Rumor Time: Baseball And Basketball

We're now at the part of the summer when baseball roster moves become incredibly complicated and NBA personnel moves are incredibly underwhelming. We're past the non-waiver deadline in America's pastime and now all the big names in hoops have already signed. So why are we doing a rumors post? Hey, it's a slow morning and there's some interesting stuff going on alright. Sheesh. Pena done in Boston? After signing Bobby Kielty, the Red Sox might finally be done with the Wily Mo Pena experiment. The Providence Journal reports that the Sox may be ready to move on from the 25-year-old with tantalizing tools but no consistency. Pena is currently hitting .219 with five HR and 16 RBI in 70 games played. He's also struck out 56 times while only walking 14. The Padres and Pirates showed interest in Pena before the non-waiver trading deadline and now the outfielder has passed through waivers, making him available. But the Padres are in the thick of a pennant race and have already picked up Rob Mackowiak and Scott Hairston, so their outfield is crowded. The Pirates have the ability to give Pena an extended audition for next season, so they could make the move, provided they don't have to give up too much. Contreras not happy, Dye looking at extension Two of the bigger names bandied about at the deadline were both White Sox: Jose Contreras and Jermaine Dye. After not moving, Contreras has been demoted to the bullpen because of recent struggles. He has taken the move reasonably well, but he'd rather not be in Chicago if he's not back in the starting rotation next season. He told the Chicago Tribune, "If they don't want me as a starter next year, I want to be out of here." It will be exceedingly difficult for the White Sox to move him because he's owed a combined $20 million for 2008 and 2009, and since the 2006 All-Star break he's 9-23 and 1-10 over his last 12 starts. To move him, Chicago would likely have to take on a significant portion of his salary. Jermaine Dye wasn't moved at the deadline despite being in the final year of his contract. His agent, Bob Bry is currently discussing an extension with the White Sox. Dye was miffed when the Sox extended Mark Buehrle without talking to him, since he's made it known he wants to stay in Chicago. He has made it clear that he would accept less money to stay in Chicago than he would get on the open market. The Red Sox were the most likely destination for Dye before the deadline but the two teams couldn't agree on an exchange. Wilson to the Tigers? Jack Wilson has told the Pirates he would waive his no-trade clause to move in a proposed deal to the Detroit Tigers, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. First he has to pass through waivers, which is a likelihood, since he's owed $14.25 million over the next two years. The only sticking point in the deal to the Tigers would be how much of that salary each team would pay. Jermaine O'Neal backpedals rapidly Let's face it, Jermaine O'Neal has wanted out of Indiana since before last season and he desperately wants to go to the Lakers. He trains in Los Angeles, his wife loves it there and one of his best friends, Kobe Bryant, is toiling there in need of a running partner. But currently he's playing the good soldier and bowing to Larry Bird, claiming he wants to remain a Pacer. In an interview with Pacers.com he talks about how he doesn't think the team is "rebuilding" and that they can win now. Yeah, right. Personally I think Bird read O'Neal the riot act after this weekend's comments about wanting a move to LA. Bird probably told him that if he doesn't shut his mouth, he'd be content to let him rot on the Pacers' bench for a year before the star has the right to opt-out of his contract. Obviously that would severely diminish his value. I still think O'Neal will move before the season and that it will be to Los Angeles for some combination of Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, but not all three. I think the Lakers would love the Pacers to take Brown's expiring contract and Bynum, but the Pacers will hold out for something better. Eventually the pressure on both Bird and especially Mitch Kupchak, will force a deal to get done, no matter what the price. The Nets have also inquired about O'Neal and according to the Bergen Record Bird responded by asking for Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic and Marcus Williams. No word on whether Nets GM Ed Sefanski laughed himself silly or not. Nice one Larry. Why don't you should try shooting a little higher? Just a suggestion. Putz. Miller to the Celtics? The big rumor around these here internets today involves the possibility of a 42-year-old Reggie Miller making a comeback to play with the Boston Celtics. Now look, Reggie Miller is the kind of guy who you hated when your team faced him. He trash-talked, seemed like a prick and always seemed to hit a huge shot in the clutch that put a dagger in your team's collective heart. Then when he retired you could finally stop hating him. He turned into a guy you couldn't help but respect. A guy who played his whole career for one team and stayed loyal no matter what If he comes back to a different franchise it just won't be the same. I always thought of him as a little different and I understand the need of an aging player to get one last shot at a ring, but it will tarnish his legacy just a little for me. Plus, the Celtics will not, repeat will NOT, win a championship. They have three aging stars, two of whom have had recent injury problems, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. I'm sorry, you can't win a title with that starting five. Miller would give you 15 minutes a night and some three-point shooting, that's not going to put you over the top. A team like that can compete for an Eastern Conference title, but there is no way they could contend with the Spurs, Suns or Mavericks. I really hope Miller doesn't come back.