Rangers, Jordan Agree to Terms

Outfielder Brian Jordan and the Texas Rangers agreed Saturday to a one-year contract that guarantees him $1,375,000.

The former All-Star hit .299 with six homers and drove in 28 runs in 66 games last season with the Dodgers before surgery July 11 for tendinitis in his left knee. He is expected to be at full strength when spring training starts.

“Last year, the surgery was a tough decision, but I had to make a decision based on my career,” he said. “It was a decision to get healthy, and start over with a new team at 100%.”

General Manager John Hart said the signing of Jordan, who is expected to play right field, is another indication that the proposed trade of shortstop Alex Rodriguez to Boston really is dead.

“The signing of Brian solves our situation,” Hart said. “We’re going forward with Brian in the outfield and Alex at shortstop.”

Jordan’s deal calls for a $1.25-million salary next season, and the contract contains a $4-million mutual option for 2005 with a $125,000 buyout.

The Rangers also are close to an agreement on a $725,000, one-year contract with outfielder David Dellucci, who played for Texas Manager Buck Showalter in Arizona from 1998 to 2000. Dellucci’s deal is expected to be finalized Monday.

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Left-hander Valerio De Los Santos agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays also agreed to minor league deals with right-hander Jayson Durocher and outfielder Chad Hermansen.

Hermansen, 26, hit .160 with two RBIs in 11 games and 25 at-bats with the Dodgers last season.

Winter Sports

Nicole Hosp led a 1-2 finish for Austria in a World Cup giant slalom at Lienz, Austria, with Kirsten Clark of the United States a surprising third.

Renate Goetschl finished second, 0.65 seconds behind. Clark was 0.93 seconds back and another American, Sarah Schleper, was eighth.

Clark, a silver medalist in the super-giant slalom at the 2003 world championships, recorded her best finish in a giant slalom. In her previous giant slaloms this season, she was 23rd, 27th and 29th.

Daron Rahlves injured his right knee during downhill training, jeopardizing his chances of skiing in today’s World Cup race at Bormio, Italy.

Sweden beat Austria, 7-0, and Switzerland routed Ukraine, 11-0, at hockey’s world junior championship at Helsinki, Finland.

The United States, which defeated Austria, 8-0, in its opener, plays Slovakia today.