ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kenny Rogers was ready to leave the Texas Rangers. This time, the team wasn't ready to let him go.

	Rogers

Rogers agreed to waive his no-trade clause for a deal he thought was done, only to find himself still with the club after the trade deadline expired Wednesday.

''I was kind of excited for a day or two when I thought it was going to happen,'' said Rogers, who previously nixed a trade to Cincinnati. ''I'm surprised I'm still here, but not unhappy about it.

''I consented to go and things fell through after all was done. I was doing what they wanted me to do. I thought about it and was willing to do it. For whatever reason, it didn't get done."

The fizzled deal likely was with either Boston or Seattle, contending teams looking for a starter. Part of the reason he vetoed going to the Reds was because he considered them a long shot to make the postseason.

''The organization knows where I stand. That's the benefit we get out of this,'' he said. ''But it was a drawn-out process. I don't really want to go through it anymore. I didn't like being pulled in every different direction.''

Rogers still could switch teams through a waiver-wire deal. He said he's not so soured by the last few weeks that he would automatically reject another trade.

The Rangers were looking to move Rogers because he's a free agent after this season. That same reason drove down the market and left Texas unable to ask for much. The Reds had offered three prospects.

''There were a variety of things that came into play,'' Rangers general manager John Hart said. ''I don't think it matters why trades weren't made with certain players and certain clubs.''

Hart did pull off another deal Wednesday, sending outfielder Gabe Kapler and minor-league IF/OF Jason Romano to Colorado for outfielder Todd Hollandsworth and left-handed pitcher Dennys Reyes.

Kapler was signed through next season, while Hollandsworth will be a free agent after this season. Texas will use the final two months as an audition to decide whether to try re-signing him. Reyes is only 25 and has been a starter and a reliever.

''This trade gives us some flexibility for next year and we get a left-hander that could be a good fit for us in the future,'' Hart said.

Hart also was listening to offers for catcher Ivan Rodriguez, another free agent-to-be, and any other players he could've moved off a $105 million roster that's headed toward a third straight last-place finish.

Texas went into Wednesday night's game 18 games under .500, its worst since last August, and was a season-worst 20{ games out of first.

''We were very limited with what we could do to make wholesale changes,'' Hart said. ''We just don't have the roster to do that. We knew going in that was the case, so you can't be too disappointed.''

Hollandsworth will be one of many players the Rangers pay special attention to the rest of the season.

Aaron Myette and Rob Bell are already in the rotation and Joaquin Benoit was called up over the weekend after veteran Dave Burba was released. All three are out of minor-league options after this season.

Hart also said pitcher Colby Lewis and third baseman Hank Blalock will be back in the majors in the coming weeks.

''I don't think we're at the point where we're ready to determine our direction for '03,'' Hart said. ''We've got to get through another winter and see what presents itself.''