Rogers cuts ties with agent Boras  —  Free agent left-hander will represent himself in negotiations  —  DETROIT — In an unexpected twist to the offseason saga surrounding both free-agent pitcher Kenny Rogers and agent Scott Boras, Rogers has dismissed Boras and now is representing himself …

Astros acquire Villarreal from Braves  —  Club initiates contact with second baseman Iguchi  —  HOUSTON — The Astros acquired reliever Oscar Villarreal from Atlanta in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson on Friday in a move to bolster the back end of the bullpen.

Braves may be close to signing Glavine  —  Original offer worth about $7 million; agent makes counterproposal  —  Tom Glavine was believed to be close to signing with the Braves after receiving an initial offer from the team Friday and making a counterproposal Friday night.

Sox, Lowell keep talking  —  Lucchino: 'We want him back' … The Red Sox [team stats] continued to speak with representatives for free agent third baseman Mike Lowell yesterday, but team sources said that details about how the talks are proceeding and whether the club is pressing for a resolution are private.

Ma Dorothy goes to bat for Derek Jeter  —  Don't you dare call my son a tax cheat!  —  Derek Jeter's mother defended him Friday amid allegations he sidestepped state taxes by declaring Florida his home state when he really lives in New York.  —  "He pays his taxes," Dorothy Jeter told the Daily News.

Mets eye David Eckstein  —  Mets officials dined with free-agent infielder David Eckstein in Greenwich, Conn., this week in the hopes he'll fill the second base vacancy in Flushing.  —  By employing the same kind of treatment that wooed Billy Wagner and Tom Glavine during previous offseasons …

Sources: Royals dip into Japanese market  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Royals, dipping into the Japanese market, are close to signing free-agent reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta to a two-year contract with a player option for a third season, according to major-league sources.

Mets never made Paul Lo Duca an offer  —  Paul Lo Duca's representative wants to make one thing clear: The Mets never, ever made the catcher an offer.  Not even for one year at $1 million.  —  "Paul is disappointed," agent Andrew Mongelluzzi said.  "New York is his home.  He's real fond of New York.

White House drug czar hails Bonds indictment  —  MADRID, Spain (AP) — American anti-doping officials hailed Barry Bonds' indictment as an example of how far the United States has come in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs.  —  "This is just another story related to the big picture …