FREE AGENTS Thome among earliest to file

Tom Glavine and Ivan Rodriguez were also among the 70 players filing for free agency.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Tom Glavine, Jim Thome and Ivan Rodriguez were among 70 players who filed for free agency Monday as baseball's off-season began.
Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox, who is under contract, also opted to explore the market, his right because the team exercised a provision in his deal that would defer most of his salary without interest.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Braves catcher Javy Lopez decided against free agency, deciding to exercise his $7 million option for 2003.
Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jeff Kent, Robb Nen and Cliff Floyd are among the 184 players potentially eligible to file for free agency by the Nov. 12 deadline.
Clemens is expected to decline his $10.3 million option with the Yankees, because his deal also includes a $10.3 million buyout. New York has an $11.5 million option on Pettitte.
Two Giants file
Shawon Dunston and Bill Mueller filed Monday from the NL champion San Francisco Giants, who lost Game 7 of the World Series 4-1 to Anaheim on Sunday night. No Angels filed.
San Francisco has two key players who are eligible but didn't file Monday: Kent, the 2000 NL MVP, and closer Nen, who must decide whether to exercise a player option for 2003.
Thome and his agent, Pat Rooney, are to meet Thursday with Indians owner Larry Dolan and general manager Mark Shapiro at Jacobs Field. The club will make a formal proposal to its career home run leader.
The Indians' offer is expected to include some attendance-based incentives similar to the ones St. Louis gave Mark McGwire.
Cleveland has also talked about renaming a portion of Jacobs Field "Thome Terrace" as part of its package.
Thomas, a two-time AL MVP, has until Dec. 7 to sign with another club or keep his contract with the White Sox, which calls for annual salaries in the next four seasons of $250,000 plus $10,125,000 deferred over 10 years without interest.
His contract had contained annual salaries of $9,927,000, including $3,827,000 deferred with interest, but the White Sox exercised a clause that allowed the team to change the salary because he didn't make the All-Star team and isn't going to finish among the top 10 in MVP voting or win a Silver Slugger this season.
Chicago general manager Kenny Williams and Thomas' agent, Arn Tellem, said they will continue negotiations.
"Although we are not surprised that Frank exercised his right to shop his services on the open market, and we understand there is a risk that he might find a more attractive offer elsewhere, we remain hopeful that we can reach some sort of agreement that would keep Frank with the White Sox," Williams said.
Chicago notified Thomas on Oct. 6 it was invoking the clause.
"We have had some very positive conversations over the past two weeks," Tellem said. "The White Sox have expressed their interest in retaining Frank, and we will continue to hold discussions with the Sox even while we are evaluating other options for Frank."