This and that

• Homer Bailey for Jermaine Dye: Hal McCoy's source says it's a done deal and will be announced this week.

MLB.com says it ain't so, quoting Walt Jocketty as saying, "Wrong. It's not even close."

The White Sox also are denying the rumor.

• Also Reds-related: John Fay is reporting that the Giants are interested in Edwin Encarnacion. He cites a reliable source and considers EE the most likely Red to be traded.

So much for acquiring Gerald Laird from the Rangers. Laird has been traded to the Tigers.

And David Weathers has accepted the Reds' arbitration offer.

Interesting development: Remember former Orioles' first-round draft pick Darnell McDonald? Baseball America is reporting that the Reds have signed him.

• Former Reds-related: AZCentral's Nick Piecoro takes a look at why the Diamondbacks didn't offer Adam Dunn arbitration.

• The Lot D's C. Trent is the first to report (as far as I can tell) that it's been determined that Carson Palmer doesn't need elbow surgery.

• 7-0 Xavier has climbed to No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25. The Muskies play Ohio - who just got blown out by Louisville - on Wednesday and the Crosstown Shootout on Saturday.

• NYTimes.com's Quad Blog speculates that Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson might be a candidate for the Miami University head coaching job.

• Non-local link of interest: Sports Guy this week - Rambling toward Week 14 is a must-read. Hilarious.