ATLANTA -- Javy Lopez appears to be headed elsewhere after eight seasons as the Atlanta Braves' starting catcher.

	Lopez

Lopez and closer John Smoltz were among eight Braves who filed for free agency Monday. On Tuesday, starter John Burkett and infielders Ken Caminiti and Keith Lockhart filed.

Also filing Monday were relievers Steve Karsay, Steve Reed and Rudy Seanez, shortstop Rey Sanchez, first baseman Julio Franco and infielder Kurt Abbott.

"I wouldn't say it's not out of the realm of possibility that he'd be back, but right now I'd say more than likely he'll be going somewhere else," said Lopez' agent, Chuck Berry.

"We talked to the team and they've indicated basically that they're not ready to move forward with anything at this point," Berry said Tuesday.

He said he had talked to Frank Wren, Atlanta's assistant general manager recently and no contract offer was made.

"I'm not going to comment publicly," John Schuerholz, Atlanta's general manager said Tuesday.

Berry said the Braves made an offer in the spring to extend Lopez's contract for three years, but the catcher balked when the club would not include a no-trade clause.

The deal was for a reported $23 million.

Berry wouldn't confirm that figure, but indicated Lopez would command at least that as a free agent.

"I think he's probably the best of the free-agent catchers out there. I think there'll be substantial interest. The trick will be trying to find the best match," said Berry.

Lopez, who turned 31 Monday, made $7.75 million last season. He hit .267, his lowest since his 1994 rookie season, and had 17 homers and 66 RBI.

Smoltz, who earned $8 million last season, came back from elbow problems to become Atlanta's closer. He earned 10 saves in 11 chances after opening the season on the disabled list and struggling as a starter before shifting to the bullpen.

The 34-year-old right-hander has spent his entire major league career with the Braves, winning the 1996 NL Cy Young award.

Atlanta is expected to make a big pitch to keep Smoltz, hoping to keep him in the closer's role. That plan could be hampered by expected cutbacks in the payroll.

"I'd sure love to have John back," said Schuerholz. "I'd love to have them (Braves free agents) all back, but I don't know if that's possible."

Karsay and Reed were acquired in a June trade that sent controversial closer John Rocker to Cleveland. With the Braves, Karsay was 3-4 with seven saves and a 3.43 ERA. Reed went 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA and one save.

Karsay made $2.7 million, Reed earned $1.6 million.

Seanez returned to the Braves after being acquired just before the postseason deadline from San Diego. He had a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings for Atlanta.

Franco, who is at least 40 and possibly older, was signed by the Braves from the Mexican League and wound up starting at first base, but the team is expected to look for a younger player at that position.

Sanchez was acquired from Kansas City just before the trade deadline, batting .227 with no homers and nine RBI as a fill-in for Rafael Furcal, the 2000 rookie of the year who underwent shoulder surgery.

Abbott, a backup infielder, played only six games in Atlanta. He never returned after undergoing a hernia operation.

Tom Glavine and B.J. Surhoff also would have been eligible for free agency, but reached performance options, extending their Atlanta contracts another year.

The Braves have two other potential free agents, catcher Eddie Perez and outfielder Bernard Gilkey.

Overall, 21 players filed for free agency Tuesday, including two members of the world champion Arizona Diamondbacks -- outfielder Reggie Sanders and right-hander Albie Lopez.

In the first two days of the free agency filing period, 126 of 161 potential eligible players entered their names. Players can begin filing the day following the World Series, the opening of the 15-day period.

Many filed early this year, possibly reflecting a rush by players to become free agents before the baseball's collective bargaining agreement expired Tuesday.

Commissioner Bud Selig, however, announced Tuesday that owners would not lock out players or freeze signings.

Sterling Hitchcock and Luis Sojo became the sixth and seventh players from the AL champion New York Yankees to file. Former Yankees pitcher David Cone, who won nine games with the Red Sox last season, also made himself eligible.

Jose Rijo, the Cincinnati pitcher who returned to the major leagues in August after five elbow surgeries and a six-year absence, became a free agent. Right-hander Pete Harnisch, who lost most of his season with elbow ailments and surgery, and right-hander Joey Hamilton also filed for free agency. Harnisch opted for free agency after the Reds reinstated him from the 60-day disabled list.

Rijo, the Reds' most valuable player in their 1990 World Series sweep of Oakland, returned to the big leagues Aug. 17 and had no record with a 2.12 ERA in 13 relief appearances. Harnisch went 1-3 with a 6.37 ERA in seven starts this season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Aug. 9 on his right elbow to remove bone chips and to repair a torn flexor muscle.

Hamilton began the season with Toronto and went 5-8 with a 5.89 ERA in 22 starts before being was released Aug. 3. The Reds signed him to a minor league contract two weeks later. He joined the Reds on Sept. 10 and went 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in four starts.

Left-hander Scott Radinsky signed a one-year deal worth $600,000 to return to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. Catcher Tim Laker, who played in only 16 games for the Indians last season -- hitting .182 with one home run and nine RBI -- also signed. Terms of his deal were not announced. Laker was eligible for arbitration.

The New York Mets exercised their option on outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, agreeing to pay him $1.35 million for the 2002 season.