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 …

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.

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 …

Work to do  —  World champion Cardinals due for makeover in '07  —  Usually, when your team comes out of nowhere to win the World Series, your biggest fear is that the general manager gets complacent and refuses to tinker with his roster.  —  The Twins won the World Series in 1987.

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.

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 …

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 …

Vote for your favorite MLB broadcaster  —  Final vote-getter to receive prestigious Ford C. Frick Award  —  Fans with a keen ear for the sounds that emanate from baseball's broadcast booths will have a chance to put their favorite announcers in position to be honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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 …

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.

With outlook healthy, Sox pick up Wakefield option  —  The Red Sox yesterday announced they have exercised the $4 million option they hold on Tim Wakefield's contract for 2007, after a season in which the knuckleballer turned 40, spent more time (seven weeks) on the disabled list …

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.

O's Find Soriano Is Seeking A Rich Free Agent Payday  —  The Baltimore Orioles, according to a team source, began preliminary discussions with Washington Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano , and were floored by the free agent's initial contract outline.  —  According to the source …

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 …

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.