Rogers rejects trade, stays with Rangers

Cincinnati Kenny Rogers decided it was more important to keep his family in Texas than to make the playoffs.

After several days of mulling it over, the left-hander blocked a trade Tuesday that would have sent him to Cincinnati for three minor leaguers.

Rogers invoked a no-trade clause in his contract, deciding to keep his word to his wife that he would play out his contract with the last-place Rangers. The 37-year-old veteran will be a free agent after this season.

The Reds then went with their backup plan, trading three minor leaguers to Detroit for right-hander Brian Moehler and minor league infielder Matt Boone.

Reds exercise option on Boone’s contract

Cincinnati Cincinnati exercised its option on manager Bob Boone’s contract Tuesday.

The additional year was a reward for the Reds’ unexpected success in the NL Central. The tight-budget club led the division for 51 days earlier this season and was 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis on Tuesday.

After a stormy two-year stay as Kansas City’s manager in 1989 and 1990, it appeared Boone wouldn’t last long in Cincinnati, either. The Reds lost 96 games last season.

New York’s Rivera to test ailing shoulder

Cleveland New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will test his strained shoulder with a game of catch in the bullpen today. The disabled list is a possibility, but Rivera said his shoulder is already improving.

Rivera’s shoulder tightened up after he made just six pitches on Saturday against Boston. An MRI taken Monday revealed the strain. Rivera is 1-4 with a 3.06 ERA and 24 saves in 28 chances this season.

Manager Joe Torre said he’ll use Steve Karsay and Mike Stanton in closing situations.

Meanwhile, New York left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, will begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday in the minors.

Brewers trade infielder

Houston Infielder Tyler Houston was traded to Los Angeles by Milwaukee on Tuesday for minor league pitchers Ben Diggins and Shane Nance. Houston, 31, was hitting .302. Milwaukee also will send the Dodgers a player to be named. Nance was 11-3 at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Arbitrator upholds Lloyd’s trade to Marlins

Miami An arbitrator ruled against Graeme Lloyd on Tuesday, ruling the former Montreal reliever must accept his trade to Florida. Lloyd, appalled by the prospect of pitching for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria again, filed a grievance trying to reverse the eight-player deal that sent him to the Marlins on July 11.

Lloyd said the swap violated a no-trade clause in his contract. It listed the Marlins as one of 12 teams he couldn’t be traded to, but his agents missed a Nov. 1 deadline to submit teams he could block deals to in 2002.

Loria owned the Expos when Lloyd pitched for them in 2000 and 2001. Lloyd, 35, is in the final season of a $9 million, three-year contract.

Indians’ closer on DL

Cleveland Cleveland closer Bob Wickman went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained forearm muscle. Wickman, who has been pitching with a sore elbow since spring training, never had been on the DL in his 10-year career. Wickman is 0-3 with a 4.59 ERA and 20 saves. Right-hander Chad Paronto was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Wickman’s roster spot. Paul Shuey will likely be used in the closer’s role.

Tigers’ president apologizes for remarks

Detroit Detroit Tigers president Dave Dombrowski has apologized for comments he made at a private luncheon that later were broadcast by a sports radio station.

Dombrowski apologized on radio station WXYT-AM “to any player that may have been hurt by the comments” he made Friday to suite holders and corporate sponsors.

Dombrowski mentioned Dean Palmer, Damion Easley, Matt Anderson, Danny Patterson, Bobby Higginson, Steve Sparks and Craig Paquette as players he would like to trade but could not because of their performance and salaries.

Person goes on DL

Philadelphia Philadelphia right-hander Robert Person was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after complaining of pain in his elbow and shoulder. Person, a 15-game winner last season, is 4-5 with a 5.44 ERA.

Bonds to miss series

San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds will likely miss the remainder of this week’s series against St. Louis after an MRI test confirmed Tuesday he had strained his right hamstring.