The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Eddie Murray, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg and Fernando Valenzuela are among 17 players on baseball's Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year.

Darryl Kile, who died during the 2002 season, is also on the ballot. The rule that requires players to be retired for five seasons before appearing on the ballot was waived.

Gary Carter, who missed election by 11 votes last year, is among 16 holdovers on the ballot released Saturday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, as are Jim Rice and Bruce Sutter.

Pitcher Jim Kaat is on the ballot for the final time. Players can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years as long as they are on at least 5percent of the ballots each year.

To be elected, a player must appear on at least 75 percent of the ballots, which are cast by BBWAA members who have been a part of the organization for 10 or more years. Voting ends Dec.31, and the results will be announced Jan.7.

St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith was the only player inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002, becoming the 37th player picked in his first year of eligibility.

Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots (91.7 percent), and Carter got 343 votes (72.7 percent). Carter was at 33.8 percent in 1999, 49.7 percent in 2000, and 64.9 percent in 2001.

Murray, an eight-time All-Star, had 504 homers and 3,255 hits in 21 seasons. The first baseman became the only switch hitter to reach 500 homers and 3,000 hits.

Smith had a record 478 saves in 18 seasons. Sandberg, a 10-time All-Star and the 1984 NL MVP, had a .285 career average with 282 homers. He won nine Gold Gloves at second base.

Valenzuela, the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year winner in 1981, was 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 17 seasons.

The complete ballot (x-first time eligible):

Bert Blyleven, x-Brett Butler, Gary Carter, x-Vince Coleman, Dave Concepcion, x-Darren Daulton, x-Mark Davis, Andre Dawson, x-Sid Fernandez, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Keith Hernandez, x-Rick Honeycutt, x-Danny Jackson, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, x-Darryl Kile, Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, x-Eddie Murray, Dave Parker, x-Tony Pena, Jim Rice, x-Ryne Sandberg, x-Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, x-Danny Tartabull, x-Mickey Tettleton, Alan Trammell, x-Fernando Valenzuela, x-Mitch Williams, x-Todd Worrell.

SIDE DOOR: Cuban ace Jose Contreras reportedly is trying to establish residence in Costa Rica to be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball. As of now, with him living in Miami after defecting, he could be subject to the draft.

If agent Jaime Torres succeeds in getting Contreras ruled a free agent, he would attract a lot of interest.

Contreras is reported to be 30 years old. There's no question about his height (6 feet 4) or his fastball (94 mph), which have generated comparisons to Roger Clemens. "He's good - very, very good," one scout said. "He has the potential to be an immediate No.1."

This bears watching for the Cubs, who have the sixth pick in the draft. It's questionable whether any of the five teams ahead of them -Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Detroit, San Diego and Kansas City - would use a pick on a veteran looking for a deal worth at least $15 million.

GLASS HALF-FULL: Not everybody's crying about the shift of 22 Expos home games to Puerto Rico. Some Reds players love the idea.

"Baseball is a long season, and anything new that breaks up the monotony is accepted by the players," catcher Kelly Stinnett said. "Even though we'll be in Chicago the three days before we play in Puerto Rico, we can handle the travel. Being big-leaguers and the way we travel, there shouldn't be too many problems."

The Reds play a four-game series at Wrigley Field April14-17 and then will go to San Juan for three games against Montreal, pending union approval.

"We can wear our long-sleeved, high-necked sweatshirts in Chicago, then shorts in Puerto Rico," first baseman Sean Casey said.

THUMBS UP: To the Indians for dropping the price of bleacher seats at Jacobs Field from $17 to $12.