KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The news that catcher Toby Hall had an MRI taken on his right shoulder inadvertently led to general manager Ed Wade making his most definitive statement yet regarding free-agent backstop Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, rumored to be interested in signing with the Astros.

"We're not signing Pudge," Wade said. "Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."

Still, the Astros may be short a catcher should Hall's shoulder soreness linger through the spring. The 33-year-old veteran, one of four catchers auditioning for two available jobs, first noticed the injury while taking batting practice the second day of Spring Training.

"Your adrenaline goes out there and you're swinging hard," Hall said. "It was a pitch down and away and I went and got it and felt a weird burn."

Hall then tried throwing, but that did nothing but worsen the discomfort.

"It just kind of stiffened up," he said. "We'll see what the doc says and go from there. Hopefully it's nothing big."

The results are expected back later Wednesday afternoon or early Thursday.