Deadline for Free Agency Extended

The baseball owners’ player relations committee reached a provisional agreement with the players’ union Tuesday that allows 12 additional players to file for free agency during the current filing period.

They will be eligible if owners approve a labor agreement that includes restoration of service time for the 75 regular-season days they were on strike in 1994-95.

The filing period, which began Sunday, normally covers 15 days but it has been extended through Nov. 14 to give owners more time to reach a decision on the pending labor agreement. Owners are expected to meet in Chicago next Monday or Wednesday to vote on the deal. The ruling executive council is expected to set the date during a conference call today.

Players who file for free agency can talk to other clubs but cannot receive an offer nor sign with another club before Nov. 15, the day after the filing period ends.

Among the 12 players who will be eligible for free agency if the agreement is approved: Chicago White Sox pitcher Alex Fernandez, Montreal Expo outfielder Moises Alou and relief pitcher Mel Rojas, Boston Red Sox infielder Tim Naehring and Oakland A’s shortstop Mike Bordick.

There are 32 other players who could become free agents through elimination of repeater rights restrictions if the labor agreement is approved.