BASEBALL Rodriguez deal to Boston on the clock

The trade that would send Manny Ramirez to Texas must be completed today.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- The Alex Rodriguez-to-Boston trade is far from finished -- at least that's how the players' union sees it.
A few moves were made Wednesday, with catcher Eddie Perez returning to Atlanta, backup catcher Kelly Stinnett going to Kansas City and pitcher Al Levine heading to Detroit.
On a day in which the New York Yankees finally finalized their deal with Gary Sheffield, the biggest news continued to revolve around A-Rod.
Boston and Texas already had settled on a trade, and the Red Sox and Rodriguez agreed to restructure the shortstop's contract.
But in a rare move, the union intervened and rejected changes to Rodriguez's $252 million contract, which were needed before the Rangers could send the AL MVP to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez.
Commissioner Bud Selig set a 5 p.m. deadline today for the trade to be completed. He might also go against the union and approve the restructuring, likely forcing the matter to arbitration.
Stinnett and the Royals agreed on a one-year contract for $500,000, pending a physical. Stinnett, 33, played with Cincinnati and Philadelphia last year, hitting a combined .237 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 67 games.
Levine and the Tigers agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees him $925,000. The 35-year-old reliever was 3-6 with a 2.79 ERA in 54 games for Kansas City and Tampa Bay.
Franco back in N.Y.
Also, reliever John Franco re-signed with the New York Mets for his 15th season with the club. The 43-year-old left-hander, second with 424 career saves, agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with bonuses for appearances and games finished. He was 0-3 in 38 games with a 2.62 ERA last season.
Sheffield completed agreement on his $39 million, three-year contract with the Yankees. Detroit finalized $6 million, two-year deals with second baseman Fernando Vina and outfielder Rondell White, and Seattle finished its $9.15 million, three-year contract with first baseman Scott Spiezio.