Rangers castoffs Palmeiro, Rogers join free-agent ranks

NEW YORK -- Rafael Palmeiro became a free agent Friday following a tumultuous season in which he became the highest-profile player suspended for steroids.

Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers also filed, not wanted back by the Rangers after throwing a tantrum and shoving two television cameramen.

Also among the 54 players filing Friday were Boston center fielder Johnny Damon, New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Cleveland pitcher Kevin Millwood, Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman.

Palmeiro became the fourth player in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 homers, but on Aug. 1 was suspended for 10 days after testing positive for stanozolol.

The 40-year-old, who in March told a congressional committee that he had never used steroids, went 2-for-26 with one RBI when he came back and wore earplugs during a game in Toronto.

Baltimore sent him home Sept. 5 to rehabilitate his right knee. When he was ready to return in late September, the team told him not to bother, and he finished with a .266 average, 18 homers and 60 RBIs.

Before Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie was let go at the end of the season, Beattie said "it would be very tough for him to come back in an Oriole uniform."

Rogers, a 40-year-old left-hander, went 14-8 with a 3.46 ERA and was an All-Star for the second straight season. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig suspended him for 20 games after Rogers' June 29 tirade, a penalty reduced to 13 games by an arbitrator.

There was one deal Friday among players eligible for free agency, with left-hander Jeff Fassero agreeing to a $750,000, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Jose Mesa filed for free agency Friday after the Pittsburgh Pirates elected to pay a $500,000 buyout rather than exercise a $4 million option. The 39-year-old right-hander had 70 saves in two years with Pittsburgh but lost his closer's job late in the season after blowing his final three save chances.

Esteban Loaiza became a free agent after the Washington Nationals exercised their $4.5 million option and he exercised his contractual right to void it. He went 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA.

The Cincinnati Reds declined a $4.55 million on right-hander Ramon Ortiz and turned down their $2 million mutual option with infielder Rich Aurilia.

Ortiz gets a $175,000 buyout and is eligible for salary arbitration. He was 9-11 with a 5.36 ERA in 30 starts last season. Aurilia, who gets a $150,000 buyout, batted .282 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs. He becomes eligible for free agency.

Among the approximately 200 players eligible for free agency, 115 have filed. The remainder have until Nov. 10, and free agents can start talking money with all teams the following day.

In a deal with a player eligible for salary arbitration, Cleveland agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract with infielder Ramon Vazquez.