The Angels had a meet-and-greet with A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, at the general managers' meetings. The New York Mets also spoke with Boras but won't say whether they're in or out of the competition.

Tony Reagins, who just took over as the Angels' GM, had glowing words for A-Rod.

"We had an initial conversation with Scott, and it was introductory," he said today. "He probably makes any team that he's a part of better."

Reagins said if talks progressed, the Angels would welcome a chance to speak with Rodriguez. Reagins acknowledged marketing, as well as baseball skills, would play a role in a decision to sign A-Rod.

"In this day and age, I think that is a part of it," he said.

While the Mets have the cash to sign Rodriguez, they haven't committed to making an offer. Likely to win his third AL MVP award, Rodriguez is expected to sign a deal topping the record $252 million, 10-year contract the Texas Rangers gave him before the 2001 season. Before A-Rod opted out of that agreement, Boras told the New York Yankees they had to offer $350 million just to get a meeting with the third baseman.

Other possible destinations are thought to include the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. All those teams say that they're not interested at this point.

Other big names in the news on the next-to-last day of the four-day gathering included Miguel Cabrera, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine and Kenny Rogers.

The final day of the annual meetings, GMs were to discuss whether first- and third-base coaches should wear helmets. Mike Coolbaugh, a first-base coach for the Colorado Rockies' minor league team in Tulsa, was killed in July when he was struck on the head by a line drive during a game.

On Tuesday, each general manager stood up during their meeting and stated what their offseason goals were. Many mentioned specific players they were making available. The idea was suggested by Boston's Theo Epstein and Florida's Larry Beinfest, co-chairs of this year's meeting.

"Usually it takes a while to be able to reach all 29 other teams and hear what they're trying to do. This increased our efficiency tremendously. It saves us all a lot of time," Epstein said. "Some teams were specific. Some were more guarded."

Cabrera is the first big name being dangled. He'll make more than $10 million next season, too expensive for the Marlins to retain. Having lost A-Rod, the Yankees need a third baseman but team executive Hank Steinbrenner was clear on what New York won't do.

"It's pretty obvious which players we're not going to trade," he said, before rattling off the team's most-prized young pitchers. "Chamberlain, Hughes and even Kennedy. Not for a position player."

For now, when other teams inquire, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy aren't available.

Hughes, just 21, showed poise and overpowering pitches, even while slowed by hamstring and ankle injuries that sidelined him for much of the season. Chamberlain, 22, was instant electricity and on many nights unhittable as Mariano Rivera's setup man down the stretch. Kennedy, who turns 23 next month, was polished and resembled a young Mike Mussina in three September starts.