Contreras still here, still struggling

NEW YORK -- On the not-so-good side for the White Sox, Tuesday afternoon's nonwaiver trade deadline came and went, and starting pitcher Jose Contreras stayed put.

Give credit to the other 29 teams in major-league baseball for knowing a dud arm when they see one.

Contreras barely made it out of the first inning Tuesday night against the Yankees, setting the tone for the Sox' embarrassing 16-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.

After allowing 7 runs on 8 hits (3 home runs) while lasting just 2ˆº innings, Contreras has lost his last 7 starts (10.38 ERA). Over his last 11 starts, he's 1-10 with an 8.87 ERA.

And over the next two seasons, the 35-year-old Contreras is owed $20 million.

"I'm embarrassed for myself, my fans, my family, my team,'' Contreras said after the latest shelling. "I'm not happy with the way I'm pitching.''

On the good side, Jermaine Dye was not traded, and the revived right fielder sure sounded like a contract extension from the White Sox was in the offing.

"There's been talks,'' Dye said. "I think something probably can get done.''

The Sox made one deal Tuesday -- sending utility man Rob Mackowiak to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jon Link.

But Dye was the trade market's biggest fish in terms of proven power hitters, and he was rumored to be going to the Boston Red Sox on Monday and just about every other contending team during the past few weeks.

Interestingly, the Red Sox are one of the four teams listed on Dye's limited no-trade clause.

Dye, the 2005 World Series MVP, has said all along he wants to remain with the White Sox. Only now, it looks like it actually might happen.

Ever since his lengthy 1-on-1 talk with White Sox general manager Kenny Williams before batting practice at U.S. Cellular Field last Wednesday, Dye has had a different, more upbeat, air about him.

"I don't think they wanted to trade me,'' said Dye, who is batting .300 with 7 home runs and 13 RBI since the all-star break. "Kenny's expressed he wants me here, and it's just a matter of them seeing what they can do.

"They have a budget and all that, so they have to try to figure out some things there. Hopefully this (no trade) is a good sign. I don't think they want to just give me away for nothing. Hopefully something will get done.''

Williams didn't want to discuss any ramifications of not trading Dye.

"The last negotiations we had with Mark Buehrle reaffirmed that the dealings we do with a player will stay as quiet as we can keep them,'' Williams said. "So I would prefer not to make any comments on that.''

As for not making any other moves outside of the Mackowiak trade on deadline day, Williams said the return offers were not enticing enough.

"We've never been shy in making a deal here and improving the ballclub,'' said Williams, who has made 17 July trades since taking over as GM prior to the 2001 season. "When we searched around for the type of deal that would do that, nothing effective enough was out there.''

There is no doubt Williams listened to trade offers for two of his other starting pitchers -- Javier Vazquez and Jon Garland -- but they remain on the roster.

"Yes and no,'' Vazquez said asked if he was surprised no major trades were made. "Yes, because we've heard it a lot, that changes were going to be made, so I was surprised that not a lot of changes happened.

"Also, I think that we have a good nucleus here, and even though we didn't play as well as we should have, we had a good group of guys and hopefully we can keep most of the guys here and try it again next year.''