Cubs right-hander Rich Harden and outfielder Reed Johnson, along with White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik and backup catcher Ramon Castro,were among 79 major-league baseball players who filed for free agency Thursday, the first possible day.
Harden was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA this season, starting 26 games and pitching 141 innings. Limited by injuries, Johnson hit .255 with four homers and 22 RBI.
Podsednik hit .304 with seven homers and 48 RBI and stole 30 bases for the Sox. Castro hit .184 in limited action.
Among other notables to declare free agency were Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday and Boston Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay.
Instead of becoming a free agent, outfielder Bobby Abreu agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract to stay with the Angels.
• The Red Sox have acquired outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins for left-handers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:Ryan Williams ran for a season-high 179 yards, and No. 22 Virginia Tech avoided its first three-game losing streak in six years, holding off East Carolina 16-3 in Greenville, N.C.
GOLF:The first World Golf Championship in Asia opened Thursday in Shanghai to a leaderboard filled with Americans, led by Nick Watney and his 8-under 64 that tied the course record at the HSBC Champions and including Tiger Woods.
Ryan Moore, who qualified by winning his first PGA Tour event in August, shot a 6-under 66 to join a second-place tie with Shane Lowry of Ireland and Martin Kaymer of Germany.
Woods shot a 67 to tie Anthony Kim, Paul Casey and Lin Wen-Tang of Taiwan.
NBA:Carlos Boozer had 27 points and 14 rebounds, and Deron Williams totaled 27 points and nine assists as the Utah Jazz defeated the visiting San Antonio Spurs 113-99.
• The Sacramento Kings said leading scorer Kevin Martin has a hairline fracture in his left wrist. The team says treatment options are being evaluated.
TENNIS:Novak Djokovic won 6-0, 6-0 for the first time at an elite event, blanking Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
• No. 1 seed Andy Murray reached the Valencia (Spain) Open quarterfinals by topping Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Today he will face Albert Montanes, who advanced when defending champion David Ferrer withdrew with a hamstring injury.
AP