Beltran, Beltre lead the line for those filing for free agency

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran got off to a fast start in the free-agent market, too.

After hitting eight homers for the Houston Astros to tie the postseason record, the speedy center fielder was among 65 players who filed for free agency Thursday on the first possible day, just hours after Boston completed its historic sweep of St. Louis in the World Series.

Acquired during the season from Kansas City, Beltran has said he would consider re-signing with the Astros if they keep the core of the team together.

"I experienced being on a team where they don't do anything to help the ballclub," Beltran said. "One of my priorities if I stay with this ballclub will be keeping the young guys ... our young players have potential to be real good."

Beltran, who is represented by Scott Boras, could get the biggest deal of the offseason.

Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who led the major leagues with 48 home runs, also filed along with Dodgers outfielder Steve Finley. Beltre, also a Boras client, had arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove two large bone spurs from his left ankle.

"Obviously there's a lot of interest in those guys," Boras said. "We're getting a lot of calls, so we thought we'd file."

Also filing Thursday were Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado, Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez, Minnesota right-hander Brad Radke and Philadelphia right-hander Kevin Millwood.

While the Red Sox have 17 players potentially eligible for free agency, a group that includes Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek and Orlando Cabrera. Backup outfielder Gabe Kapler was the only player to file Thursday. Players may file through Nov. 11 and start negotiating money with any of the other 29 teams the following day.

Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter, sidelined since mid-September because of nerve damage in his right biceps, filed conditionally. St. Louis must decide whether to exercise a $2 million option for 2005.

Florida right-hander Carl Pavano and Philadelphia left-hander Eric Milton are among the other starting pitchers eligible to file.

Preliminary talks figure to start Nov. 8, when general managers gather for a week of meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla. The New York Yankees ended three days of high-level meetings in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday as they prepared for the offseason.

After becoming the first team to waste a 3-0 lead in a postseason series and lose to Boston in the AL championship series, New York may restart trade talks with Arizona for Randy Johnson.

"Make no mistake about it. We are hard at work and will be back with a strong team for our loyal New York Yankee fans," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement.

The Chicago Cubs made a pair of moves Thursday. They declined an $11.5 million mutual option on outfielder Moises Alou, choosing to pay a $2.5 million buyout, and also declined a $2.5 million option on second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, paying him a $250,000 buyout.

White Sox outfielder Carl Everett exercised his $4 million option, and Chicago exercised a $2.5 million option on closer Shingo Takatsu. The White Sox declined their $1 million option on catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., paying him a $50,000 buyout instead.

Craig Biggio's $3 million option was exercised Thursday by the Astros, who declined Jeff Kent's $9 million option and will pay the second baseman a $700,000 buyout.

However, general manager Gerry Hunsicker said the team "made it clear to him that we had interest in sitting down with him and bringing him back under another contract scenario."

The Colorado Rockies and Jeromy Burnitz both declined his $3 million mutual option, and the outfielder will get a $250,000 buyout.

Cleveland right-hander Scott Elarton, who was eligible for free agency, agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract.

There was one curious name among those who filed -- New York Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn, out most of the last two seasons with an arthritic left knee. Vaughn, who completed an $80 million, six-year contract, filed to get off the Mets' 40-man roster.