ARLINGTON, Texas - The clock ticks for the Texas Rangers and Ivan Rodriguez. The Rangers could be less than a week away from severing all ties with their All-Star catcher.

To keep Rodriguez, who is a free agent, the Rangers must either work out a deal this week or offer him arbitration by midnight (EST) Saturday.

Arbitration doesn't appear to be an attractive option for the Rangers, although general manager John Hart said that no decision has been made. There also has been little in the way of negotiations between the Rangers and Rodriguez's agent, Jeff Moorad.

"I envision having a conversation with Jeff this week, mainly to get an update," Hart said. "Are we going to work out a deal? I don't anticipate that, but you never know."

If a deal is not worked out by the Saturday deadline, the Rangers must offer arbitration in order to retain negotiating rights and get compensation if Rodriguez signs with another team.

"I think Pudge would be surprised if the Rangers didn't offer arbitration," Moorad said. "On the other hand, a one-year deal was not our goal going into this thing."