruit League debut March 2 in the opener at Osceola County Stadium against defending American League champion Detroit, and newcomer Jason Jennings will start March 3 against Atlanta at Disney World.

The Astros outfield has been pegged by many observers as one of the worst in baseball, defensively speaking, but Phil Garner disagrees, especially about the criticism surrounding Lee. "A few of the comments I've read about Carlos Lee I think are way overstated," Garner said. "I think he could be a solid left fielder. He played good against us. I did not see any of the things that I read about him show up when he played against us."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland explained his doctrine of free speech in the clubhouse. "I want my players to always speak their minds," he said. "I have absolutely no problem with that. But I think sometimes players say, 'The manager isn't going to say anything back in the newspaper.'