21.   But the Rangers have other items on their agenda at the winter meetings, and Hart started it off by meeting with New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips.

22.   But somewhere between Houston and the baseball winter meetings in Nashville, communication broke down and an explosion occurred.

23.   But the winter meetings came and went, and Millwood still wondered.

24.   But with baseball getting ready for the annual winter meetings, which begin today in Boston, the free-agent market has been relatively slow this winter.

25.   By the time the annual winter meetings arrived in December, Hunsicker became less optimistic a deal could be reached by the start of the season.

26.   Catalanotto drew a lot of interest at the winter meetings, but not for a starting pitcher.

27.   Davis, in Washington this week for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, repeatedly pressed his case with President Bush and Homeland Security director Tom Ridge.

28.   Executives from the Braves, the Phillies, the Athletics and other teams left the winter meetings Thursday, some work completed, some still to do.

29.   General manager Doug Melvin seems to be leaning that way as the Rangers regrouped at the winter meetings the day after losing Zeile to the New York Mets.