The Associated Press

MIAMI - Catcher Ivan Rodriguez appears likely to leave the World Series champion Florida Marlins after proposing a $40 million, four-year contract Friday during telephone negotiations with owner Jeffrey Loria.

If the Marlins fail to reach an agreement with the 10-time All-Star by midnight Sunday, they can't sign him until May.

"We are not optimistic at this point that we are going to be able to reach resolution on a contract before Sunday night at midnight," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "The financial goals of Pudge and the Marlins are significantly apart at this time."

Also participating in the 45-minute conference call were Beinfest, Marlins president David Samson and Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras. No further talks are scheduled, Beinfest and Boras said.

Rodriguez made $10 million last season, and Boras said his client was willing to stay with the Marlins at the same price if he got a deal as long as the one Florida gave Mike Lowell earlier this week - the third baseman agreed to a $32 million, four-year contract.

Boras said the raise second baseman Luis Castillo got in his $16 million, three-year deal also was cited by Rodriguez.

"They brought him to Florida at a wage of $10 million," Boras said, "and following a season of world championship play and leadership, he made the decision today to let the Marlins know that despite the fact that his teammates got increases, he was willing to accept a contract where his salary remained the same and he would take the same term of years Mike Lowell received. He was willing to be flexible about how the money was to be paid out during the contract."

Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI this year, his only season in Florida. He added three more homers and 17 RBI in the postseason and was selected MVP of the NL championship series victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Earlier in the offseason, the Marlins traded first baseman Derrek Lee to the Chicago Cubs.

Florida plans only a modest increase in this year's $54 million payroll.

Beinfest declined to discuss details of the team's multiyear offer to Rodriguez.

"We did have the owner on the phone. We did have the player on the phone," Beinfest said. "And it just does not seem like it's something that is going to happen at this point."

Boras said Rodriguez wanted fans to "know he was fair and loyal, and he wanted to stay."

TIGERS: Dean Palmer agreed Friday to a minor league contract that gives the oft-injured third baseman a chance to win a job on the major league roster.

The 34-year-old Palmer hit .140 with six RBI in 26 games last season before his season was cut short by a recurrence of shoulder and neck injuries that have plagued him over the past three years.

Palmer has 275 homers in 14 seasons with Detroit, Texas and Kansas City.

DIAMONDBACKS: Infielder Carlos Baerga stayed with the team, agreeing Friday to a $1 million, one-year contract.

Baerga, 35, established a club record last season with 19 pinch hits. His .345 average on pinch-hit at-bats was tops among all major league players with at least 40 pinch-hit at-bats.

Baerga also started 15 games at second base, 13 at first and four at third.

He hit .343 with four homers and 39 RBI in 105 games.

GIANTS: Right-handed reliever Matt Herges agreed Friday to a $2.5 million, two-year contract.

Herges went 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA last season for the Giants and the San Diego Padres, who traded him to San Francisco on July 13. In the playoffs, he allowed just one hit and no runs in three appearances over 4 1/3 innings, striking out five. Herges also has played for Los Angeles and Montreal.

He gets $1 million next season and $1.5 million in 2005, and is eligible for salary arbitration.

BRAVES: Atlanta re-signed right-handed pitcher Jaret Wright to a one-year contract, avoiding a possible arbitration case.

The team didn't disclose financial terms of the contract. Wright, who has undergone two shoulder operations since 1999, made $725,000 last year after making $4.3 million with Cleveland in 2002.