7 More File For Free-Agency

Joey Cora and Doug Jones of the Cleveland Indians were among seven players filing for free agency Thursday, raising the total to 116.

Also filing were Boston's Tim Naehring, Kansas City's Ricky Bones, Minnesota's Terry Steinbach, Oakland's Dave Magadan and St. Louis' Bobby Witt.

Approximately 28 players are still eligible to file by the Nov. 5 deadline.

Cubs pitcher Mike Morgan, who allowed Mark McGwire's record-tying 61st home run, became eligible Thursday when Chicago declined his $1.5 million option and elected to pay a $150,000 buyout. Morgan, 39, joined the Cubs for a second time Aug. 25 and went 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in five starts. He began the season with the Minnesota Twins, going 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA.

Padres re-sign Joyner

SAN DIEGO -- Free agent Wally Joyner took a pay cut to re-sign with the San Diego Padres, agreeing Thursday to a two-year contact with an option for a third year.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed. But the 36-year-old first baseman said he accepted less money than the $3.7 million he made last season while helping the Padres win the National League championship.

Joyner batted .298 with 12 home runs and 80 RBI in his third season with the Padres and his 13th in the major leagues. He also ranked second in the major leagues with a .412 atting average with runners in scoring position.

Joyner, who had previous stints in Anaheim and Kansas City, said he didn't consider moving to any other clubs during negotiations.

"I've played for three. I think that's enough," Joyner said. "I can't imagine a better place to play than San Diego. A player's goal is to get to the World Series. We did that this year. Hopefully, with the decisions being made with free agency, we'll have that possibility again next year. I can't imagine us dropping off too much."

Joyner is the first free agent to re-sign with the Padres; others include pitcher Kevin Brown, third baseman Ken Caminiti, outfielder Steve Finely and catcher Carlos Hernandez.

Rockies, Padres complete trade

DENVER -- Completing an earlier trade with the San Diego Padres, the Colorado Rockies on Thursday acquired outfielder Kevin Burford as the player to be named in the deal that sent John Vander Wal to San Diego on Aug. 31.

In a separate transaction, the Rockies purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Roberto Ramirez from the Padres.

Burford, 21, was a 15th-round draft choice of the Padres in June 1997. That season, he hit .389 with 50 RBIs in just 47 games to earn league MVP honors for Peoria of the Arizona Rookie League. This past season the left-handed-hitting outfielder hit .258 with six homers and 55 RBI in 123 games at Clinton.

Ramirez, a four-time Mexican League All-Star, compiled a 73-32 record and 3.34 ERA in eight seasons with Mexico City. His .695 winning percentage is the highest in Mexican League history.

Ramirez, 26, was 5-0 this past season with Mexico City before being acquired by the Padres on April 23.

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