8:33 AM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) McLaughlin said on the Cardinals' television broadcast Wednesday that Rick Ankiel has retired from baseball.

6:07 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel stated in an interview on Sirius XM on Friday that he's still open to playing in 2014.

7:04 AM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports that free agent Rick Ankiel is willing to extend his career in 2014, even if that involves taking a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

5:22 AM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel has elected to become a free agent.

4:28 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Mets are expected to designate Rick Ankiel for assignment before Sunday's game in order to make room on the roster for Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

5:51 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Friday's loss to the Marlins.

12:23 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel tripled and doubled twice against the Reds on Wednesday.

12:06 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Saturday against the Cubs.

7:30 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) Ankiel went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI but the Mets fell to the Cardinals on Wednesday.

12:30 PM - Rick Ankiel (NYM) manager Terry Collins said Monday that Rick Ankiel and Juan Lagares will platoon in center field.

11:52 AM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Rubin of ESPN New York reports that outfielder Rick Ankiel has agreed to a deal with the Mets.

11:17 AM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Mets are "in talks on a deal" with outfielder Rick Ankiel.

12:44 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) released OF Rick Ankiel.

2:19 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) designated OF Rick Ankiel for assignment.

7:30 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel hit his fifth home run of the season Monday against the Mariners.

7:20 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel belted his fourth homer of the season, helping to power the Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Indians on Friday.

3:05 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel delivered his second pinch-hit homer of the season Wednesday in the ninth inning against the A's.

7:19 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Rick Ankiel delivered a three-run homer off Derek Lowe in the bottom of the sixth as the Astros beat the Rangers 8-2 on Sunday.

10:29 AM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) purchased the contract of OF Rick Ankiel from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

12:42 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel homered, doubled and drove in four runs in the Astros' 11-4 rout of the Tigers on Thursday.

1:38 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel came off the bench to supply the Astros' only two hits -- a double and a homer -- Saturday against the Braves.

1:52 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) Ankiel went 2-for-2 with a home run Thursday as the Astros topped a Yankees split-squad 7-6.

7:35 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Rick Ankiel will earn $750,000 if he makes the Astros roster out of spring training.

3:38 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) manager Bo Porter fully believes that Rick Ankiel will earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, provided he performs the way that he's capable of.

1:03 PM - Rick Ankiel (Hou) signed OF Rick Ankiel to a minor league contract with a spring training invite.