INQUIRER Sports

CHICAGO - Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, the World Series Most Valuable Player for the New York Yankees, became a free agent on Monday as the first moves ahead of the 2010 Major League Baseball season began.

Matsui and Johnny Damon were the top names among five Yankees and 151 players overall who have made themselves free to accept offers from any club following the end of the World Series and ahead of a November 19 deadline.

Although both said they want to stay with the Yankees after helping bring the team a Major League Baseball victory over Philadelphia for a 27th World Series crown, the Yankees have said it is too early to ponder plans for 2010.

The Phillies saw third baseman Pedro Feliz and teammates Matt Stairs, Paul Bako and relief pitcher Chan Ho Park of South Korea file for free agency.

The Boston Red sox picked up a $7.7 million option year on infielder Victor Martinez but declined a $6 million deal for shortstop Alex Gonzalez and a five million-dollar option on catcher Jason Varitek.

Boston also signed 43-year-old knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield to a two-year contract worth five million dollars rather than pick up a deal worth four million for next season.

Tampa Bay kept leftfielder Carl Crawford on the Rays by picking up his $10 million option.

The personnel moves came as team general managers prepared to gather Tuesday and Wednesday in Chicago, where issues such as increasing video replay availability to umpires could be discussed.

Potential trades and signings are often the major topic of talks and the two clubs with the biggest payrolls beyond the $201 million spent this year by the Yankees figure to be spending free again.

The New York Mets spent almost $136 million but finished 70-92 while the Chicago Cubs were third in payroll price tag at $135 million ahead of new owner Tom Ricketts taking over the team, which last won a Series in 1908.