Sox' Dye not sweating rumors of his departure

Between taking a cruise and hanging out in his cabin, Jermaine Dye has been enjoying a relaxed off-season.

"I've talked to Paul (Konerko) probably two times, and our kids go to the same school," Dye said.

Kenny Williams lives in the same neighborhood in suburban Phoenix, but Dye hasn't seen much of the White Sox' general manager, either.

Dye did contact Williams in early December after the Dayton Daily News ignited a media frenzy by reporting Dye had been traded to the Reds.

"It had to be a misprint," Dye said Friday at SoxFest. "I called Kenny and asked him, and he was like, 'No, I never traded you.'"

Heading into the final year of a contract that does include a mutual option for 2010, the 35-year-old Dye's name has been out on the rumor mill all winter.

"It's just part of baseball," said Dye, who hit .292 with 41 doubles, 34 home runs and 96 RBI last season. "Anytime your contract is coming up to the end, you're talked about in all kinds of trades, moving here, moving there. It's part of what we do; it's part of the business. You learn to listen to it, read about it and move on.

"It's all rumors until you get that phone call and are told you're gone. As always, I prepare to be with the White Sox and help lead this team to another championship."

Williams always listens to trade offers and has learned to never say never, but he still points at the media for blowing Dye's status out of proportion.

"I never b.s. our players," Williams said. "I told him flat out, 'Yes, there are clubs asking about you. Here's who they are and here's how serious they are.' But I told him it was unlikely he'll be moved."

Classic Ozzie: When asked Friday if relief pitcher Octavio Dotel needed to report to spring training in better shape, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen responded in midseason form.

"Last year, (Dotel) showed up in shape and he left out of shape," Guillen said. "I've never seen that happen."

With Dotel and the addition of hefty starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, Guillen said Sox conditioning coach Allen Thomas needs to step up this season.

"AT's going to have a problem," Guillen said. "We have to push those guys a little bit harder to make sure they stay in shape."

Thomas and Dotel twice got into shouting matches during pregame conditioning drills last season.