The Phillies exercised an option Friday for Wagner that will pay him $9 million next season. Had Philadelphia not exercised the option, Wagner would have been owed a $3 million buyout and would have been eligible to file for free agency.

Rodriguez notified the Phillies that he will exercise the 2005 player option that was part of his contract. Rodriguez, acquired from the San Francisco Giants in July, will be paid $3.15 million next season.

Rodriguez would have been eligible for free agency had he not exercised the option.

Wagner went 4-0 with 21 saves and a 2.42 ERA this past season, which was abbreviated due to two extended stints on the disabled list.

Rodriguez went 5-8 with one save and a 3.29 ERA in 76 games for both the Phillies and Giants.

DODGERS: The team declined the option on right-hander Elmer Dessens for next season, making him eligible for free agency.

Dessens, who made $4 million this year, received a $300,000 buyout. He would have made $4.5 million next season.

Los Angeles acquired Dessens from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 19 for minor-league outfielder Jereme Milons and cash.

TWINS: Minnesota declined its 2005 option on shortstop Cristian Guzman's contract, making him eligible for free agency.

Guzman, who would've made $5.25 million next year, hit .274 with eight home runs and 46 RBI in his sixth major-league season. He has been plagued by injuries since being named to the All-Star team in 2001.

INDIANS: Cleveland declined to pick up the $5 million option on closer Bob Wickman's contract.

The club is still waiting to hear if Wickman, 36, is going to retire. If Wickman does want his career to continue, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro thinks he can work out a new deal with the right-hander.

Wickman, who missed most of two seasons after undergoing elbow surgery, went 0-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 30 appearances this season. He had 13 saves in 14 tries.

ATHLETICS: Oakland declined its contract options for next season on outfielder Jermaine Dye and left-hander Chris Hammond.

Dye batted .265 with 23 homers and 80 RBI last season, and the A's decided the oft-injured slugger wasn't worth his $14 million mutual option for 2005. He will receive a $1.5 million buyout.

Hammond, acquired in a trade with the New York Yankees last winter, went 4-1 with a team-low 2.68 ERA out of the bullpen. He missed six weeks with a strained pitching shoulder.

ANGELS: Anaheim second baseman Adam Kennedy had reconstructive surgery on his right knee Friday and might miss part of next season.

The Angels said Kennedy was scheduled to begin rehabilitation in about 10 days and there was no timetable for his return.

Kennedy said earlier this week he probably won't be ready to play by opening day.

METS: Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo interviewed with New York on Friday, the second candidate to apply for the managerial opening since the firing of Art Howe.

The 54-year-old Jaramillo met with Mets general manager Omar Minaya, a longtime friend, and assistant GM John Ricco.

The Mets expect to interview New York Yankees bench coach Willie Randolph on Monday and former Anaheim Angels manager Terry Collins on Tuesday, Minaya said.

YANKEES: Johnny Sturm, the starting first baseman on the New York Yankees' 1941 world championship team and the man credited by many with alerting the Yankees to a young prospect named Mickey Mantle, has died. He was 88.

Sturm, who played just one season in the major leagues, died at home of congestive heart failure Oct. 8, his daughter, Mary Noll, said Friday.

In the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Sturm played in all five games, batting .286 with two RBI.

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