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Alex Rodriguez will remain the Texas shortstop if a proposed trade with Boston isn't completed by Tuesday, Rangers owner Tom Hicks said.
Team spokesman Gregg Elkin said Sunday night that Hicks set a deadline of 5 p.m. EST Tuesday. If a deal isn't done by then, Hicks has told general manager John Hart to work toward 2004 with Rodriguez, the AL MVP, as the starting shortstop.
``This is a critical
time in the offseason for us. There are a lot of non-tenders on the market and
we have to make decisions,'' Hicks said on the Rangers Web site. ``We have to
lock in and make plans for this season.''
Phone messages left for Hicks and an e-mail sent to the owner were not immediately
responded to.
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino proclaimed the trade ``dead'' Thursday, blaming the players' association for not approving a $28 million-to-$30 million reduction in Rodriguez's $252 million, 10-year contract. Texas, also blaming the union, said it wasn't prepared to say talks were over.
Manny Ramirez, baseball's only other $20 million-a-year player, would go from Boston to Texas if the deal is completed. The Red Sox presumably would then trade longtime shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, possibly to the Chicago White Sox.
With their starting rotation already thin, the Baltimore Orioles must have big plans in mind.
The Orioles declined to tender contracts to righthander Jason Johnson and lefthander Damian Moss on Saturday, allowing both to become free agents and opening up two more spots in their rotation.
After making the biggest news at the winter meetings in New Orleans last weekend by signing shortstop Miguel Tejada to a six-year, $72 million contract, the Orioles have yet to address their shaky pitching situation. Along with Rodrigo Lopez, Johnson and Moss figured to form the front end of the starting rotation.
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Johnson, 30, led Baltimore with a career high-tying 10 wins in 2003. While posting
a 4.18 ERA in 32 games, he lost 10 and went winless in his last nine starts.
In 149 career games with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and the Orioles, including 16 relief appearances, Johnson is 36-58 with three complete games and a 4.91 ERA.
Acquired from San Francisco in the July 31 trade involving Sidney Ponson, Moss went 1-5 with a 6.22 ERA in 10 games with Baltimore, including nine starts. The 27-year-old Australian, who began his career with Atlanta, posted a 9-7 record with the Giants before the deal.
Moss is 22-18 with a 4.22 ERA in 69 career games.