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: Cirillo, Twins agree to terms on 1-year deal  —  Enticed by the lure of more playing time in Minnesota, infielder Jeff Cirillo is leaving his hometown Brewers for a free-agent deal with the Twins.  —  Cirillo and the Minnesota Twins reached preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $1.5 million, one-year contract.

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 …