SURPRISE, Ariz. – Now that the New York Yankees have been eliminated from the postseason, the Rangers find themselves in a ticklish position on the sidelines of the Alex Rodriguez contract negotiations.

Among the potential options:

•Continue to subsidize Rodriguez to play in New York.

•Recoup about $21 million but have to face Rodriguez nearly 20 times a season.

AP

Some Rangers fans weren't impressed with Alex Rodriguez after he left Arlington to join the Yankees.

Rodriguez has until 10 days after the World Series to decide whether he wants to opt out of his current 10-year contract, to which the Rangers originally signed him in December 2000, or finish out the deal in New York. If he decides to opt out, the Rangers would save about $7 million per season over the next three years, which is what they are currently paying the Yankees as part of the terms of their 2004 trade.

But if Rodriguez does opt out, the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners, two AL West foes, are expected to be contenders for his long-term services.

"I'm not going to speculate on any players with any other club," general manager Jon Daniels said Wednesday. "But, obviously, because of the trade and the terms of the trade, we have interest in what happens. We aren't going to worry about it because it's something we can't control. We're not going to start playing 'Hot Stove Heaters,' but I do expect the clubs within our division to try and improve themselves."

The Angels have long been rumored as a potential destination for Rodriguez. His agent, Scott Boras, who hinted this week that Rodriguez may very well opt out, is a regular in the field-level suite directly behind home plate at Angel Stadium. In addition, the Angels, who were swept in a division series, enter the off-season with the need for both a third baseman and a power bat.

Among other teams that could pursue Rodriguez are his original club, the Mariners, who will also be looking for a power bat, the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco.

Hungry like the wolf: Infielder German Duran, who is getting a crash course in utility play, made his first start as a pro at third base on Wednesday in the Arizona Fall League. The increased defensive responsibilities didn't seem to have an impact on his bat. Duran went 4-for-4 with a home run and a walk. He had a pair of two-strike hits, including a double off the top of the center field wall.

He did it with the entire Rangers management team on hand. Daniels did not rule out the possibility that Duran, who played all of 2007 at Frisco, could get an invitation to major league spring training with a chance to win a spot on the team as a utility player.

Briefly: CF Julio Borbon, the 35th overall pick in the June draft, was 5-for-5 with a home run and three doubles in an Instructional League game Wednesday. It was Borbon's first game back after missing several days with hamstring tightness. ... RHP Beau Jones, one of the five players acquired from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira deal, was scratched from the Instructional League invitation list. He had surgery to remove bone chips last week, but should be ready for spring training. ... RHP Kameron Loe also had arthroscopic elbow surgery this week and is expected to be ready for spring training. ... Former Oakland RHP Keiichi Yabu worked out for the Rangers this week. He is expected to work out for several other clubs in Arizona, too.