updated 9:53 p.m. ET June 28, 2005

ARLINGTON, Texas - Kenny Rogers avoided the disabled list Tuesday and may miss only one start for the Texas Rangers with the broken bone in his non-pitching hand.

Rogers missed his turn Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels because of the small broken bone at the base of his right pinkie. He sustained the break in a fit of anger after coming out of his last home start, June 17 against Washington.

When the Rangers made a move Tuesday to clear a roster spot for right-hander Joaquin Benoit, they optioned catcher Gerald Laird to Triple-A Oklahoma rather than put Rogers on the disabled list. John Wasdin started for Rogers.

Manager Buck Showalter said Rogers, who is 9-3 with a 2.46 ERA, could start this weekend at Seattle.

“That’s what we’re hoping,” Showalter said. “Any of those three days, depending on how he progresses. ... We thought he may be able to make his next start.”

Rogers was the AL ERA leader until Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox gave up just one run over 6 2-3 innings Tuesday night against Detroit to lower his ERA to 2.42.

Rogers broke the bone after he came out of the game against Washington, when he won his career-best ninth straight decision. The left-hander apparently was upset at an umpire’s call and took his frustration out on water coolers in the dugout.

Video clips showed Rogers knocking multiple coolers to the ground, then looking at his right hand, an indication that it was hurt.

Rogers still pitched last Wednesday at Los Angeles, giving up six runs, 10 hits and three walks in 3 1-3 innings.

The pitcher refused again Tuesday to talk to reporters, and ordered television cameras turned off around him. The 40-year-old left-hander has boycotted most media since a report before spring training that he threatened to retire if he wasn’t given a contract extension.

Owner Tom Hicks, who had told Rogers they could talk about a new contract after the All-Star break, said Tuesday that there had already been preliminary discussions with Rogers’ agent, Scott Boras.

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“Our guys have already talked to his agent enough to know we’re not going to make a deal anytime soon,” Hicks said. “I’m not even worried about it. We’ll worry about it at the end of the season.”

Rogers returned to Texas for the third time in January 2004 when he got a $6 million, two-year deal.

Showalter, meanwhile, tried to look at the positive side of Rogers being out.

“Hopefully, we’ll get him some extra rest and keep him strong for the second half,” Showalter said.

After making the All-Star team last season, Rogers was 4-5 with a 5.81 ERA in his 12 starts in August and September.

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