ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers found a replacement for Ivan Rodriguez before they even officially let the 10-time All-Star catcher go.

Leaving town

Besides Ivan Rodriguez, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that sources say the following to players will not be offered arbitration: Edgardo Alfonzo, Mets Omar Daal, Dodgers Chuck Finley, Cardinals Steve Finley, Diamondbacks Jose Hernandez, Brewers Jeff Kent, Giants Kenny Lofton, Giants Kenny Rogers, Rangers Ugueth Urbina, Red Sox Players who are expected to be offered arbitration include: Roger Clemens, Yankees Ray Durham, A's Cliff Floyd, Red Sox Greg Maddux, Braves Ramiro Mendoza, Yankees Jamie Moyer, Mariners Mike Stanton, Yankees Steve Trachsel, Mets Sources say the Royals remain undecided on Paul Byrd.

The Rangers acquired catcher Einar Diaz and right-hander Ryan Drese from the Cleveland Indians on Friday for first baseman Travis Hafner and right-hander Aaron Myette.

The move meant the Rangers would likely not offer Rodriguez arbitration by the deadline Saturday, meaning he can't re-sign until May 1 with the only major league team he's played.

''It's surprising the club would end its relationship with Ivan Rodriguez without as much as a courtesy call to him or to me,'' said Rodriguez's agent, Jeff Moorad. ''But we understand this is the time of year that things like this happen. It seemed likely that Pudge would move on, now it looks to be a certainty.''

Rangers general manager John Hart didn't sound optimistic Friday that anything would happen before the deadline ''that dramatically changes the situation.''

The Rangers want to reduce their $107 million payroll, and Hart said the team can't afford the chance of Rodriguez accepting arbitration that could give him more than $12 million next season.

''I don't think the market has been settled for Pudge and at this point the club's appetite isn't to go into the arbitration process,'' Hart said. ''We don't want to get in a one-year setting and let an arbitrator set the payroll, even though we really like the player.''

The Rangers also haven't made any significant progress on a new contract for free agent-left-hander Kenny Rogers. The pitcher's last contract contains a clause that prevents the Rangers from offering salary arbitration.

Rodriguez made his major league debut with the Rangers at 19 years old in 1991. In 1,479 games with Texas, he hit .303 with 215 homers and 829 RBI and also won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves.

Rodriguez made $9.6 million last season, when he missed nearly two months with a herniated disk in his back. He also missed the ends of the 2000 and 2001 seasons because of injuries.

Diaz, 29, who replaced Sandy Alomar Jr. as the Indians' catcher in 2000 when Hart was GM there, is coming off a difficult season. He was involved in two jarring collisions at the plate and batted .206 with two homers and 16 RBI.

''They needed a catcher. We were aware of that,'' Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro said.

Cleveland will pay part of Diaz's $1.75 million salary in 2003.

''This definitely gives us protection if Pudge doesn't return,'' Hart said. ''He's certainly not a star, but he does a tremendous job behind the plate.''

Diaz was in Texas on Thursday to be checked by Rangers doctors. Hart said the Rangers also watched Diaz during his rehabilitation in the Arizona Fall League and are satisfied that he is healthy.

Drese, 26, went 10-9 with a 6.55 ERA as a rookie. Myette, 25, also split the 2002 season between Oklahoma and Texas, going 7-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A and 2-5 with a 10.06 ERA for Texas.

The trade appears to clear more playing time for Cleveland's two catching prospects, Josh Bard and Victor Martinez, who came up to the majors last season.

Hafner could be a possible replacement in Cleveland for Jim Thome, who signed an $85 million, six-year contract with Philadelphia this week.

''This is not a stop-gap guy,'' Shapiro said. ''This is something that has been in the works for quite some time. He's a guy who hits for average and power, and he's been one of the best in minor league baseball. He's a guy we were going to try to trade for regardless of whether we could sign Jim Thome.''

Hafner, 25, made an impression on the Indians last season, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI at Jacobs Field on Aug. 11.

Hafner split last season between Triple-A Oklahoma and the Rangers. At Oklahoma, Hafner hit .342 (137-for-401) with 22 doubles, 21 homers and 77 RBI in 110 games.

He appeared in his first 23 games for the Rangers and hit .242 in 62 at-bats with one homer and six RBI. Hafner led the South Atlantic League in homers (28) and RBI (111) for Class A Savannah in 1999.

Shapiro said Hafner will compete with another young first baseman, Ben Broussard, for the starting job. He said the Indians were not trying to work out a deal for Reds first baseman Sean Casey.

Hafner, like Thome, is a left-handed hitter and about the same size -- 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds.

''Jim Thome has always been one of my favorite players, and I've watched him a lot. At the same time, I'm just going to go out there and play my game and do the best that I can,'' Hafner said.

''He hits a lot more home runs than I do right now. He's established and I'm looking to establish myself. It's nice to be compared to him, but I don't know if that's fair. It's flattering, but I've got a long way to go.''

The Rangers also signed right-hander Rudy Seanez to a minor league deal that would be worth $750,000 if he makes the majors. Seanez, 34, was 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA in 33 appearances with the Rangers last season.