65 players file for free agency

Oct 30, 2008 - 10:42 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- As the Philadelphia Phillies were basking in the glow of their World Series victory, the rest of Major League Baseball began focusing on the 2009 season.

A total of 65 players filed for free agency on Thursday, the first day on which those eligible were permitted to do so under the league's basic agreement.

The free agency filing period runs through November 13.

While the St. Louis Cardinals led the way with six players filing, the Los Angeles Dodgers boasted the most attractive player in Manny Ramirez. The slugger, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the July 31 trade deadline, was exactly what Los Angeles needed in its run to the National League West Division title.

In 53 games with the Dodgers, the explosive Ramirez belted 17 homers and drove in 53 runs while hitting .396 (74-for-187). The 36-year-old added two blasts and three RBI in Los Angeles' three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series before homering twice and plating seven runs in its five-game loss to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.

The Dodgers also stand to lose righthander Derek Lowe, who also filed Thursday. Lowe, 35, went 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA in 34 starts during the regular season before going 1-1 in three playoff outings.

The neighboring Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim also may lose a slugger as Mark Teixeira has elected to test the free-agent market.

Obtained from the Atlanta Braves on July 29, Teixeira helped the Angels to the American League West Division crown, batting .358 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 54 games with the club. In the AL Division Series against Boston, the 28-year-old went 7-for-15 (.467) with one RBI as Anaheim lost in four games.

Fellow Angels Garret Anderson and righthander Jon Garland also filed, while future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, third baseman Casey Blake and lefthanded reliever Joe Beimel were the other Dodgers to decide to test the market.

Other prominent players to file Thursday were Cubs righthander Ryan Dempster, who posted a 17-6 record in his first season as a starter since 2003 with the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers co-ace Ben Sheets, New York Mets lefthander Oliver Perez, Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, Seattle Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez, Cardinals righthander Braden Looper, outfielder Bobby Abreu and catcher Ivan Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and outfielder Milton Bradley and third baseman Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers.

The world champion Phillies were one of six teams that did not have a player file. The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays also were in that group.