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The passing of physicals is all that stands in the way of the Pirates sending Kendall to the Oakland Athletics for left-handed pitchers Mark Redman and Arthur Rhodes in a cost-cutting move that will save the franchise at least $15 million in salary.

An official announcement will come as soon as Redman and Rhodes take their physicals at PNC Park, and that won't happen until after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kendall, who has a blanket no-trade clause in his contract, was told yesterday to prepare for a deal by his agent, Dan Lozano. Contacted yesterday, Kendall said he would agree to waive his no-trade clause to play for the Athletics.

"I know they've been talking very seriously," Kendall said. "I don't want to say anything else until something official happens."

Kendall has said that if he ever agreed to leave the Pirates, it would be to play for a winner on the West Coast. The A's, who have been to the American League playoffs three of the past four seasons, fit both criteria.

An indication the trade was near completion came yesterday when the Pirates removed the three-time All-Star catcher's likeness from the banner atop their team web site.

"I'm aware there has been a lot of speculation about Jason," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said last night. "As we have said many times, we're open-minded to doing things that make sense to help us improve as a team."

The deal has serious financial ramifications for a Pirates franchise that reported $30 million in losses during the 2003 season. The 30-year-old Kendall has three years and $32.5 million remaining on his deal (plus another $1.5 million in deferred compensation), and he would have accounted for more than one-fourth of the team's payroll next season.

Combined, Rhodes and Redman will make about $15 million over the next two years.

The deal is expected to save the Pirates about $2.5 million in 2005 and about $3.4 million in 2006. Kendall is owed $13 million for 2007, but a source close to the negotiations said the Pirates have agreed to pay a portion of Kendall's contract for that season.

The Pirates have been trying to trade Kendall almost since the day they signed him to a six-year, $60-million extension in November 2000. They nearly had Kendall traded to the San Diego Padres last January for catcher Ramon Hernandez and infielder Jeff Cirillo. But Padres owner John Moores nixed the deal at the 11th hour, deciding he didn't want to be responsible for the back-loaded portion of Kendall's contract.

Redman, a 30-year-old starter, will make $4.25 million next year. He will be paid either a $4.5 million player option or a $4.95 million club option in 2006. Rhodes, a 35-year-old reliever, will earn about $6.2 million over the next two years.

The trade comes after Kendall's ninth season - and one of his best - with the Pirates. He batted .319 with 32 doubles, three homers and 51 RBI in 145 games. He led all major-league catchers in games, on-base percentage (.399), runs scored (86) and hits (183).

With his career .387 on-base percentage, Kendall would be a natural fit for the A's, who covet players that work the count and draw walks. Kendall also is a career .306 hitter and the Pirates' all-time leader in games caught.

Redman is coming off a season in which he went 11-12 with a 4.71 ERA and two complete games in 32 starts. A six-year veteran, Redman would be the elder statesman in the Pirates rotation and give the team a left-hander to complement Oliver Perez. His best season was 2003, when he won 14 games for the world champion Florida Marlins.

Rhodes, a 14-year veteran, failed as the A's closer last year, converting only nine of 14 save opportunities before the team traded for Octavio Dotel. Rhodes also missed seven weeks with a back strain and went 3-3 with a 5.12 ERA in 37 appearances. Left-handed batters hit .314 against him.

Rhodes would provide a veteran presence to a bullpen that counted rookies Mike Gonzalez, John Grabow, Mike Johnston and Frank Brooks as its left-handers last season.

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