BASEBALL ROUNDUP | News and notes

Red Sox: General manager Theo Epstein walked away from his hometown team Monday, stunning Boston and the baseball world just one year after helping the franchise win its first World Series championship since 1918. "I gave my entire heart and soul to the organization," Epstein said in a statement. "During the process leading up to today's decision, I came to the conclusion that I can no longer do so."
Free agency: Baltimore's Sammy Sosa filed for free agency. Sosa was a bust in his first and likely only season with the Orioles, who acquired him from the Cubs in February with one year left on his $72 million four-year contract. The 36-year-old outfielder, fifth on the career list with 588 homers, was limited by injuries to 380 at-bats and hit .221 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs. ... The White Sox said Frank Thomas exercised his $10 million option, giving the team five days to decide whether to keep the best slugger in team history or buy out the oft-injured designated hitter for $3.5 million. ... The Cubs and Glendon Rusch agreed to a $6 million two-year contract, replacing a $2 million option he had for next season. He was 9-8 with a 4.52 ERA this year, making 19 starts and throwing his first shutout in nearly three years. ... Closer Braden Looper's $5.5 million option was declined by the Mets, who will pay the reliever a $250,000 buyout. New York also exercised right-hander Steve Trachsel's $2.5 million option and declined a $4 million option on first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who gets a $450,000 buyout. ... The Los Angeles Angels declined their $1,525,000 option on 36-year-old left-hander Jason Christiansen and will pay a $125,000 buyout. Christiansen was 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 games with the Angels, who obtained him from San Francisco on Aug. 30. He went 6-1 with a 5.36 ERA in 56 games with the Giants.
Player ratings: St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols took over the top spot from Carlos Delgado in major league baseball's annual player rankings. Pujols finished at 98.519 on a scale of 100, finishing just ahead of Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira (98.462), according to the compilation by the Elias Sports Bureau. Pujols and San Diego second baseman Mark Loretta (88.961) repeated as the top infielders at their positions in the NL, while Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins (87.192) took over from Edgar Renteria at shortstop and the Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez (88.67) replaced Scott Rolen at third. The Cubs' Michael Barrett (87.645) was the top catcher, a position A.J. Pierzynski held last year. Houston's Lance Berkman (94.8) and Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu (91.9) repeated in the outfield, and Florida's Miguel Cabrera (93.8) replaced Barry Bonds. Houston's Roy Oswalt (95.072) repeated as the top starting pitcher, and Philadelphia's Billy Wagner (93.854) replaced injured Eric Gagne as the top NL reliever. The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (92.857) was tops at third, replacing Oakland's Eric Chavez. Teixeira replaced Delgado at first, Detroit's Placido Polanco (88.36) took over from Bret Boone at second, Derek Jeter (92.208) replaced A-Rod at shortstop and Cleveland's Victor Martinez (88.095) was the top catcher instead of Javy Lopez. Boston's Manny Ramirez (96.056) was among the top three AL outfielders for the ninth time in 10 seasons -- he was the top designated hitter in 2002. The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero (97.183) repeated in the outfield, and the Yankees' Hideki Matsui (94.507) replaced teammate Gary Sheffield. Minnesota's Johan Santana (98.333) replaced Roy Halladay as the top AL starting pitcher, the Yankees' Mariano Rivera (95.421) took over from Keith Foulke at reliever and Cleveland's Travis Hafner (92.286) replaced Boston's David Ortiz as designated hitter.
Player ratings: St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols took over the top spot from Carlos Delgado in major league baseball's annual player rankings. Pujols finished at 98.519 on a scale of 100, finishing just ahead of Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira (98.462), according to the compilation by the Elias Sports Bureau. Pujols and San Diego second baseman Mark Loretta (88.961) repeated as the top infielders at their positions in the NL, while Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins (87.192) took over from Edgar Renteria at shortstop and the Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez (88.67) replaced Scott Rolen at third. The Cubs' Michael Barrett (87.645) was the top catcher, a position A.J. Pierzynski held last year. Houston's Lance Berkman (94.8) and Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu (91.9) repeated in the outfield, and Florida's Miguel Cabrera (93.8) replaced Barry Bonds. Houston's Roy Oswalt (95.072) repeated as the top starting pitcher, and Philadelphia's Billy Wagner (93.854) replaced injured Eric Gagne as the top NL reliever. The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (92.857) was tops at third, replacing Oakland's Eric Chavez. Teixeira replaced Delgado at first, Detroit's Placido Polanco (88.36) took over from Bret Boone at second, Derek Jeter (92.208) replaced A-Rod at shortstop and Cleveland's Victor Martinez (88.095) was the top catcher instead of Javy Lopez. Boston's Manny Ramirez (96.056) was among the top three AL outfielders for the ninth time in 10 seasons -- he was the top designated hitter in 2002. The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero (97.183) repeated in the outfield, and the Yankees' Hideki Matsui (94.507) replaced teammate Gary Sheffield. Minnesota's Johan Santana (98.333) replaced Roy Halladay as the top AL starting pitcher, the Yankees' Mariano Rivera (95.421) took over from Keith Foulke at reliever and Cleveland's Travis Hafner (92.286) replaced Boston's David Ortiz as designated hitter.
Devil Rays: Tampa Bay picked up one-year options Monday on closer Danys Baez and shortstop Julio Lugo. Coming off a career-high 41 saves last season, Baez will make $4 million next year. The team could have given him a $1 million buyout. Lugo's deal called for a $4.95 million salary or a $100,000 buyout.
Astros: Houston rewarded manager Phil Garner on Monday for leading the club to its first World Series by extending his contract by one season to 2007.
Associated Press