The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas - Frustrated by the constant losing, Alex Rodriguez is willing to consider a trade.

"If the Rangers found they could be better off without me, whether now or a year or two down the road, I'd be willing to sit down and talk," Rodriguez said before Texas' game against Boston Wednesday.

Rodriguez had never before indicated publicly that he would consider such a move.

The All-Star shortstop is in the third year of his record $252 million, 10-year contract given to him by owner Tom Hicks. The Rangers, meanwhile, are headed for their fourth straight last-place finish in the AL West and have committed to a youth movement.

"When I signed here, I thought we'd make a hard turn toward improvement," A-Rod said. "Obviously, we're in a very tough division."

Going into Wednesday's game, Rodriguez was hitting .291 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI. He led the majors with 57 homers and 142 RBI last season.

EXPOS: Expos players and their union are unlikely to approve having the team play home games in different sites next year.

The team met Wednesday with the No. 2 official of the players' association, which negotiated the agreement that allowed 22 of the Expos' home games to be moved this season from Montreal to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"We want to play 81 games in one city," said catcher Brian Schneider, the Expos' player representative. "That's what the players want, and I think everyone's expressed that pretty much. I don't think the guys would be very happy if we had a split schedule."

CUBS: Texas traded center fielder Doug Glanville to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Jason Fransz and cash.

Glanville hit .272 with four homers and 14 RBI in 52 games for the Rangers. He signed a $1 million, one-year contract with Texas in the offseason after five seasons with Philadelphia.

ANGELS: The defending World Series champion Anaheim Angels released struggling right-hander Kevin Appier on Wednesday.

Appier, 35, was 7-7 with a 5.63 ERA in 19 starts this season while pitching with a sore elbow and a strained right forearm that kept him on the disabled list for 13 games.

ASTROS: Pitcher Roy Oswalt was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday for the third time this season after re-injuring his groin.

Oswalt left Tuesday night's 6-3 loss to Atlanta in the third inning.

ROCKIES: Colorado left-hander Denny Neagle had season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a ligament in his pitching elbow.

Neagle had the surgery in Cincinnati after getting a second opinion from Reds orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek, who operated.

BREWERS: Milwaukee placed pitcher Glendon Rusch on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin.