09:51 AM EDT on Friday, October 28, 2005

First baseman Kevin Millar and third baseman Bill Mueller filed for free agency yesterday, early moves in an offseason in which the Boston Red Sox could part with key players from their 2004 World Series championship team.

Three other members of that club, center fielder Johnny Damon and relievers Mike Timlin and Mike Myers, also are eligible to file. So are first baseman John Olerud, second baseman Tony Graffanino and reliever Matt Mantei, who all joined the team before or during last season.

Free-agent list, Page D6.

Millar and Mueller joined the Red Sox as free agents in 2003 but are not the team's top priorities. Millar struggled much of the year, hitting only nine homers, and Mueller would cost them more than backup Kevin Youkilis, who has split the last two seasons between the Red Sox and the minors.

Millar hit 25 homers in 2003 but faded in 2005 to his worst season with Boston, hitting .272 with 50 RBIs. He was 1-for-3 with 1 RBI in two games in this year's A.L. division series in which the Red Sox were swept in three games by the Chicago White Sox.

Mueller led the A.L. with a .326 batting average in 2003 and hit .295 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs in 2005. He was 0-for-11 in the series against Chicago.

ROUNDUP BOWDEN GETS EXTENSION: General manager Jim Bowden was given a six-month contract extension by the Washington Nationals yesterday, a deal that allows him to oversee offseason moves while new ownership is pending. Bowden's old contract was set to expire Monday; the new one lasts through the end of April.

NATIONALS SIGN PAIR: Infielders Damian Jackson and Bernie Castro signed one-year, free-agent contracts with the Washington Nationals yesterday. The 32-year-old Jackson offers versatility and speed: He appeared at six defensive positions for the San Diego Padres this season (second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots) and stole 15 bases in 17 attempts. Castro, a 26-year-old second baseman who made his big league debut in 2005, batted .288 with six steals in 24 games with Baltimore. He hit .315 and stole 41 bases in 47 attempts at Triple-A Ottawa.

JAYS FIRE McCLEARY: Tim McCleary was fired as assistant general manager of the Blue Jays yesterday after holding the job since 1995. McCleary's responsibilities included contract negotiations, budgeting and arbitration. Before coming to Toronto, he was an assistant GM with the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays (80-82) finished 15 games out of first place in the A.L. East.