NEW YORK - The Alex Rodriguez trade is "dead," or so the Red Sox say. The Rangers and the shortstop still have hope.
Just hours after commissioner Bud Selig ended talks to restructure A-Rod's $252-million contract Thursday, the Red Sox said Manny Ramirez would not be sent to Texas for the AL MVP.
"The proposed trade between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers is dead," Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said.
The Rangers, though, believed they could rekindle the swap of the two highest-paid players in baseball.
"There is a likelihood the deal is dead," Texas general manager John Hart said. "But at the same time, we haven't issued a statement that it's completely dead."
Rodriguez offered to reduce salaries in his contract by $12-million in exchange for increased marketing and logo use rights, agent Scott Boras said. He also would have had right to become a free agent after the 2005 season, the Associated Press reported.
The proposal from the Red Sox that the players' association rejected a day earlier would have cost Rodriguez $28-million, according to the team's evaluation, and $30-million, according to the union's analysis, Boras said.
"We're going to be in communication with the Rangers as to their discussions with the Red Sox," Boras said. "Every indication we had was that the parties would continue to talk."
Rangers owner Tom Hicks probably will speak to the Red Sox to try to work out an agreement after all, Hart said.
Selig had set a 5 p.m. deadline for an agreement. It passed without a deal, and the commissioner ended the talks between Rodriguez and Boston.
"The players' association's intransigence and the arbitrary nature of its action are responsible for the deal's demise today," Lucchino said.
Nelson, Garcia charged
BOSTON - Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia and a Fenway Park groundskeeper were charged with assault and battery for brawling in New York's bullpen after the groundskeeper cheered for Boston during a playoff game.
Clerk Magistrate Michael Neighbors called the case against Nelson and Garcia "weak," because no eyewitnesses or police officers who were at the game testified during a probable cause hearing last week. But he said the police report contained enough evidence to charge the players.
Neighbors also ruled there was enough evidence to go forward with Nelson's cross-complaint against Paul Williams, 24, a part-time groundskeeper and teacher from Derry, N.H.
Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said the team had no immediate comment. Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said the team was confident authorities would handle the case appropriately.
The fight took place during a rowdy Game 3 of the AL Championship Series on Oct. 11, just innings after a bench-clearing melee that started when Garcia was plunked by a pitch from Pedro Martinez. Williams said he was attacked by Nelson after the reliever bumped him and told him to leave the bullpen if he was going to cheer for Boston.
In issuing his ruling, Neighbors said the lack of defensive wounds on the groundskeeper's hands could suggest that Williams was the aggressor.
ATHLETICS-YANKEES DEAL: Left-hander Chris Hammond was traded from New York to Oakland for two minor-leaguers, right-hander Edwardo Sierra and infielder J.T. Stotts. New York also is sending cash to cover part of Hammond's contract. Hammond, 37, was 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 62 appearances last season.
Oakland didn't stop there. The Associated Press learned reliever Arthur Rhodes agreed to a three-year contract. The deal, worth about $9.2-million, was subject to Rhodes passing a physical.
ANGELS: Second baseman Adam Kennedy avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to an $8.85-million, three-year contract.
CUBS: Reliever Kent Mercker was signed to a $1.2-million, one-year contract.
DODGERS: Former Rays pitcher Wilson Alvarez agreed to a $1.5-million, one-year contract. Alvarez was 6-2 last season.
MARINERS: Rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki agreed to a four-year contract, ensuring the three-time All-Star will remain in Seattle. The 30-year-old Suzuki was the AL's MVP and rookie of the year in 2001 and won Gold Gloves in each of his three seasons.
MARLINS: Ivan Rodriguez thinks Florida gave him a raw deal. The 10-time All-Star was cut loose by the World Series champions Dec.7. The catcher, who made $10-million last season, asked for a $40-million, four-year contract. Florida's offer was worth $24-million over three years, the Miami Herald reported. "It wasn't fair that's for sure," Rodriguez told the Herald. "I was just asking for the same amount of money I made last year, and they still said no. The offer they made to me a month ago was not fair."
Also, Miami leaders voted to ask the county to seek a half-penny sales tax to raise $225-million for a new stadium.
The city commission voted unanimously to urge the county to set a March 9 referendum asking voters if they want to fund part of the stadium cost by adding to the 7-cent-per-dollar tax for 18 months.
City commissioners say they will take the resolution to the county as soon as it is formally drafted.
PADRES: Pitchers Sterling Hitchcock and Ismael Valdes signed one-year contracts.
PHILLIES: Pitcher Amaury Telemaco agreed to a $525,000, one-year contract.
TIGERS: Former Rays catcher Mike DiFelice signed a $650,000, one-year deal.
TWINS: Catcher Henry Blanco agreed to a $750,000, one-year deal.
