ARLINGTON, Texas — Ivan Rodriguez is coming home to the Texas Rangers.

The 14-time All-Star catcher who started his career with the Rangers at age 19 was acquired in a trade yesterday with the Houston Astros for minor league pitcher Matt Nevarez and two players to be named.

"It's been a long time," said Rodriguez, who was with the Rangers from 1991-2002. "I'm glad that I'm back."

The 37-year-old Rodriguez signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Astros in March and went on to hit .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 93 games. But the Astros have faded in the NL playoff chase, while the Rangers went into last night's game against Minnesota with a one-game lead in the AL wild-card race.

The trade surprised Rodriguez and the Astros.

"You trade away your starting catcher, it could send mixed messages," Houston infielder Geoff Blum said. "This time of year is when you're looking to make additions, if you feel your team is close enough. We didn't do that. We chose to make a subtraction."

Rodriguez is one of the most popular players in Rangers history, winning 10 of his 13 Gold Gloves with them. He helped lead the franchise's only three playoff teams in 1996, 1998 and 1999, when he won the AL MVP award.

Rodriguez caught 1,426 games in Texas, second in club history to Jim Sundberg's 1,495. He hit .305 with 215 home runs and 829 RBIs with the Rangers.

He left when the club refused to offer salary arbitration after the 2002 season. He signed with Florida and immediately won a World Series, then went to another World Series in five seasons with Detroit.

ASTROS

HAMPTON GOES ON DL

The Houston Astros have placed left-hander Mike Hampton on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain and recalled Felipe Paulino from Triple-A Round Rock.

The move is retroactive to Aug. 14, the day after Hampton left a start in Florida with shoulder soreness. Hampton (7-10, 5.30 ERA) has started 21 games this season, his highest total since 2004. He missed the 2006 and 2007 seasons after separate elbow surgeries.

Paulino (2-6, 7.28 ERA) has started 11 games for Houston this season.

ELSEWHERE

Cubs: Closer Kevin Gregg, who has blown three of his past five save chances, has been demoted and replaced by right-hander Carlos Marmol. Manager Lou Piniella disclosed the move yesterday, a day after Gregg blew a save in a 4-1 loss to San Diego when rookie Kyle Blanks hit a three-run homer in the ninth.

Dodgers: Manager Joe Torre says right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will likely be placed on the disabled list during his recovery from a concussion. Kuroda, who was hit in the head by a line drive in Arizona last weekend, had another CT scan and additional tests yesterday with Dr. Vernon Williams, a Los Angeles neurologist specializing in concussions.

Royals: Alex Gordon, regarded in spring training as one of baseball's top prospects, was demoted to the minors yesterday by Kansas City. The 25-year-old third baseman, the No. 2 choice in the 2005 draft, batted .198 in 29 games this season. He was sent to Triple-A Omaha to make room for reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who was activated from the disabled list after missing 48 games with a groin strain.