By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK(AP) -- World Series MVP Hideki Matsui became a free agent
Monday along with New York Yankees teammates Johnny Damon, Eric
Hinske, Jose Molina and Xavier Nady.
Matsui and Damon both said after the Yankees' six-game victory
over Philadelphia last week that they would like to stay with
New York. The Yankees said it was too early to address how they
want to formulate their team for 2010.
Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz also filed Monday, as did
teammates Matt Stairs, Chan Ho Park and Paul Bako. Feliz's $5.5
million option was declined by Philadelphia on Sunday.
Also among the 31 players filing were Minnesota shortstop
Orlando Cabrera, Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield and Colorado
pitcher Jose Contreras. There are 151 players who have filed
since the end of the World Series, and 28 more potentially are
eligible to file by the Nov. 19 deadline.
Boston prevented Victor Martinez from filing by exercising a
$7.7 million option on the catcher-first baseman. The Red Sox
declined a $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who
gets a $500,000 buyout and immediately filed.
Boston also declined a $5 million option on captain Jason
Varitek, and the catcher now must decide whether to exercise a
$3 million player option. Rather than exercise its $4 million
option on Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox agreed to a $5 million,
two-year contract with 43-year-old knuckleballer.
Tampa Bay blocked Carl Crawford from becoming eligible for free
agency by exercising a $10 million option on the All-Star left
fielder. The Rays declined $2 million options on left-handed
reliever Brian Shouse and backup catcher Gregg Zaun. Shouse gets
a $200,000 buyout and Zaun receives a $500,000 buyout.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Will Ohman filed after the team
declined his $2.2 million option. He gets a $200,000 buyout.
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