Maddux headed for door

Midnight Sunday is the deadline for teams to offer arbitration to their former players who became free agents. The Braves made the offer a year ago and Maddux accepted, agreeing two months later to a $14.75 million, one-year deal.

But with the team in a cost-cutting mode, the Braves apparently will let the deadline pass without giving Maddux a chance to return to Atlanta for a 12th season.

Players not offered arbitration can't re-sign with their old clubs until May 1. Maddux went 16-11 with a 3.96 ERA last season -- his 16th straight year with at least 15 wins -- but likely will have to take a significant pay cut in 2004.

Scott Boras, Maddux's agent, said yesterday that he hasn't spoken with Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz since the GM meetings in Arizona last month.

"John told me they were going to talk with their people and let me know," Boras said.

The Braves made one move, re-signing reliever Jaret Wright to an $850,000, one-year contract.

I-Rod gone?

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez appears likely to leave the World Series champion Florida Marlins after proposing a $40 million, four-year contract 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.

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.

Baerga stays put

Infielder Carlos Baerga stayed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, agreeing 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. He hit .343 with four homers and 39 RBIs in 105 games . . . Righthanded reliever Matt Herges agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. Herges went 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA last season for the Giants and the San Diego Padres.