CINCINNATI -- Kenny Rogers blocked a trade to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, choosing to pitch for the last-place Texas Rangers instead of joining a team in a playoff race.

Rogers invoked a no-trade clause in his contract to stop the proposed deal for three Reds minor leaguers. The swap was arranged over the weekend, and Rogers took time to talk about the proposed move with family and friends.

``This is a family issue,'' Rogers said before Texas played at Seattle. ``It made it tougher to make a decision. I didn't want to do anything they weren't prepared for.''

The Reds had lobbied Rogers to approve the trade. Manager Bob Boone and several players left phone messages, and general manager Jim Bowden spoke the pitcher several times by phone, trying to persuade him.

The 37-year-old Rogers is in the last year of a three-year contract. He is 10-5 with a 3.39 ERA this season for the Rangers, who are in last place in the AL West.

After leading the NL Central for 51 days earlier this season, the Reds are in second place behind St. Louis. They acquired right-hander Ryan Dempster from Florida this month, hoping for a boost, but the team feels it still needs another starter.

Dempster lasted only 2 1-3 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night that dropped the Reds a season-high 4½ games out of first place. The right-hander has started three games for the Reds and lost them all, giving up 20 hits and 16 runs in 12 innings.

To get Rogers, the Reds were willing to give up infielder David Espinosa, their top pick in 2000, along with outfielder Alan Moye and right-hander Josh Hall. Espinosa was a highly regarded shortstop out of high school, but has struggled defensively in his first two professional seasons.

Espinosa is hitting .245 in 95 games for Class-A Stockton this season, but has made 26 errors at second base. He batted .262 for Class A Dayton last year and made 48 errors in 122 games, most in the Midwest League.

Hall is 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in seven starts for Stockton. Moye, a third-round pick last year, is hitting .271 with four homers and 19 RBI for Billings, a rookie league team.