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Is Orioles manager Dave Trembley about to be fired?

Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd writes that "the death watch is on" and "there are whispers that Trembley could be fired as early as Monday." The Orioles just lost two out of three to the Nationals and have fallen to 14-31, the worst record in the majors.

But MASNsports.com blogger Roch Kubatko says he is "fairly convinced that Dave Trembley is safe at home, at least right now." ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, meanwhile, tweets, "It appears O’s Manager Dave Trembley is not being fired today."

Trembley has a 186-275 record in his three years as manager of the Birds.

Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa are publicly trying to downplay their heated dugout exchange from Friday night.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Pujols was upset that La Russa ordered a two-out steal attempt by Ryan Ludwick with Pujols batting and St. Louis leading by four runs in the eighth inning. Ludwick was thrown out, denying Pujols an RBI chance.

After the play, Pujols tossed his bat and helmet as he returned to the dugout, then flipped a pair of trays holding gum.

The histrionics angered La Russa, who, according to a witness, told Pujols, "That’s enough." From there the exchange escalated, with La Russa finally telling Pujols, "I (expletive) know how to manage."

On Saturday, La Russa told reporters, "Part of (Pujols’) greatness is that he cares. It’s why he ends up doing well and whatever needs fixing he fixes."

The manager said the incident wasn’t unique, but he added that it was a heat-of-the-moment occurrence.

"I didn’t talk to him afterwards because he doesn’t do it excessively and I know he’s sincere," La Russa said.

Pujols also tried to minimize the situation, saying, "I was hitting and we got thrown out stealing. I wanted to hit. That’s all it was. … It’s over. We said what we said. It’s over."

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the incident a "non-issue."

Seattle shortstop Jack Wilson, on the disabled list with knee and hamstring strains, is beginning to wonder how much longer his career will last.

Wilson, 32, recently suffered a setback when he injured the hamstring while rehabbing the knee injury in a minor league game. There is no timetable for his return to the Mariners.
 
Wilson told MLB.com: "This is when you actually look at your career and if it’s going to last too much longer. In reality, there’s nothing more that I can do. If it ends up pulling, there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re out two weeks every time you do it."

Seattle signed the former Pirates shortstop to a two-year, $10 million contract extension last November.

White Sox closer Bobby Jenks and setup reliever J.J. Putz are being scouted by the Phillies, who are temporarily without their top two relievers, ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine reports.

Levine reports Philadelphia is "among a couple of teams" that are monitoring the White Sox in case Chicago falls out of the AL Central race and decides to shake up the roster. Philadelphia figures to add bullpen depth as closer Brad Lidge (elbow) and top setup man Ryan Madson (toe) recover from injuries. Jose Contreras and J.C. Romero have been closing games of late.

Jenks is 7-for-8 in save opportunities, although his ERA is 5.40. Putz is averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings as he works his way back from elbow problems that cost him most of last season with the Mets.

Last week, White Sox general manager Ken Williams denied reports that he was negotiating deals involving some of his veterans, namely catcher A.J Pierzynski.

The Nationals reportedly are interested in acquiring Roy Oswalt, making them the first team to be linked to the Astros right-hander since his trade request last week.

MLB.com’s William Ladson cited an unnamed baseball source saying the Nats are looking at Oswalt, who told Houston ownership he’d waive his no-trade clause to join a contender. Washington is 23-22 and tied for third place in the NL East.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo would neither confirm or deny having interest in Oswalt, but he was complimentary when asked about the right-hander.

"We have interest in a lot of people," Rizzo told reporters Sunday. "We’re always on the phones, we’re always doing our due diligence on players. Oswalt is a tremendous competitor and a tremendous pitcher."

Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, did not return a phone message.

Washington is seeking rotation help even as it prepares to promote top prospect Stephen Strasburg. Jason Marquis and Scott Olsen are on the disabled list, Chien-Ming Wang is coming off shoulder surgery and Jordan Zimmermann is coming off Tommy John surgery. Livan Hernandez has been the club’s most reliable starter this season.

Oswalt, 32, is 2-6 with a 2.66 ERA in nine starts in 2010. He’s owed about $31 million through the 2011 season.

A poor first quarter will not cost Brewers GM Doug Melvin his job, and manager Ken Macha appears safe for now as well.

Club owner Mark Attanasio told the team’s website before Saturday’s game that Melvin "is very, very secure" despite Milwaukee’s record. "You’re not going to see any GM changes here," Attanasio said. "Absolutely not. Doug Melvin has built up too much credibility."

As for Macha, Attanasio added that it would be Melvin’s call. And Melvin said Thursday that he didn’t "see any reason" to let Macha go. Attanasio amplified that by saying no move would be made Monday, as has been widely speculated.

Attanasio was then asked: What about after Monday?

"Doug needs to make those decisions, and Doug has been pretty firm in his support of Ken so I’m going to fall into line," Attanasio said.

The Brewers are 16-27 and nine games behind first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central.

Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley tells ESPN.com he is receiving counseling and says the stress related to his recent on-field struggles led him to have thoughts of suicide.

"It’s always been like my validation, my worth as a human being is that I’ve been a good baseball player," he tells reporter Elizabeth Merrill. "That’s a bad way to look at it, but that’s just how I’ve looked at it. I just really had this hopeless feeling when I wasn’t playing baseball well. I know when I start thinking about not living anymore based on the fact that I’m not playing baseball well, that’s when I know I need to take a step back."

Merrill, in a telephone interview Saturday with "Baseball Tonight" host Steve Berthiaume, tried to downplay the hint of suicide, saying that Bradley is a "deep thinker" who also told her he would "never do something like that" to his family.

Bradley this week returned to the Mariners after a two-week leave of absence to deal with unspecified personal issues. He says he is seeing a counselor who has an athletic background and "dealt with anger himself."

Bradley adds that he wanted to seek help last season while playing for the Cubs, but "you can’t really do that in Chicago. There’s just too much going on."

The 32-year-old Bradley entered Saturday’s game batting .244/.333/.378 in 93 plate appearances. He is in the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract he signed with the Cubs before the 2009 season. Chicago traded him to Seattle for right-hander Carlos Silva last winter.

Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Chris Bahr discusses the tough tests the Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres will face this week as they try to prove they’re legitimate contenders.

Yankees DH Nick Johnson had successful wrist surgery today, according to The Star Ledger in New Jersey.

Johnson, who is hitting just .167 with two homers and eight RBIs this season, isn’t expected to rejoin the Yankees’ lineup until at least mid-June.

In more encouraging injury news, center fielder Curtis Granderson (groin) shagged fly balls in the outfield without any pain earlier this week, according to the newspaper.

Granderson, who hasn’t played since May 1, is hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs this season. There is no official timetable for his return.

White Sox general manager Ken Williams tried to assure manager Ozzie Guillen that he isn’t about to tear up the team’s roster.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Williams told Guillen in a text message Sunday that it’s too early to trade anyone. Guillen then relayed that message to the players.

The text was in response to reports out of Chicago that Williams was talking with the Texas Rangers about catcher A.J. Pierzynski. With the White Sox starting slowly this season, local and national media have been speculating about who might be made available if Williams decides to make wholesale changes.

The Sun-Times reports any initial moves might involve the coaching staff. Hitting coach Greg Walker is a likely target as the White Sox struggle to score runs.

One player who wouldn’t like to see a fire sale is right-hander Jake Peavy. He waived his no-trade clause last year to join the White Sox in the belief the team could contend for a championship.

"At this point in my career, I certainly don’t want to be a part of any rebuilding process. I hope that would be understandable," Peavy told MLB.com on Monday before the Sox’s game in Detroit was rained out. "But I by no means have mailed it in on the 2010 White Sox."

Still, Peavy clearly understands what could happen if the situation doesn’t improve.

"I do understand how competitive Kenny is, as well as the rest of the front office. Then again, you have to evaluate things from a realistic standpoint," Peavy told MLB.com. "Kenny will do that, making moves for the betterment of the organization."

Peavy added: "You gotta do what you gotta do. Obviously those moves are directly determined by how well the team we have together plays. We haven’t played the way we thought we should."

Guillen said better performance is the best way to deal with the talk.

"Even if the rumors aren’t good, if you think you’re going to be traded, then play better," Guillen told reporters. "It’s easier for the guy that’s going to trade you, and it’s easier for the people that make the trade. You have to play good whether you’re staying or leaving. That’s all you have to do — play good for somebody."