Texas Rangers

WACO, Texas -- Evidence from the fierce gun battle between federal agents and Branch Davidians was destroyed after FBI negotiators inadvertently tipped cultists to its significance, sources told the Houston Chronicle.The possible destruction of the crime scene has created bad blood between the FBI and the other two lead agencies involved in the 39-day standoff -- the Texas Rangers and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which conducted the Feb. 28 raid on the cult.Four ATF agents were killed in the gun battle, and two cult members are confirmed dead.

The last time Koji Uehara was around the Orioles, he was saying tearful goodbyes in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium last July. This week, Uehara was back at Camden Yards, this time with the Texas Rangers, the club that acquired him from the Orioles for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter at the nonwaiver trade deadline. There were some hugs and handshakes this week, but Uehara said, he is a Ranger now. Uehara, the former Japanese star who spent his first 21/2 big league seasons in Baltimore, didn't fare as well in two months in Texas.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Returning to the dugout after hitting his first grand slam, Mark Teixeira no longer could contain the smile he tried so hard to keep hidden. It spread across his face, braces and all, and for a brief moment he looked like a high school kid as hands reached out to slap him on the shoulder. But how many high school kids get congratulated by Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro? It's times like these that remind Teixeira how far he's removed from Mount St. Joseph, from which he graduated in 1998 after setting three state career records.

WEATHER Today's forecast calls for cloudy skies, with a chance of showers this afternoon and a high temperature near 74 degrees. Tonight is expected to be cloudy, with a low temperature around 62 degrees. TRAFFIC Check our traffic updates for this morning's issues as you plan your commute. FROM THE WEEKEND... Animal advocates seek new pit bull legislation in special session : A group of animal activists is asking Gov. Martin O'Malley to quickly introduce legislation that would override a Maryland Court of Appeals decision deeming all pit bulls dangerous.

Superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez has a big credibility problem. Everything he does is unbelievable. He just won American League Player of the Month honors for the second month in a row. He leads the major leagues with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs. He is the best all-around player in the game, the highest-paid athlete in the history of professional team sports and - by most accounts - a pretty decent human. So why isn't he the runaway candidate for AL Most Valuable Player? There is no dispute he is putting together one of the greatest individual performances in baseball history.

NEW YORK - Once Alex Rodriguez came to the decision that he would change positions during the prime of his career, a blockbuster trade possibility quickly turned into a virtual certainty. Rodriguez, 28, last year's American League Most Valuable Player with the Texas Rangers and baseball's highest-paid player, is headed to the Yankees - for whom he'll play third base, not shortstop - in return for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named. As first reported by Newsday yesterday, the Yankees and Rangers have an agreement in principle on the deal, with an announcement expected in the next few days.

Chris Davis strolled to his locker in the Orioles clubhouse Monday and was immediately surrounded by a large scrum of TV cameras, tape recorders and notepads. He looked at the media mob and flashed an amused smile. “What do you guys want to talk about?” he asked. “Hitting?” Uh, not exactly. No, in the hours before the Orioles began a four-game homestand against the Texas Rangers, Davis' two-innings of improbable relief pitching in the O's thrilling 9-6, 17-inning win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday was still the main topic of conversation at Camden Yards.

Baseball Texas Rangers -- Renewed the contracts of coaches Mickey Hatcher, Perry Hill, Jackie Moore, Dave Oliver, Claude Osteen and Willie Upshaw.

College Doak Walker Award -- Awarded to Washington RB Greg Lewis carries, 1,279 yards, 9 TDs).BaseballTexas Rangers -- Named Bobby Witt (17-10, 3.36) Pitcher of the ))Year.

BaseballTexas Rangers -- Signed IF Jeff Huson to a one-year contract. Signed P Terry Bross, P Robb Nen and OF Dan Peltier to minor-league contracts.FootballMiami Dolphins -- Activated RB Aaron Craver from injured reserve.

The Orioles are now winless this season in games after they have played 17 innings. Call it the Great Boston Marathon Hangover. The Orioles came out manhole-cover-flat Monday, and were run over by the Texas Rangers, 14-3, in a game which they gave up 19 hits, got only six and suffered their most lopsided defeat of the young season. The sleepwalking wasn't surprising considering it came a day after beating the Boston Red Sox, 9-6, in a six-hour, seven-minute saga that completed an impressive sweep at Fenway Park.

Chris Davis strolled to his locker in the Orioles clubhouse Monday and was immediately surrounded by a large scrum of TV cameras, tape recorders and notepads. He looked at the media mob and flashed an amused smile. “What do you guys want to talk about?” he asked. “Hitting?” Uh, not exactly. No, in the hours before the Orioles began a four-game homestand against the Texas Rangers, Davis' two-innings of improbable relief pitching in the O's thrilling 9-6, 17-inning win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday was still the main topic of conversation at Camden Yards.

As part of their season-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of Camden Yards, the Orioles are dropping ticket prices for selected games to 1992 prices. For six specific games, Eutaw Street bleacher seats will be available for $4 each, the same price as when the stadium opened. The six games featured aren't all unattractive matchups either, with the American League East rival Tampa Bay Rays in town for two of them and the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers coming in for one. Here's the lineup of the specially priced games, which must be purchased online at CamdenYards20.com : April 27: vs. Oakland Athletics May 7: vs. Texas Rangers July 24: vs. Tampa Bay Rays Aug. 9: vs. Kansas City Royals Aug. 27: Chicago White Sox Sept.

Fox Sports has reported that free-agent right-hander Edwin Jackson has multiple three-year offers available. Not sure if the Orioles are one of the teams that have made an offer, but it would make sense if they were. The Orioles like Jackson and would love to have another right-handed innings eater toward the top of their rotation. The Orioles haven't dismissed the idea of a fourth year for Jackson -- which is normally out of their comfort zone -- because he is 28. But I've been told a three-year deal with an option for a fourth would be much more palatable.

The Orioles made two minor trades today, sending former first-round pick Brandon Snyder to the Texas Rangers for cash while acquiring outfielder Jai Miller from the Oakland A's, also for cash. Miller, 26, was designated for assignment by the A's in December after appearing in seven games with the team in 2011, when he was 3-for-12 with a homer. At Triple-A Sacramento in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Miller batted .276 with a .368 on-base percentage, 32 homers and 16 stolen bases without being caught last season.

When the Orioles acquired Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee last offseason and then traded for Chris Davis in July, first baseman Brandon Snyder knew his opportunities in Baltimore were shrinking. So when the former first rounder - Snyder received a $1.7 million bonus as the 13 th overall pick in 2005 - was traded on Tuesday to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations, it wasn't a shock. The news was met with some mixed emotions by Snyder, who battled injuries and position changes while climbing the minor league ladder but never really pushed his way to an extended look in Baltimore.

Baseball Milwaukee Brewers -- Traded P Edwin Nunez (1-1, 2.63 in 13 2/3 IP) the Texas Rangers for a player to be named.New York Yankees -- Placed OF Jesse Barfield on the 15-disabled list, retroactive to Sunday.St. Louis Cardinals -- Placed OF Brian Jordan (Milford Mill) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Recalled IF Geronimo Pena from Triple-A Louisville.Texas Rangers -- Designated C Bill Haselman for assignment.

The last time Koji Uehara was around the Orioles, he was saying tearful goodbyes in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium last July. This week, Uehara was back at Camden Yards, this time with the Texas Rangers, the club that acquired him from the Orioles for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter at the nonwaiver trade deadline. There were some hugs and handshakes this week, but Uehara said, he is a Ranger now. Uehara, the former Japanese star who spent his first 21/2 big league seasons in Baltimore, didn't fare as well in two months in Texas.

Dan Duquette made his first trade as executive vice president of the Orioles on Thursday, filling the club's vacant reserve catcher spot by adding defensive-minded backstop Taylor Teagarden from a familiar partner, the Texas Rangers' organization. The Orioles acquired Teagarden, who spent most of last year at Triple-A Round Rock, for 21-year-old minor league right-hander Randy Henry and another minor leaguer. That player likely won't be announced until after next week's Rule 5 draft.

No one should be surprised that the Texas Rangers enter Game 1 of the 107th World Series on Wednesday night as medium favorites to win the first title by a franchise from the Lone Star State. They're the better team on paper and they actually won their division championship, so what else would you expect the oddsmakers to do when the other guys brought the worst regular-season record into the postseason? It's a fair question. The Rangers can do it all, and they've been doing it all year.