Matsui, Damon among free-agent filings
World Series MVP Hideki Matsui became a free agent yesterday along with New York Yankees teammates Johnny Damon, Eric Hinske, Jose Molina and Xavier Nady.
Matsui and Damon both said after the Yankees' victory over the Phillies last week that they would like to stay with New York.
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.
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, 2-year contract with the knuckleballer.
Tampa Bay blocked Carl Crawford from becoming eligible for free agency by exercising a $10 million option on the All-Star leftfielder.
In other baseball news:
* All 27 active judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could take the unprecedented step of rehearing the baseball drug list case, which could delay a final resolution until at least 2011 and possibly later.
* Angel Villalona, 19, a top baseball prospect for the Giants, has been freed on bond after the family of the man he is accused of killing in a Sept. 19 bar shooting asked a judge in the Dominican Republic to drop the case.
Sport Stops
* Marat Safin extended his career by at least one more round, saving three match points to beat French qualifier Thierry Ascione, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) at the Paris Masters. Safin, 29, a three-time winner in Paris, is planning to retire after this tournament.
* Thousands of fans lined fairways and TV network helicopters circled overhead as Tiger Woods played his first round of golf in Australia in 11 years. Woods joined Australian veteran Craig Parry for a practice round at the Kingston Heath course near Melbourne, site of this week's Australian Masters.
Philly File
* Villanova football players Osayi Osunde, Chris Whitney and Angelo Babbaro have been named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District II All-Academic Team.
