All-Stars Manny Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Ben Sheets, Milton Bradley, Jason Varitek and Joe Crede were among the 65 players who filed for free agency Thursday, the first day of MLB's 15-day filing period for eligible players.

Bradley, who led the American League with a .436 on-base percentage as the Rangers' designated hitter, and Ramirez, who helped the Dodgers win the National League West crown after coming over from Boston in a July trade, head the list of outfielders among the first-day filers.

Another, Ken Griffey Jr., is expected to join them after the Chicago White Sox on Thursday declined Griffey's $16 million option for the 2009 season. Crede, the first White Sox third baseman to make the All-Star team in 16 years, also filed, as did infielder Juan Uribe.

Other outfielders filing Thursday included Garret Anderson (Angels), Jay Payton (Orioles), Jim Edmonds (Cubs), Bobby Abreu (Yankees), Gabe Kapler (Brewers), Emil Brown (A's), Raul Ibanez (Mariners) and Brad Wilkerson (Blue Jays).

Dempster won 17 games for the NL Central champion Cubs and hopes to remain with the team.

"Absolutely. I love it here," Dempster said two days after the Cubs were swept from the NLDS for the second straight season. "I love the city. I love playing here. Hopefully, everything works out."

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry shared the feeling.

"Ryan knows we want him to stay here, and he's never expressed a desire that he wants to leave," Hendry said recently. "Certainly, the year he had and type of clubhouse presence he is and total team guy, we certainly have every intention of trying to keep Ryan."

Dempster went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 33 starts, striking out 187 in the final year of a three-year, $15.5 million contract.

Sheets, the NL starter in the Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium, helped Milwaukee reach the playoffs for the first time since 1982. The right-hander went 13-9 with a 3.02 ERA and tied teammate CC Sabathia for the league lead with three shutouts.

Sheets was one of four Brewers to file Thursday, along with pitchers Eric Gagne and Brian Shouse and infielder Mike Lamb.

Twenty-one other pitchers joined the free-agent ranks, including Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux and Joe Beimel (Dodgers), Bob Howry and Chad Fox (Cubs), Will Ohman and Julian Tavarez (Braves), Jeremy Affeldt and Mike Lincoln (Reds), Freddy Garcia (Tigers), Brendan Donnelly (Indians), Jon Garland (Angels), Eddie Guardado and Dennys Reyes (Twins), Oliver Perez and Matt Wise (Mets), Sidney Ponson (Yankees), Braden Looper, Russ Springer and Ron Villone (Cardinals).

Several infielders filed Thursday, with first baseman Mark Teixeira the most noteworthy of the bunch.

Teixeira is coming off a fine season during which he batted a combined .308 with 33 homers and 121 RBIs for the Braves and Angels. A two-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, the 28-year-old Teixeira led the AL with 370 total bases in 2005 and has averaged more than 300 per season during his six years in the Major Leagues.

Mark Loretta (Astros), Mark Grudzielanek (Royals), Kevin Millar (Orioles), Alex Cora (Red Sox), Casey Blake (Dodgers), Nick Punto (Twins), Damion Easley (Mets), Cesar Izturis and Felipe Lopez (Cardinals) and Chris Gomez and Doug Mientkiewicz (Pirates) were among the other infielders to file.

Varitek, the Red Sox captain, is a free agent for the first time since 2004. The 36-year-old catcher batted .220 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 2008, his 12th season with Boston. He is joined in the free-agent field by Red Sox teammate Dave Ross, Ivan Rodriguez, Paul Lo Duca and Jason LaRue.

The free agency filing period continues through Nov. 13. During that time players can sign only with their 2008 clubs, but they can begin discussions with other clubs on issues other than salary.