updated 9:10 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2006

NEW YORK - Jeff Suppan filed for free agency Wednesday after earning MVP honors for the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL championship series against the New York Mets.

Suppan pitched eight shutout innings for the victory in Game 3, then allowed one run over seven innings in Game 7, which the Cardinals went on to win 3-1 on Yadier Molina’s ninth-inning homer.

Suppan did not get a decision in the World Series, allowing three runs over six innings in Game 4 against Detroit, which St. Louis won 5-4. He was 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA during the regular season.

Four other players filed Wednesday: Washington pitcher Ramon Ortiz, Colorado reliever Jose Mesa, San Diego first baseman-outfielder Ryan Klesko and San Francisco infielder Pedro Feliz.

Mesa, who made $2,125,000 this season, had a $3 million option that Colorado declined Wednesday. He receives a $515,000 buyout, of which $250,000 already had been advanced to him.

The 40-year-old right-hander went 1-5 with a 3.86 ERA in a career-high 79 appearances.

A total of 148 players have filed for free agency, and about 45 more are potentially eligible to file by the Nov. 11 deadline.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Handicapping the Halladay chase Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay   CTB: Should the Yankees get younger? DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach CTB: A prediction — Lackey will sign with Yankees CTB: Indians unlikely to deal Wood this offseason CTB: Mets could be interested in Royals’ Guilllen Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz SCORES, SCHEDULES, STANDINGS, STATS Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: