ARLINGTON, Texas - Alex Rodriguez was ready to go to Boston, and the Rangers were doing their part to make it happen. But after nearly two months of discussions, the American League MVP is staying.
Attempts to complete a trade of baseball's only $20 million-a-year players - Rodriguez to Boston for outfielder Manny Ramirez - ended Tuesday after Texas owner Tom Hicks' deadline passed.
Hicks spoke with Red Sox owner John Henry twice before the 5 p.m. deadline. It was their first conversation in four days.
"We both recognized there was too big a gulf to bridge," Hicks said. "Neither one of us thought it would take the public profile it did, or get as complex as it did."
The end of the deal really came last week after the players' association rejected a proposal by the Red Sox to cut $28-million to $30-million off A-Rod's record $252-million contract.
Henry, Rex Sox chairman Tom Werner, president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein issued a joint statement Tuesday saying "no further discussions regarding this transaction are planned."
Rodriguez's agent also agreed that the talks were finally over.
"Tom Hicks has indicated he would not consider a trade for Alex Rodriguez in the immediate future," Scott Boras said.
Hicks spoke several times Tuesday to Rodriguez, and said the shortstop was "happy" to remain with the Rangers.
"I'm 100-percent certain that when the Rangers show up for spring training in Surprise, Ariz., the guy that will be working the hardest and the guy that will be our team leader will be Alex Rodriguez," Hicks said.
Lucchino proclaimed the trade "dead" Thursday, blaming the players' association for not approving a proposed reduction in Rodriguez's contract. Hicks also blamed the union, but didn't give up on the deal until Tuesday.
Rodriguez is interested in playing for a winner. If he still somehow ends up in Boston, the Red Sox presumably would then trade Nomar Garciaparra.
The Red Sox did manage to acquire an infielder, just not A-Rod. Second baseman Pokey Reese accepted a one-year contract worth $1-million. Reese stole 38 bases with Cincinnati in 1999.
Salaries rise slightly
NEW YORK - The average salary rose only a little bit this year, and players may be crying foul. The average at the end of the season was $2,372,189, the players' association said Tuesday in its annual study.
While the amount was a record, it was just 3.3 percent above last year's mark of $2,295,649. The last rise that low was in 1996, when the average increased by just 0.8 percent in the aftermath of the 1994-95 strike.
The players' association has spent more than a year investigating whether there has been collusion among teams in their dealing with free agents, and a top union lawyer sent a memo to agents asking assistance.
The union has not yet decided whether to file a collusion grievance.
BRAVES: First baseman Julio Franco is on the verge of a minor-league contract that would pay $750,000 if he's added to the major league roster.
CUBS: Second baseman Todd Walker agreed to a $1.75-million, one-year contract. Walker, 30, hit .283 in 144 games with the Red Sox last season.
MARLINS: Left-hander Bill Murphy was acquired from Oakland, completing last week's trade involving Mark Redman.
PIRATES: Third baseman Chris Stynes signed a $975,000, one-year contract with a club option for 2005.
REDS: Former Texas manager Jerry Narron will be the bench coach this season for manager Dave Miley.
YANKEES: Outfielder Kenny Lofton signed a $6.2-million, two-year contract.
