Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for June 20, 2007

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Latest Kevin Garnett trade rumor: The Wolves send the 31-year-old all-star to the Phoenix Suns in a convoluted three-way deal with the Boston Celtics that includes Shawn Marion going to Boston and Minnesota getting the No. 5 pick from the Celtics, plus several young players. The Wolves already have the No. 7 overall pick in the June 28 draft. It's unclear, though, how Garnett's $22 million salary would match up for the deal.

Virtually every day since the conclusion of the season, Vince Carter has been at the Nets' practice facility, conducting himself like an employee who figures to stick around for a very long time. For the first time since he ar rived in New Jersey, he is allowing assistant coach Bob Thate tinker with his jumper in shooting drills. He's watching every college workout the Nets conduct along with the Knicks, until the inevitable mo ment that Isiah Thomas pulls him aside for a private discussion, which amused some Nets officials. He generally looks like a man who is exceedingly content with his environment -- so much that he has yet to return to his Florida off-season home, though he has plans to do so this weekend. ... And even though it is still a bit premature, all signs are that Carter will get everything he wants, give or take a few million. Only 11 days remain before he can opt out of his contract -- one that pays him $16.3 million next season -- and become a free agent, but it appears as though the Nets are getting closer to working out an extension agreement that would keep Carter in New Jersey for the next four seasons.

Privately, Lakers officials are hoping they can ride out Kobe Bryant's storm because the team's top priority is keeping him. There are no signs, even behind the scenes, that the Lakers plan on trading him despite his public demand three weeks ago to be shipped out. The Lakers are hoping that the less that is said about him publicly, the better chance he would return with a calm head for training camp in October.

Seattle’s Rashard Lewis is indeed a free agent and plans to visit New York for a recruiting trip if Isiah Thomas invites him July 1, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Thomas will make the 6-9 Lewis his top free-agent priority and hopes to wine and dine him, perhaps on James Dolan’s yacht, in July.

The Los Angeles Lakers are contemplating a deal involving the Rockets Luther Head in exchange for power forward Brian Cook (6-9, 250 pounds).

Two leagues sources yesterday said there was no truth to a recently reported rumor that the Wizards and Phoenix Suns have discussed a trade that would send forward Antawn Jamison to the Suns for forward Shawn Marion. Jamison, who is entering his fourth season with the Wizards, will earn $16.3 million next season in the final year of his contract and can become a free agent next summer. Marion, whose name has been included in trade rumors involving several teams, is scheduled to earn $16.4 million next season and has a player option worth $17.1 million in 2008-09.

Kevin Garnett's value on the trade market has dropped considerably because he has the right to opt out of his contract after next season and become a free agent. No smart GM is going to pay a premium for a player he may lose for nothing in a year. Of course, the Bulls would've been willing to gamble in February because a deal then would've secured Garnett's services for a minimum of two playoff runs. According to sources, the Bulls still are very interested, but their current offer would be substantially less because they would be assured of having Garnett for only one playoff run. What would the Bulls be willing to offer? That remains to be seen, but it's safe to say Deng is off the table. Although they probably would be willing to give up Ben Gordon or Thomas, including both in a trade is unlikely.

The Knicks are expected to be involved in talks for Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett at some point this summer, if they haven't already been. Celtics president Danny Ainge acknowledged he had spoken to the Timberwolves about Garnett, and if Minnesota is taking calls, Thomas will certainly make his pitch.

Mitch Kupchak was relatively open about one of the Lakers' main needs: a veteran guard, which obviously can't be acquired in the June 28 draft. The Lakers have three picks — 19, 40 and 48 — but probably will not take a guard in the first round. If they don't acquire one via trade, they will try to sign a guard with their mid-level exception of five years and about $30 million. The free-agency period begins July 1. "We like Jordan Farmar," Kupchak said. "We think he has a bright future in this league, but having said that, we probably need another ballhandling guard in addition to Jordan Farmar." Free-agent possibilities include Denver's Steve Blake, Milwaukee's Mo Williams and Earl Boykins, and the Clippers' Jason Hart. Chucky Atkins and Gary Payton are both unrestricted, but a reunion with them will not happen. Detroit's Chauncey Billups and Sacramento's Mike Bibby can opt out of their contracts but will ask for more money than the cap-strapped Lakers can afford.

What began as three-man derby in the Sonics' coaching search appears to be narrowing to a two-man race as one-time front-runner Rick Carlisle continues to deny interest in the position while San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey are privately staking claims for the job. Casey and Carlesimo were finalists in Minnesota two years ago when the Timberwolves gave Casey his first head-coaching job. This time, however, Carlesimo appears to have the advantage because of his ties to San Antonio, where new Sonics general manager Sam Presti had been an assistant GM.

All sorts of theories were swirling after the 76ers attended a private workout of 6-foot-11 Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian yesterday in Southern California. The rumblings suggested that Yi may be fading in the June 28 draft and that the Sixers, who pick 12th, 21st and 30th in the first round, could have a legitimate shot at him. On the Internet, the speculation was that Yi's agent, Dan Fegan, is inviting teams lower than the top 10 to see his client. Billy King, the 76ers president and general manager, tried to quash that theory. "They didn't ask us to come; we asked to come out to see him," King said yesterday in a conference call with reporters after the workout. "Dan Fegan said he didn't think he'd be there [at No. 12], but if you want to come out, take a look." That differed from King's comments Monday, when he said, "We were invited and we made the decision to go out." No matter who did the asking, the Sixers are impressed by Yi, who, at 238 pounds, isn't built like a typical power forward and doesn't shoot like one either.

The Los Angeles Clippers appear to be discussing trading forward James Singleton (6-8, 215 pounds) to the Rockets in a deal that would involve John Lucas.

Seattle is not a suitor for Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who reportedly met owner Jerry Buss in Spain days ago and reiterated trade demands. A Sonics official said this week that Seattle won't shop its No. 2 pick for Bryant.

Mitch Kupchak has continued to work the phones even though the Lakers and Indiana Pacers have broken off trade talks for six-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal. During his 45-minute meeting with reporters, his office phone and cellphone rang numerous times.

Reached at a Home Depot in Las Cruces, N.M., the man known not only for his 13-year playing career and three All-Star appearances but also for his flamboyant persona praised Kings basketball President Geoff Petrie for showing faith in him. Reggie Theus -- who came West with the Kansas City Kings to play in Sacramento from 1985 to 1988 -- confirmed that his contract is for three years and about $6 million. "We had a conversation (Monday) on the phone," Theus said. "As time went on, I think he became more comfortable with me and understanding what I do bring to the table and who I am as a person. "I've seen my name under the lights of being high-profile and all that, but I'm a nuts-and-bolts guy when you get to know me," Theus said. "I'm just happy that he made the decision." The "nuts-and-bolts guy" was, fittingly, buying lights for his new home in New Mexico when reached.

Former Magic coach Brian Hill, who was fired last month with another year and $3 million left on his contract, is leaning toward a quick return to the NBA this season as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets. Hill, 59, would be rejoining the team and the coach that he left in 2005 when he returned to become the Magic head coach for the second time. After two seasons, Hill was replaced this month by Stan Van Gundy, former head coach of the Miami Heat.

David Lee, Andrew Bynum's New York-based agent, said yesterday his client won't comment on the video until after it is released. "When the video comes out, he will make a statement, if it is warranted," Lee said. "But at this point, it's all conjecture." In the meantime, the Lakers definitely don't want to trade the popular Kobe Bryant, which leaves open the possibility of fulfilling Bryant's other request of trading Bynum. As to whether Bynum, rather than Bryant, would be traded, Lee said, "That's (the Lakers') decision. There's nothing we can do about that." But Lee also said his client, one of the more coveted big men in the NBA, has no problem playing with Bryant. "They have a solid working relationship," Lee said.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith was in Denver on Tuesday and met with team doctors to determine the course of treatment needed to help heal an injured shoulder. It is the first time Smith has been in Denver since his June 9 car accident that took the life of his friend Andre Bell. It is expected to be a short stay, because Smith is scheduled to be out of town again this weekend.

Tony Parker, appearing as a guest on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," on talk of the Spurs being a dynasty: "Personally, I think we need to win back-to-back before we can talk about dynasty. For me, dynasty is Michael Jordan and the Bulls, Bill Russell in Boston, Magic and the Lakers, Larry Bird in Boston. I think we need to win two in a row before we can talk about dynasty, but you can put us right behind them."

The Sonics refuted those reports and reiterated that Rashard Lewis is eligible to negotiate a contract with any club on July 1. "It is clear with the Sonics and with Rashard Lewis that he is a free agent," team spokesman Tom Savage said. "Things are the same as they were 24 hours ago. Rashard is a free agent." Presti and Dutt could not be reached for comment, but the Post report said Lewis had until either before the Sonics' season finale (April 18) or the five-day window of June 1-5 to opt out of his contract. Dutt announced May 26 that Lewis had opted for free agency. Savage would not confirm or deny whether the report was correct but the Sonics allowed Lewis to remain a free agent. The NBA directed all inquires to the team.

The Sonics are closing in on their coaching search and the three candidates -- San Antonio Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, former Sonics assistant Dwane Casey, and ex-Indiana coach Rick Carlisle -- will begin a series of interviews this week. Carlesimo was believed to be the first on the interview list on Tuesday in Seattle, but the Sonics appear to be in no hurry to make a decision, according to sources.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith said Tuesday that he never was contacted by the agent for disgruntled Lakers star Kobe Bryant, despite a newspaper report to the contrary. Smith said he has had no discussions with the Lakers involving Bryant.

Celtics great Bill Russell, 11 championships in 13 seasons in Boston, is holding an adult fantasy camp with several other NBA legends this October in Las Vegas. "The Friends of Bill Russell (Adult) Fantasy Basketball Camp" will take place at the Wynn Resort. ... Hall of Famers Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Julius Erving, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Clyde Drexler & Ann Meyers will host the camp.

Ohio State center Greg Oden will meet with the Sonics on Friday and Texas forward Kevin Durant is scheduled to begin interviews Sunday, according to league sources. During the three-day meetings, the players who likely will be chosen first and second, respectively, in the June 28 draft, are expected to perform drills in a light workout and interview with team officials. It's possible the Sonics will have them undergo medical tests, but the team's trainers and physicians were in Orlando two weeks ago and conducted tests that were made available to every team at the league's predraft camp. The Seattle visit completes a Northwest tour for Oden, who flew to Portland on Tuesday to meet with the Trail Blazers, owners of the No. 1 pick. Durant, who has spent the past week in Seattle working out, will travel to Portland on Thursday.

Marc Jackson is not sure if the Hornets will make a push to re-sign him next month. Jackson is one of six Hornets set to become free agents July 1. In April, Coach Byron Scott mentioned starting forward Desmond Mason and shooting guard Devin Brown as the top free agents he wanted to see return. Backup point guard Jannero Pargo, who will opt out of his contract to become a free agent, also was in Scott's plans for next season. "We certainly haven't closed the door on any of our players returning, obviously," Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said Tuesday. "Some of them played significant roles this past season, but we have to let the market kind of determine the levels of interest in everyone."

The Washington Wizards will host former Maryland guard D.J. Strawberry for a workout on Friday at Verizon Center. Strawberry, who averaged 14.9 points and 3.5 assists for the Terrapins as a senior last season, has been projected as a possible late second-round pick in the June 28 draft. The Wizards hold the 16th and 47th picks.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss faces two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence in connection with his arrest last month near Carlsbad. The San Diego County district attorney's office charged Buss with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and one count of driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or greater. The nature of the alleged drug was not specified. Buss, 74, declined to take a chemical test at the time.

The Sixers have scheduled Friday workouts for Oregon's Aaron Brooks, Texas A & M's Acie Law IV, Boise State's Coby Karl and Chinese guard Sun Yue. Florida State's Al Thornton, who canceled Monday's session because of a sprained ankle, will be in Monday, joining Duke's Josh McRoberts. *

Hawks GM Billy Knight said he won't do anything before he and his brain trust analyze all the possibilities, which includes individual player workouts that begin Wednesday with the point-guard group of Acie Law (Texas A&M), Javaris Crittenton (Georgia Tech) and Jamon Gordon (Virginia Tech) in a morning session and forward Brandan Wright (North Carolina) in the afternoon. "What we're doing right now is taking everything down and putting it all out there and evaluating everything we can," Knight said. "From there, we'll make a decision on what's the best thing to do. And it all depends on the situation. If it's a deal that impacts the [salary] cap, maybe another team will find it advantageous to do something before the draft. "Some things could involve us doing something before, during and after the draft. But whatever we do, we have to look at all the possibilities out there and see what's best for us."

On his first official day as a Rockets assistant coach, Jack Sikma did what he likely will do in most of the days to follow. He focused on the talents and potential of All-Star center Yao Ming. Sikma, who along with Elston Turner, T.R. Dunn and R.J. Adelman (Rick's son and a scout for the Sonics last season) signed on as Rick Adelman's assistant coaches, watched Yao's workout with Carroll Dawson, the former Rockets general manager and assistant coach, Tuesday.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Elijah Dukes had apparently heard enough. So at 7 a.m., from 1,800 miles away, the troubled Devil Rays outfielder decided to speak up. And frustrated team officials may be ready to say goodbye. Speaking angrily and loudly, Dukes called Tampa radio station WDAE-AM 620 early Tuesday and spent 13 minutes addressing - for the first time - some of the allegations leveled against him recently. Speaking to hosts Ian Beckles and Ron Diaz, Dukes blasted estranged wife NiShea Gilbert for "stealing" his money and said if he hadn't left her "he'd be in prison because she provoked me." Dukes, who is the father of at least five children by four women, acknowledged sexual relations with a then-17-year-old foster child but denied he is the father of her unborn child. He passionately defended his mother against claims of drug use. And he defiantly said that no matter how many "hyenas" try, "Nobody's going to bring me down with all these accusations they're making about me." Team officials were not pleased that Dukes created another distraction and seem poised to accelerate efforts to trade or release the 22-year-old rookie. ... When Dukes first called, he was loud, angry and cursing. Justin Pawlowski, the show's executive producer, spent four minutes calming him down so they could put him on the air: "He was saying, 'You guys have got it all wrong. You don't know the whole story,'" Pawlowski said. "It took a while to calm him down." Though Dukes made several points, he also raised more concern, and not just from Devil Rays officials.

There is no rush for the Yankees to make a larger move, like trade for the Texas Rangers’ Mark Teixeira. “I don’t think it’s a slam dunk that we have to do it,” Manager Joe Torre said, when asked if the Yankees might trade for an upgrade at first base. “I don’t think I need that thumper type of guy. We have plenty of action in the middle” of the lineup. .... Teixeira can be a free agent after the 2008 season, and the Yankees are wary of the possibility that he may really want to play for his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles. Still, as a year-and-a-half rental, Teixeira has appeal to the Yankees, depending on the Rangers’ price. If the Rangers continue to insist on getting pitcher Phil Hughes in return, the Yankees will not make a deal. But the Yankees have stockpiled young pitching talent, recently promoting two 2006 draft picks, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain, to Class AA Trenton.

Although Dontrelle Willis will attract attention from teams looking to bolster their pitching, the Marlins historically haven't traded away their best young arms. But with Willis making $6.7 million this year and arbitration eligible again next year, the front office could be tempted to make a deal if the team continues to struggle.

The struggling Rangers gave their general manager, Jon Daniels, a contract extension on Tuesday, possibly giving him the freedom to retool the team by making major trades. The Rangers could also deal reliever Eric Gagné, a former Cy Young award winner, and the Yankees reportedly have been scouting Gagné.

The Twins probably could have Marlins third baseman/first baseman Aaron Boone for a minor league pitcher. Boone, 34, who is a decent fielder, is hitting .275 with 26 runs batted in and five home runs in 178 at-bats and has a healthy on-base percentage of .383. He's being paid just $925,000 and will be a free agent at the end of the season. More significantly, he could spell Justin Morneau at first base, allowing Morneau to be the designated hitter. As a DH this season, Morneau is 4 for 9 (.444) with two homers and six RBIs.

Teams are lining up to pounce on Mark Buehrle, and there has been no indication the White Sox are going to come to their senses about letting him explore free agency after the season. On Monday, shortly after Buehrle told reporters that he wants to spend "my whole career here," Sox general manager Ken Williams maintained his hard-line stance on paying market price to keep the World Series hero. "We're not going to go down the road to talk about this because we established early on in the season we were done talking about that," Williams said. "We made our best overtures and right now we'll just have to revisit that at the end of the season."

The Yankees are rumored to be interested in slugging 1B Carlos Pena and could make pitcher Sean Henn available, though not bay area product Tyler Clippard. If the Yankees can't get Pena they could pursue Ty Wigginton.

Agent Scott Boras stopped at Coors Field on his way back to California. No, Rockies fans, it wasn't to finalize a long-term deal for outfielder Matt Holliday. "You know we aren't going to be talking about a contract during the season," Boras said. The Rockies have not approached Holliday, who is in the salary arbitration process, about a multiyear contract since he switched to Boras 18 months ago.

The Reds hold a $13 million option for next season, but that gets voided if Adam Dunn is traded. In other words, the team that trades for him would be getting a player three months from free agency. From what we’re hearing, the contract is the reason the Twins disinterested. Not just Dunn’s salary, but the players the Twins would have to give up for a pending free agent. Good Twin because: With limited defensive skills, he’s probably best suited as a DH. Not many AL teams are as desperate for a DH as the Twins, so their competition to trade for Dunn wouldn’t be too bad. As mentioned yesterday, the trouble with adding a DH for the Twins is they need a place for Joe Mauer to hit on days he doesn’t catch. Still, they could hide Dunn in left field occasionally, and adding another power threat could help unsettle opposing pitchers, who simply get too comfortable against the Twins.

If Jermaine Dye aggravates his leg to the point where he can't play, the White Sox would have one fewer player to put on the market if they decide to rebuild for the future. Scouts from the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Tampa Bay attended Tuesday's game. "I don't want to go on the DL," said Dye, who already has been nagged by a sore right knee.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he would see how his starters fared over the next few weeks before deciding whether to target another pitcher before the trading deadline. Colletti also called his search for a bat that could boost his offense a "precarious endeavor," noting that many of the players available via trade were experiencing slumps mirroring those of the players already on the Dodgers' roster. "What's confounding to me is that I still believe there's more offense inside the club that's here," Colletti said. "The part that gets difficult is, how long do you wait for it to show up? Every day I come to the ballpark hoping that's the day it turns on."

Asked who will start Monday, when the Tigers return home for a series against Texas, Jim Leyland said Chad Durbin or Mike Maroth. How that either/or will be decided triggers another round of speculation because Maroth availability rumors persist.

The Yankees may also seek a starting pitcher before the deadline, and would be interested if the fading Chicago White Sox make the left-hander Mark Buehrle available.

Oliver Perez has risen to that level. At 25 years old, his time has arrived, and the Mets see no reason why the left-hander can't become their Johan Santana. "[Perez] is turning into something special," Paul Lo Duca said yesterday. ... For somebody who entered this season with a 30-43 career record and 4.67 ERA, the fourth starter in this rotation, the jump to de facto ace has been amazing. Of course, Glavine's struggles and Orlando Hernandez's physical problems have had a say in Perez's new status. John Maine has been right there, just a notch below Perez. Lo Duca mentioned the adrenalin rush that Perez gets pitching on this stage, for this team. You don't get that kind of jolt pitching for the Padres or Pirates.

Schilling was sent back to Boston yesterday to undergo tests on his right pitching shoulder, including an MRI. According to a source last night, the MRI showed no structural damage. Schilling had been bothered by discomfort in his shoulder in the days leading up to Monday night’s start, according to a clubhouse source. The feeling evidently continued into the 4 1/3-inning appearance against the Atlanta Braves during a 9-4 loss. “I think we knew going into the start he wasn’t feeling like a spring chicken,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before last night’s game at Turner Field. “I could probably go through 100 starts with him like that. Again, you certainly watch and maybe even sometimes closer. That’s why we wanted to get him checked. He’s pretty good about telling us how he feels. They don’t always have to tell you, but his body language between innings was a little different than normal. He looked like he was thinking about a lot of different things. “You could tell by his demeanor that it was wearing on him last night.”

So with the Yankees having won 11 of 13 after last night's 3-1 loss to the Rockies, George Steinbrenner was provided a chance by The Post to reflect on the turnaround. Asked to comment through public relations guru Howard Rubenstein, The Boss didn't. Interpreting Steinbrenner's silence is always dangerous. He might not think being 35-33 and nine games out is something to feel good about. Or he might not want to address Torre's future.

Roger Clemens has been with the Yankees every day since he joined them on June 9. Asked if he would stay with the team this weekend in San Francisco, where he is not scheduled to pitch, Clemens declined to answer. “That’s nobody’s business but mine,” he said.

Sam Perlozzo said he would like to manage again. And he doesn't believe he'll be out of baseball for long - he might end up in the Orioles organization in another capacity. But, for now, he'll be heading back to his home in Florida, away from baseball for the first time in 38 years.

Derrek Lee officially appealed his five-game suspension Tuesday, but said he doesn't have any regrets over his decision to take a swing at San Diego starter Chris Young. "I don't know how else it could have been handled," he said. "It's a good question. I don't like that it happened, but sometimes things happen. Those are the situations that just happen." Players from both sides say Lee and Young are level-headed individuals. Would Lee like to talk to Young and straighten things out? "If he called me I'd talk to him," he said. "I'm not going to do any reaching out." But in a surprising statement, Lee also said he didn't think Young deserved a five-game suspension for his role in the fight. "To be honest, I think he has a good case to not be suspended," Lee said. "From how I look at it, if he can tell them he didn't throw it at me, and the ball got away, and he has to defend himself if someone throws a punch at him. …"

Joe Girardi, a former Yankees player and coach, sounded enthusiastic yesterday after meeting with the Baltimore Orioles about their vacant managerial position. It would be surprising if he is not offered the opportunity to succeed Sam Perlozzo, who was fired Monday. “I wouldn’t have interviewed for the job if I wasn’t serious about it,” said Girardi, last year’s National League manager of the year with Florida. “I’m interested. Obviously, there’s a process, and they’re going through it right now.”

As for Colorado’s Todd Helton, who makes $16.6 million this season, he is the face of the Rockies’ franchise and the team has not made him available in trades. In any case, Helton’s salary makes him unappealing to the Yankees.

The Devil Rays were hoping to have Rocco Baldelli back in the lineup by the end of this week. Now they might be without him until next month. Or the month after that. Baldelli will be back in St. Petersburg today for further evaluation after his latest frustrating setback on Monday night in Durham, N.C., sustaining what the Rays called "a tweak" in the strained left hamstring that has sidelined him since mid May.

Negotiated between Cardinals assistant general manager John Mozeliak and agent Jim Masteralexis, the deal stipulates Tomo Ohka be promoted within two weeks or be allowed to exercise an out clause. In recent years, the Cardinals have held varying levels of interest in Ohka, who accepted a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Blue Jays on Jan. 25. Part of Ohka's motivation for accepting a one-year structure was a belief that rotator cuff problems last season had depressed his value. "We've had some interest in him before," said Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty. "We told him we'd give him a quick look and a quick evaluation over a couple starts. If we would use him, we'd bring him up. If not, we'd cut him loose. There's not much risk there." Jocketty said it was unlikely the club would base a decision on one start.

San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy got off without a suspension for his role in Saturday's fight at Wrigley Field, while Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry got three games for pulling him off Derrek Lee. The Cubs are wondering why Peavy apparently was held to a different standard than Perry, when both were ejected for their allegedly "aggressive" actions. "The guy who jumped on [Lee's] back was the guy who had done all the talking in the paper the day before," Perry said, referring to Peavy's incendiary comments about Alfonso Soriano. "Then he didn't get anything, and I wind up getting three games. "Maybe I just should've stood there and not feel like I had to protect my players, but I was trying to get the guy off Derrek's back. I didn't want anything to happen to him." Perry called the decision "pretty weak," but because coaches can not appeal disciplinary measures, he began his suspension Monday.

Are the Marlins buyers or sellers? It's too soon to tell, said Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest, who still believes this team has enough talent to get to the playoffs. ''It's a little early,'' Beinfest said. ``Generally, those decisions are made for you. I'm not sure this team has played its best baseball. We will see what happens. ``When you're talking about buyers and sellers, I think you're always a buyer. You're always trading for something and buying something. ``We're trying to win. We're not hoping to get [to a certain] mark. We're hoping to get to October.''

Edgar Renteria was hitting .330 with 10 homers before Tuesday, having an even better season in his second year away from Boston than he had in his first. You should know he's enjoying every minute of it, especially while the Red Sox are in town to see him shine. "It's good to show everybody they were wrong," said Renteria, 31, who was traded by the Red Sox after the 2005 season, just one year into a four-year, $40 million free-agent contract he signed with them. Renteria's three-hit game Monday raised his career average to .348 in 16 games against the Red Sox, including .444 (20-for-45) in his past 11 against them. He won't forget how he was treated in Boston. The Fenway Park fans turned on him after a rough start and booed him all summer — something that never happened in six seasons in St. Louis, where he was a crowd favorite, or three in Florida. "You always do good, and then have one bad year — everybody can have one bad year," said Renteria, who hit a respectable .276 with 70 RBIs for Boston in 2005, but with only eight homers and a career-high 30 errors. "I was so glad they traded me here [to Atlanta]." And glad to be away from Fenway. "There are guys who have a lot of bad years there, and they don't say anything," he said. "If they like you, they like you. If they don't, they don't."

Billy Butler rejoined the Royals — as a first baseman — after a one-month remedial tour at Class AAA Omaha when an ailing right knee forced veteran designated hitter Mike Sweeney to the disabled list. The Royals recalled Butler before Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals. He switched from left field to first base after returning May 16 to Omaha following a 15-day tour in the big leagues. “I’ve already felt 10 times more comfortable over at first than I did in the outfield,” he said. “I felt comfortable in the outfield, but I’m not a natural outfielder. I just feel playing first is more of a natural position.”

Dodgers pitcher Jason Schmidt's shoulder surgery was first reported here on the Fox Sports Rumor page 49 days ago. On May 1, we ran a blurb that the Dodgers were considering shutting Schmidt down to have shoulder surgery. When you want the news first, read this page each day

Don't think Johan Santana's outing Tuesday night against the Mets in New York wasn't a potential free-agent audition. Santana shut out the Mets 9-0 on four hits and 92 pitches.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said Tuesday that first baseman Mark Teixeira will probably not return to the starting lineup until after the All-Star break. Teixeira was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 9 with a strained left quadriceps and is eligible to be activated Sunday. "He's at least two weeks away," Washington said. "He's progressing well." When Teixeira does return from the DL, he will probably go on a rehab assignment before rejoining the Rangers. Teixeira said before Tuesday's game that he doesn't have a timetable for his return.

Red Sox SS Julio Lugo is batting only .125 (14-for-112) in his past 28 games and has seen his average drop from .265 to a season-low .205. His current average is the third-lowest in the American League among qualifying batters.

Carlos Beltrán, a switch-hitter who is 9 for 62 (.145) with one homer in June, said teams had been pitching him away. But instead of smacking those outside pitches to the opposite field, Beltrán has tried to pull them, and that has produced a stream of feeble outs. To combat the urge to pull outside pitches, Beltrán said he was trying to be patient and let the ball travel as deep as possible. The longer he is able to wait, the better chance he has of hitting pitches the opposite way. Manager Willie Randolph said that Beltrán had to be cognizant of not being “too pull happy.” Randolph said slumping hitters try to “get that 0-for-whatever back in one swing,” which he said was natural. Especially for a marquee player like Beltrán, a $119 million center fielder who is expected to produce huge numbers.

How About That? Research by the Elias Sports Bureau discovered that Barry Bonds’ homer off Wakefield on Sunday at Fenway Park marked only the fifth time in the stadium’s history that a batter in his 40s homered off a pitcher in his 40s. The other occasions were Ted Williams off Chicago’s Early Wynn on June 11, 1960; California’s Reggie Jackson off Tom Seaver on July 11, 1986 (twice); and Baltimore’s B.J. Surhoff off David Wells on April 25, 200

Jake Westbrook (strained abdominal) has made his last rehab appearance. He will start for the Indians on Sunday against the Nationals in Washington. ``He was strong and felt good,'' manager Eric Wedge said of Westbrook's 81-pitch outing for Buffalo on Monday night. ``He got his pitch count up like he needed to. I think he might have tried to be too fine (walking four).'' Westbrook will need a roster spot. Jason Stanford would appear to be the most vulnerable, but he is out of options and cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.

Dave Roberts could look wistfully into the opposing dugout with some regret, but he insisted he has not. Last winter, when the Giants negotiated with Roberts and hemmed and hawed before formally offering him a contract, the center fielder had a standing offer to come to Milwaukee for about the same money, three years for $18 million. As Roberts waited for the Giants to decide -- they were weighing other offensive options -- he could have phoned Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin any time and become a Brewer. "Regrets? Absolutely not," Roberts said Tuesday.

Washington Nationals utility man Robert Fick joked with teammates and talked about his recent hot hitting yesterday afternoon before batting practice. He was in a giddy mood, but he knew the news could come at any time. During batting practice, Fick got word that his mother, Gloria, had died after a long battle with lung cancer. He quickly packed and headed to her home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He will be placed on the bereavement list today -- which means he must miss three days, with a maximum of seven days -- and outfielder Brandon Watson will be called up from Class AAA Columbus.

Padres OF Brian Giles was fined $500 because he was on the DL when he went onto the field during Saturday's melee. Giles doesn't mind paying that sum, which benefits retired major leaguers, but said Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood went unpunished for the same violation.

Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said reliever Tom Gordon, who is rehabilitating a strained right rotator cuff, was a bit ahead of Brett Myers, who is rehabbing a strained right shoulder. The Phillies hope both can be back before July 1st.

Did You Know? In his two-plus seasons, Sam Perlozzo's record was 122-164, the fourth-lowest winning percentage (.427) in Orioles history, ahead of Mike Hargrove (.425), Cal Ripken Sr. (.402) and Jimmy Dykes (.351).

Nats right-hander Jason Bergmann, on the disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow, will throw his second rehabilitation start tonight for Columbus, and if there are no complications, he will be activated to pitch next Tuesday in Atlanta. Bergmann was 1-3 with a 2.76 ERA when he went on the disabled list May 18.

When the season began, LHP John Lannan was expected to be one of the mainstays in the rotation at Class A Potomac. But Spin Williams, the Nationals' roving pitching coordinator, and major league pitching coach Randy St. Claire each saw Lannan as a kid with the potential to move through the system swiftly. He went 6-0 with a 2.13 ERA for Potomac and was promoted to AA Harrisburg. He went 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA for the Senators, punctuating his stint with six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, against Binghamton (Mets) on Saturday. Thus, Lannan will be promoted to AAA Columbus, and General Manager Jim Bowden said, "You could see him here any day."

The Pirates statistics are, indeed, stark in their contrast: Pitchers have a 4.00 ERA when Ronny Paulino catches, much lower than Ryan Doumit's 6.63 or Humberto Cota's 5.71. Moreover, the Pirates are 27-22 when Paulino starts behind the plate, 2-13 when it is Doumit, 1-4 when it was Cota. Then again, the difference is just as stark offensively: Doumit is batting .328, while Paulino's average ranks 14th among the National League's 16 starting catchers.

Who Knew? Now that the Pirates finally have played in Seattle, the only current MLB city in which they never have played a regular-season game is Baltimore. History will show, of course, that they did play some fairly meaningful games there in 1971 and 1979.

Brewers manager Ned Yost is all for his players making the all-star team but said reliever Derrick Turnbow wasn't helped by his appearance last year, after which he compiled a 11.29 earned run average and lost the closer's job. "I think Derrick went to the All-Star Game and started talking to all the big-time relievers and somewhere in the process I think he decided in his mind that he should be better than he was," Yost said. "He came back and kind of got out of what he did best, trying to be better, instead of just being what he was that got him there."

Ron Gardenhire wasn't part of the 1987 Twins club that will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its World Series championship in August. The current Twins manager was dispatched to Class AAA Portland, and Al Newman won the club's utility infielder job that season. In 1986, when the Mets won the World Series, Gardenhire was the last player cut in spring training. "If you're a futility player, you're a futility player," Gardenhire said.

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NFL Rumors & Notes

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I spoke with Kansas City GM Carl Peterson last week about the issue of signing ability for running back Larry Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen. Peterson would obviously love to have both under long-term contracts, but I got the impression there will be an order to the contract negotiations. Johnson, the workhorse ball carrier, has been in attendance all spring and it would appear he will be first on the list. Peterson is comfortable that a deal could be worked out. Others with limited knowledge of the situation believe Johnson is only going to settle for a contract that is better than the one signed by LaDainian Tomlinson. No one is suggesting Johnson is a better player, but he's close enough that a deal to make him the highest paid running back is possible. ... As for Allen, the caution flag is up for now. But he should eventually be a Chief for a long time. As Peterson said, Allen is serving a four game suspension and one more issue he could be gone for a long time.

The Carolina Panthers have expressed some interest in signing free agent safety Donovin Darius, who was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to sources. However, it's uncertain if the team has made him a concrete offer at this point or if talks are still in the preliminary stages. Either way, there has been some contact made. Oakland and Buffalo are also interested, but you'd have to think Darius, who is 32, would want to come to a team that gives him a shot to win the Super Bowl -- and certainly Carolina appears much closer than Oakland and Buffalo. The problem with Darius is he's coming off two severe injuries.

Although it was hardly a surprise, one player who did not attend the Bucs mandatory minicamp was Broncos free agent quarterback Jake Plummer, who has announced his retirement. Plummer could be subject to fines, but the team won't comment on whether he would face sanctions. Since trading for Plummer in March, the Bucs have not been able to convince the 32-year-old quarterback to report. "We're talking about Jake Plummer here, " Gruden said. "So we'll reserve a roster spot for the Snake a little while longer. If it were Jake Jones or Jake Johnson or Jake Gruden, we'd probably bypass the holding pattern that we're in right now. ... At this point, he's retired, and hopefully at some point, he changes his mind or reconsiders."

What are the chances the Cowboys go after Carolina nose tackle Kris Jenkins? He's still fairly young, and he would be a big upgrade over what we have. He may be an upgrade over Jay Ratliff, but it won’t matter because he’s always hurt. If he’s not in shape now when he needs a job, there’s no reason to think he’ll get in shape or stay in shape once he has a job. I don’t think he’s a good fit.

It's hard out here for a troubled Adam "Pacman" Jones. The suspended Tennessee Titan sought for questioning in an early morning shooting Monday on Atlanta's southside "just can't catch a break," said his lawyer Manny Arora. "You can't do anything," Arora complained Tuesday. "Anything that comes up within a two-mile perimeter [of Jones and his] name comes up in it." Arora confirmed he has met with DeKalb police and is working out an arrangement for his client to speak to investigators looking into the shooting on Moreland Avenue that left a man with minor injuries. Arora wouldn't say when and where Jones' meeting with police might happen, but insisted that when it does it will be outside the glare of the media to protect his client and the integrity of the police investigation. Jones, a College Park native and Westlake High alum, isn't a suspect, but authorities believe that members of his entourage may have been involved. Charges have yet to be filed in the incident. "We intend to fully cooperate with police," Arora said. "We'll get it all done. I don't want to comment on when. We'll do it privately."

It's not his fitness level the Bucs are worried about, it's that shoulder. For Simeon Rice to be Rice - to be effective and create the sack-fumbles that change games - it has to be right. That's why he spent Tuesday morning working inside while everyone else worked outside, and why he spent the afternoon working outside on his own. It's about getting things right and keeping them that way. "Why put Simeon Rice out here in a minicamp and take a chance on an injury?" Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "Let's just get him to 100 percent and make sure, and then we'll hit Orlando running." That's the goal - Orlando, training camp. That's when the Bucs will find out once and for all whether Rice is capable of regaining his old form. Until then, they wait, seemingly with their fingers crossed.

Until the Patriots resolve the Asante Samuel situation, the team will carry a hole in its loaded-up roster. And a guy who might be able to fill it will be on display today. Cornerback Paul Oliver will work out for NFL scouts, coaches and personnel officials this morning on the Georgia campus he’s called home for the past four years in advance of the July 12 supplemental draft. Oliver was a starter the past two years for the Bulldogs, and planned to return as a fifth-year senior in the fall. He did consider declaring for the draft in January but decided against it, despite being on shaky academic ground. After the spring semester, the university declared Oliver academically ineligible for the fall.

Chris Brown reclaimed a couple of things that had once belonged to him when he re-signed with the Tennessee Titans and made his way back to the practice field Tuesday. Brown’s deal apparently was officially finalized around 11:15 Tuesday morning, as that is when he took the field. He was donning his familiar No. 29, with rookie Chris Henry, who had been wearing it, taking No. 42 instead. Also, Brown’s locker — which had been occupied by undrafted rookie Danny Ware — was back in his possession as well. But the most important possession Brown will try to recover — his starting running back job — will have to wait until training camp. Brown will compete with second-year man LenDale White and Henry for the lion’s share of the carries entering the 2007 season.

In the next five weeks, Brodie Croyle will get married in Mississippi and begin in earnest the process of trying to win the starting quarterback’s job at Chiefs training camp in Wisconsin. Compared to the wedding, he said, “football is a piece of cake.” That’s no reflection on his July 14 nuptials but more on Croyle’s offseason, which has gone about as smoothly as the Chiefs could hope. With only today’s practice remaining among their offseason work, Croyle has shown the Chiefs nothing that would shake their view that he’s the top candidate to replace the departed Trent Green. Croyle may have in fact raised himself in the eyes of the Chiefs and coach Herm Edwards with some sharp throws and intelligent decision-making. If he continues to play well in camp and the preseason, the job is probably his no matter how well the other candidate, veteran Damon Huard, fares.

When it's your time to go, it's your time to go. Yesterday, Eagles long snapper Mike Bartrum acknowledged it was his, retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons. "I can't say enough to show how much I appreciate being able to play in the NFL for so many years," Bartrum said.

Pacman Jones can't seem to stay out of strip clubs or trouble, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says it is too soon to say if the Tennessee Titans cornerback violated the terms of his season-long suspension. DeKalb County police want to question Jones about an incident at an Atlanta-area gentleman's club that ended in gunfire early Monday morning. Investigators do not believe the troubled player was present when shots were fired, but a police report says Jones was involved in a confrontation that may have led to the shooting. At the NFL player health and safety conference on concussions yesterday, Goodell said it was premature for him to comment on the case. "I don't have the facts yet," Goodell said.

Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall has driven rookie cornerback Chris Houston around town and to the team facility a few times. He is sending a subtle message by the gesture: Accept his extension of friendship and the ride will be smooth – but make no mistake who's behind the wheel. Hall wants to be the player young defensive backs aspire to be, especially those who make him and the rest of the defense look good by doing their jobs to standard, if not better. To help Houston reach his potential, Hall isn't stressing the ins and outs of playing cornerback. He has chosen to help the second-round pick from Arkansas maximize his potential by minimizing potential off-field trappings. The rationale: If a player isn't distracted with the abundance of potential pitfalls that accompany an NFL lifestyle, he'll be better at everything he does.

Wide receiver Laurent Robinson, the Falcons' third-round pick, is close to agreeing to terms with the team. He said a deal could be done by the end of the week.

''One thing I've found very interesting is how knowledgeable the people [of London] are about the Miami Dolphins and the NFL,'' Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said by phone from London. ``They know in detail about Trent Green and were interested in David Martin.'' Cameron fielded questions about the free agent tight end Tuesday during the first day of a three-day hopscotch among London's media and NFL fans to promote the Dolphins' Oct. 28 game against the Giants. Doing the tour along with Cameron were defensive end Jason Taylor, owner H. Wayne Huizenga, general manager Randy Mueller, CEO Joe Bailey and chief operating officer Bryan Wiedmeier. The group met with several print media members in the morning, then Taylor and Cameron did a half-hour on a call-in radio show. While Cameron talked on the