Truth & Rumors

MLB

Frank Thomas could become a free agent next season. AP • Pete McEntegart: The 10 Spot -- Fri., Sept. 17 • Truth & Rumors: Phillies may pursue Beltran • Jon Wertheim: Serena controversy won't go away • Richard Deitsch: Don't dismiss poker's hot hand • Stephen Cannella: Vandy football -- hotel style • More Blogs: Elliott | Bechtel | Chen | Ballard Click here for Today's Sign of the Apocalypse, Game to Watch, Leading Off gallery and much more!

The Phillies need a center fielder and the crown jewel of free agency is Carlos Beltran. The Yankees are expected to go after him hard and the ripple effect could be that Kenny Lofton or Bernie Williams become available. Steve Finley and J.D. Drew will be free agents, too, and if the rumors are true, the Braves are going to have to lower their payroll dramatically again this winter and could make Andruw Jones available.
 -- Philadelphia Daily News

If Frank Thomas agrees to return to the White Sox for 2005, his salary gets locked in at $8 million for the season. If he rejects his option, the Sox could use their option to keep Thomas at $11 million. If both sides decline to pick up their options, Thomas would become a free agent.
 -- Chicago Sun-Times

The Cardinals have suspended contract talks with all pending free agents until the completion of the postseason.
 -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Don Baylor does not want to discuss the possibility of becoming Mets manager but if he's looking for support in the clubhouse, he has it in the person of Cliff Floyd.
 -- New York Post

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine didn't dismiss the idea of returning to Shea Stadium.
 -- New York Daily News

The Devil Rays are planning to have Lou Piniella and his entire coaching staff back next season.
 -- St. Petersburg Times

Aramis Ramirez, eligible for salary arbitration, is putting himself in position to get one of the biggest contracts in Cubs history.
 -- Chicago Sun-Times

Jose Mesa is the Pirates only impending free agent and no attempt has been made to re-sign him. With Salomon Torres and Mike Gonzalez showing potential as late-inning relievers, the Pirates could decide to stay in-house and let Mesa go elsewhere.
 -- Pittsburgh Tribune Review

NFL

Receiver Randy Hymes will replace injured Travis Taylor in the Ravens' starting lineup for the next four games. Deion Sanders has not played receiver regularly since 1998.
 -- Baltimore Sun

Steelers backup quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the team's No. 1 draft pick, was injured Wednesday and did not practice yesterday, but said he hopes to work today and be available to play Sunday against the Ravens in Baltimore.
 -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With Rob Konrad out, the Dolphins will turn to rookie free-agent fullback Doug Easlick as the team tries to emphasize the running game.
 -- Palm Beach Post

Center Jeremy Newberry, the unquestioned key to the 49ers' offensive line, will undergo knee surgery Tuesday and will be sidelined indefinitely.
 -- Contra Costa Times

Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans may need season-ending back surgery.
 -- Newark Star-Ledger

Anquan Boldin's agent met with Cardinals officials to negotiate an extension of the second year player's deal, but he characterized negotiations as preliminary.
 -- Arizona Republic

Cutting rookie linebacker Leon Joe meant the Bears now have nothing to show for their 2003 trade of Ted Washington to the Patriots.
 -- Chicago Tribune

NBA

There may very well be a deal out there for the Raptors to trade Vince Carter and improve their team but GM Rob Babcock hasn't found it and doesn't seem inclined to beat the bushes looking for it. "The trouble for Toronto is, no one wants to give up anything for him," said one scout.
 -- Toronto Star

Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, 42, said he might consider returning to the NBA and lists the Nuggets as a possibility.
 -- Denver Post

The Nuggets have not closed the door on re-signing Rodney White and, seeking a third point guard, have invited Keith McLeod to training camp.
 -- Rocky Mountain News

Coach Rick Carlisle sees no reason why Reggie Miller won't be the Pacers' starting shooting guard, as he has for the past 17 seasons.
 -- Indianapolis Star

Pau Gasol eventually may cement a long-term future with the Grizzlies.
 -- Memphis Commercial Appeal

Bobcats coach/GM Bernie Bickerstaff is looking sign Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec to contract extensions, and has already picked up the fourth-season option on Melvin Ely's deal.
 -- Charlotte Observer

NHL

It seems only a war of attrition will lead to a resolution. The owners will have to break the union, the union will have to break the owners. At least the players have taken a step toward the middle. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has held a hard line.
 -- Detroit Free Press

All NHL teams paid $10 million into the league's $300 million lockout fund. How and when the team can dip into that fund "is not really clear," said Wild chief financial officer Pamela Wheelock. "It's supposed to be released during the year to help address the economic stress that could occur this year."
 -- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Quoted yesterday as saying he'd support a hard cap, Devil center John Madden explained, "I was responding to a 'What if?' question. What if my union went for a cap? Whatever they decide, I'm with them 110 percent."
 -- New York Post

Devils Jeff Friesen, Brian Gionta, Colin White, Paul Martin and Corey Schwab are tentatively planning to play in the four-on-four Original Stars Hockey League.
 -- Newark Star Ledger

The Oilers, who needed a $14-million cash call in 2001, will spend $13.5 million on salaries for office staff, management, coaches and scouts, plus other costs and have no revenue because of the lockout. That $27.5 million is the ownership group's ante to stay in the game.
 -- Edmonton Sun

Soccer

UEFA's disciplinary committee will meet to consider expelling Roma from the Champions League. The Italian side's home match with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday was abandoned after the referee, Anders Frisk, suffered a head gash on being struck by a missile apparently thrown from the VIP section.
 -- The Guardian (UK)

Marketing experts have suggested that David Beckham's currency as a role model has been diminished by his alleged affair with personal assistant Rebecca Loos, his waning footballing talents and his decision to have a huge and garish tattoo on the back of his neck. His £2million contract to design clothes for young boys is not being renewed by the British retailer Marks & Spencer.
 -- The Daily Mail (UK)

Struggling Manchester United will get suspended defender Rio Ferdinand back for Monday's match against Liverpool and 18 year old striker Wayne Rooney may be nearer a return than thought possible last week.
 -- Manchester Evening News