A-ROD Trade is off table for now

Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez are staying with their teams.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The trade talks began in private right after the World Series.
Alex Rodriguez confirmed the day he won his first AL MVP award that the Texas Rangers had talked to him about a deal.
Now after nearly two months of discussions, the proposed trade of $20 million-a-year players is off the table.
For now, baseball's two highest-paid players are staying put: Rodriguez in Texas and outfielder Manny Ramirez.
Texas owner Tom Hicks said on Tuesday -- his deadline to resolve the issue -- that the deal was too complicated to complete. The Rangers now plan for Rodriguez to remain their shortstop next season, the fourth of his record $252 million, 10-year contract.
Done talking
Hicks and Red Sox owner John Henry talked twice Tuesday, their first conversation in four days. And they finally agreed -- that they were done talking about the proposed trade.
"We both recognized there was too big a gulf to bridge," Hicks said. "Neither one of us thought it would take the public profile it did, or get as complex as it did."'
Asked if there were last-minute negotiations or compromises on the Rangers' part in an effort to complete the deal, Hicks said, "Not really."
"We mainly made sure that we communicated what each team's position was," he said. "As the decision-makers, it was important for us to talk to each other."
Hicks insisted that the deadline was final. He even sent a letter to season-ticket holders Tuesday pledging that next season's team would be built around Rodriguez.
Henry, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein issued a joint statement Tuesday saying "no further discussions regarding this transaction are planned."
Agent's view
Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, also agreed that the deal was dead, and said the player's relationship with Hicks was still good.
"He learned about his owner, I think their relationship is a good one," Boras said. "In the end, there was a real question about what the level of Boston's interest level was."
Hicks spoke several times Tuesday to Rodriguez, and said the shortstop was "happy" to remain with the Rangers, who have finished last in the AL West four straight seasons.
"I'm 100 percent certain that when the Rangers show up for spring training in Surprise, Ariz., the guy that will be working the hardest and the guy that will be our team leader will be Alex Rodriguez," Hicks said.
Had Rodriguez gone to Boston, the Red Sox presumably would have traded longtime shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, possibly to the Chicago White Sox.
The collapse of the deal was fine with new Boston manager Terry Francona.
"I've been looking forward to Manny and Nomar being with us, so nothing has changed for me," he said.
On same day
Rodriguez and Ramirez agreed to their big contracts on the same day, three years ago during the winter meetings in Dallas. To gauge if there was interest in Ramirez, Boston placed him on irrevocable waivers following the World Series, but he went unclaimed.
"Manny is focused on continuing his career with the Red Sox," said his agent, Jeff Moorad. "I have said all along that Manny would be happy in either instance."
Ramirez has five years and $97.5 million left on his $160 million, eight-year deal.
During negotiations last week, the players' association said the final seven years and $179 million left on Rodriguez's agreement could be restructured but not reduced. A proposal by the Red Sox to cut $28 million to $30 million was rejected.
The players' association said it would approve a change that would lower the contract by $12 million to $13 million in exchange for Rodriguez getting the right to use Boston's logo and trademarks in marketing deals. In addition, he'd be able to become a free agent after the 2005 season.
But Lucchino proclaimed the trade "dead," blaming the union for not approving the steeper reduction.