Rangers, Gagne agree to deal  —  Former All-Star reliever to join Texas pending physical  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with reliever Eric Gagne.  The agreement is pending a physical but the Rangers have already checked out his medical reports and are satisfied that he is healthy again.

Houston deals for Colorado's Jennings  —  The Astros have acquired right-hander Jason Jennings from the Rockies, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  The Rockies will receive center fielder Willy Taveras and right-handers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz for Jennings and right-hander Miguel Asencio, major-league sources said.

Reports: Batista to sign 3-year contract with Mariners  —  SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have reached a preliminary agreement with veteran free agent right-hander Miguel Batista on a three-year contract worth $24 million, according to newspaper reports published Tuesday.

Matsuzaka deal will get done  —  The perception is that Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka has no leverage in his negotiations with the Red Sox.  —  Agent Scott Boras would beg to differ.  —  The other perception is that the Red Sox can walk away from Matsuzaka, sign free-agent right-hander Roger Clemens and live happily after.

YANKS, BOSOX GUN FOR BUC  —  Is there anything the Red Sox and Yankees won't fight over?  Now it's Pirates lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez.  —  While the Red Sox are engaged in the high stakes Daisuke Matsuzaka negotiations that have to be completed by midnight Thursday …

Report: Twins to Sign Cirillo  —  The Twins are reportedly expected to sign Jeff Cirillo to a one-year contract later this week, which qualifies as their first major move of the offseason as long as you don't mind stretching the limits of "major move" to include bringing in a 37-year-old bench player.

Payton agrees to go from A's to O's for $9.5 million  —  Free agent Jay Payton agreed Monday to a $9.5 million, two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who have spent much of the offseason searching for a right-handed hitting outfielder.  —  Payton batted .296 with 10 homers and 59 RBI in 142 games with the A's this year.

METS LUKEWARM ON ZITO & MULDER  —  The Rangers reportedly anted up for Barry Zito yesterday, though the numbers were not disclosed.  But if they ultimately offered six years and around $100 million - an ever-popular prediction - then he will play in Arlington.  —  At least, that's the conclusion the Mets are bracing for.

Braves' Giles, Reitsma hit free-agent market  —  ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves decided against offering a contract to second baseman Marcus Giles in a cost-cutting move Tuesday.  —  The Braves tried to trade their leadoff hitter from this past season but couldn't reach agreement on a deal.

Kapler retires, named Class-A skipper  —  Popular Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler today announced his retirement, though he is going to stick with the organization.  —  The Red Sox named Kapler the manager of the Greenville Drive, the team's Single-A team in South Carolina (which plays in the South Atlantic League).

Suppan feels unloved  —  A month and a half after winning it all, the Cardinals have found themselves merely finalists for four free-agent starting pitchers whom they targeted, and now they may no longer be in the running for one of their own.  —  The Cardinals were told over the weekend …

Free agent Suppan, Pirates still talking  —  Team also negotiating with Japanese pitcher  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates have not extended a formal contract to free-agent pitcher Jeff Suppan, but they have proposed a two-year deal and are among the handful …