The Associated Press

With Mike Lowell and Luis Castillo re-signed, the Florida Marlins turned their attention to Ivan Rodriguez. Lowell agreed Tuesday to a $32 million, four-year contract with the Marlins, who also confirmed their $16 million, three-year deal with Castillo.

General manager Larry Beinfest said Florida made a multiyear offer to Rodriguez, the 10-time All-Star catcher who was a key to the Marlins' World Series title.

Florida has until Sunday to sign Rodriguez, whose previous contract prohibits the Marlins from offering salary arbitration.

He hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI during the regular season, then had three homers and 17 RBI in the postseason and was selected MVP of the NL Championship Series victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Lowell, who would have been eligible for free agency after next season, led the Marlins with 32 homers and 105 RBI this year. The third baseman missed all of September with a broken hand.

Castillo, who had filed for free agency, agreed to return, spurning an offer from the New York Mets. The second baseman hit a team-high .314 with six homers, 21 steals and 39 RBI last season, part of a speedy 1-2 punch with Juan Pierre at the top of the lineup.

GIANTS: Right-hander Dustin Hermanson decided to remain with San Francisco, agreeing to an $800,000, one-year contract. Hermanson, 30, started last season with St. Louis, then signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on July 11. He went 3-3 with a 4.06 ERA in six starts and three relief appearances for the NL West champions.

YANKEES: While Gary Sheffield met with owner George Steinbrenner, New York escalated the arms race in the AL East, agreeing to a contract with free agent reliever Tom Gordon. Aaron Boone and Enrique Wilson, two of the six Yankees eligible for salary arbitration, agreed to one-year contracts.

Sheffield and his agent, Rufus Williams, met with Steinbrenner for about an hour at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. Though Williams said the sides still haven't reached an agreement, all signs point toward the outfielder signing with New York.

BIG CAT'S GOAL: After 18 seasons in the majors, Andres Galarraga is hoping for one more year - and a shot at 400 career home runs.

Galarraga, 42, needs two more homers to reach the milestone. He'd like to return to the San Francisco Giants for that chance.

"I get a knot in my throat when they talk to me about retirement. Baseball is my life," he said. "In baseball, 398 isn't the same as 400."

BECHLER DEATH: A dietary supplement firm thinks the Baltimore Orioles are liable in the death of pitcher Steve Bechler and wants the team to pay any damages stemming from a lawsuit filed by the player's widow.

Nutraquest Inc. of Wall Township, N.J., formerly known as Cytodyne Technologies Inc., asked the U.S. District Court in Miami for permission to file suit against the Orioles. Nutraquest claims the tragedy "could have been avoided" if the team had acted properly.

Bechler, 23, collapsed with heatstroke in February at the team's spring training site in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. His body temperature rose to more than 108 degrees and he died the next day.

PADRES: Reliever Kevin Walker agreed to a $450,000 contract.