Cashman says A-Rod will remain Yankee

Joe Torre will be back with the New York Yankees and it looks as though A-Rod will be, too.

General manager Brian Cashman said the team had no intention of trading Alex Rodriguez, who failed to drive in a run in the playoffs for the second straight year and was dropped to eighth in the batting order.

“I fully expect him to be here,” Cashman said Tuesday. “We’re going to figure this thing out together.”

Earlier, Torre said he would return as manager for his 12th season.

Rodriguez, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, struggled during his third season with the Yankees and was booed throughout the year by fans at Yankee Stadium.

Rodriguez, the reigning American League MVP, hit .290 with 35 homers and 121 RBIs, and his 24 errors were the most among A.L. third basemen. He went 1 for 14 (.071) in the first-round playoff loss to Detroit and is 4 for 41 (.098) with no RBIs in his last 12 postseason games.

Floyd’s status up in air

Cliff Floyd limped into the Mets clubhouse with a protective boot on his injured left foot and made his best case to remain on the team’s roster in the National League Championship Series.

He left the rest up to manager Willie Randolph.

“It’s all right,” Floyd said after New York’s workout. “Whatever he says the lineup is going to be, it’s going to be.”

The Mets must make a decision on Floyd by the time they finalize their NLCS roster this morning, about 10 hours before Game 1 against St. Louis.

Twins keep Hunter

Torii Hunter will be back with the Minnesota Twins for at least one more year. Beyond that, it’s tough to tell.

The Twins picked up their 2007 option on Hunter’s contract and his $12 million salary will be the largest single-season sum in team history.

A’s will start Harden

Rich Harden got the nod to start Game 3 of the A.L. Championship Series for the Oakland Athletics even though he’s made only three starts since early June.

Harden has the best stuff of any A’s starter, but missed 31/2 months with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

Weaver gets nod for Cardinals

Jeff Weaver endured the embarrassment of getting cut by the Angels in late June to make room for his little brother Jered. Now, it’s all worked out. Weaver is about to start the opener of the N.L. Championship Series.

“Without Weaver, I hate to think where we’d be,” St. Louis Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.

Weaver will oppose the Mets’ Tom Glavine tonight in New York.