Nats/Expos announcers on Frick ballot  —  Montreal and DC fans can vote for their favorite broadcaster  —  WASHINGTON — Bob Carpenter, Tom Paciorek, Jacques Doucet, Rodger Brulotte and Claude Raymond are among the nearly 200 nominees for the Ford C. Frick Award, which has been presented annually since 1978 …

Steinbrenner OK after falling ill at granddaughter's play  —  New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fell ill while attending his granddaughter's performance of Cabaret on Sunday at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., but is fine Tuesday in Tampa, Fla., according to his spokesman.

KENNEDY INTRIGUED BY METS  —  Playing for the Mets appeals to Adam Kennedy.  —  Kennedy, one of the elite options among free-agent second basemen this winter, has spent the last seven seasons with the Angels.  He filed for free agency on Sunday, however, and yesterday his agent, Paul Cohen …

Phillies in Position to Build a Challenger to the Mets  —  Only 100 miles of turnpike separate the Mets from their closest National League neighbors, the Philadelphia Phillies, which should be enough to fuel a natural rivalry.  But in 44 years, rarely have the teams contended at the same time …

Heilman on Cubs' radar  —  Carlos Zambrano and Rich Hill appear to be the only two certainties for the Cubs rotation next spring, so general manager Jim Hendry is likely looking to fill three spots this winter.  —  Hendry will try to bring in one or two front-line starters through free agency …

How high will bids go for Japanese superstar?  —  Lou Melendez will know before anyone else who has won the bidding rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka, the most celebrated Japanese pitcher to hit the major leagues since Hideo Nomo more than 10 years ago.  —  Melendez is Major League Baseball's vice president …

Williams files for free agency  —  Longest-tenured Yankee unsure what 2007 will hold  —  NEW YORK — Bernie Williams filed for free agency on Tuesday, and the veteran outfielder must decide whether he wants to play in 2007 or retire after a 16-year career.

Ramirez opts for free agency  —  Third baseman, in negotations with Cubs, activates clause  —  CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez was among 39 Major Leaguers who filed for free agency on Monday, but that doesn't mean the third baseman is leaving the Cubs.  —  Ramirez exercised an opt-out clause in his contract …

Baird tabbed as Epstein's assistant  —  New England native considered a top talent evaluator  —  BOSTON — Three months of work from one of his special-assignment scouts was enough to impress Theo Epstein.  On Tuesday, Boston's general manager tabbed Allard Baird as his new assistant.

Immiration officials go after agent  —  Agent accused of smuggling Cuban baseball players  —  MIAMI (AP) — An agent for baseball players illegally smuggled Cuban players into the United States, eventually shipping them to California in hopes that they would be signed by major league teams, federal immigration officials said Tuesday.

Clemens, Pettitte to file for free agency  —  Both pitchers unsure where, or whether, they'll play in 2007  —  HOUSTON — Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte said Tuesday they will file for free agency in the coming weeks but haven't decided whether they will return for the 2007 season.

Major League Baseball Productions to premiere MLB 2006: In The Clutch presented by Pepsi  —  One-hour ESPN special to unveil the 2006 All-Clutch Team  —  Major League Baseball Productions, the Emmy® award-winning in-house television and video production division of Major League Baseball …

Brantley named new Reds broadcaster  —  Former big-league pitcher, ESPN analyst returns to Cincy  —  CINCINNATI — As a kid growing up in Birmingham, Ala., Jeff Brantley was a huge fan of the Reds and the "Big Red Machine."  And in the days long before satellite and cable sports on television …

Bagwell's Astros career comes to end  —  Club declines option on first baseman's contract for 2007  —  HOUSTON — As expected, the Houston Astros opted to decline the option on first baseman Jeff Bagwell for the 2007 season on Tuesday.  The club will instead pay the $7 million buyout of the '07 option.