NEW YORK — While Daisuke Matsuzaka's status remained uncertain, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers found some pitching help.

Five days after a potential trade with the White Sox came apart, Houston acquired Jason Jennings and pitcher Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh — who all would have been sent to Chicago for Jon Garland.

Astros general manager Tim Purpura needed to replace Andy Pettitte, who left his hometown team Friday after three seasons to go back to the New York Yankees.

"This gives us a solid No. 2 starter and some depth in the bullpen," Purpura said. "It's an exciting day for us."

Eric Gagne and the Rangers reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract worth about $6 million.

The agreement was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The deal would allow Gagne to earn about $5 million more in performance bonuses.

"He's a guy who wants to win as well, so I think with him deciding to come here knowing what they're trying to do here, I think he also wants to be part of a winner," said Gagne's former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate, Kenny Lofton, who finalized his own $6 million deal with the Rangers.

Gagne, like Matsuzaka, is represented by agent Scott Boras. As the midnight Thursday deadline for Matsuzaka to sign approached, Red Sox officials left agent Boras' office Tuesday night apparently still apart.

"We're going back to Boston tomorrow," chairman Tom Werner said.

There was no evidence that progress was made Tuesday, when the Red Sox had said they would present their second offer.

"I'll have something for you maybe later in the day," Boras said when he left his office. It was unclear whether the sides were done for the night.

Asked if there would be additional talks, general manager Theo Epstein said: "That's up to Matsuzaka."

Boston bid $51.11 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, and the money only goes to his Japanese club, the Seibu Lions, if he reaches an agreement by Thursday's midnight deadline. If he doesn't, Boston keeps the money and Matsuzaka can't be offered to major league teams again until next November. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2008 season.