Major League Baseball had this message for Alex Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras: Shame on you.

Boras announced during Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night that A-Rod was opting out of the final three seasons of his contract with the New York Yankees. The timing left baseball officials livid, and Boras apologized Monday evening, just after Rodriguez filed with the players association and became a free agent for the first time since 2000.

"We were very disappointed that Scott Boras would try to upstage our premier baseball event of the season with his announcement," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

"There was no reason to make an announcement last night other than to try to put his selfish interests and that of one individual player above the overall good of the game," DuPuy said. "Last night and today belong to the Boston Red Sox, who should be celebrated for their achievement, and to the Colorado Rockies, who made such an unbelievable run to the World Series."

Boras said causing a distraction was an unintended consequence.

"I apologize to the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies and their players, Major League Baseball and its players, and baseball fans everywhere for that interference," he said in a statement. "The teams and players involved deserved to be the focus of the evening and honored with the utmost respect. The unfortunate result was not my intent, but is solely my fault. I could have handled this situation better, and for that I am truly sorry."

Also among the 57 players who filed for free agency on the first possible day were Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, catcher Jorge Posada and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz; Minnesota outfielder Torii Hunter; Colorado pitchers Jeremy Affeldt and Jorge Julio; Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca; and San Francisco outfielder Barry Bonds.

Tigers get Renteria from Braves: The Detroit Tigers filled their No. 1 need, acquiring All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Atlanta Braves for two prospects.

Twins exercise option on Nathan: The Twins have exercised their $6 million option on closer Joe Nathan, ensuring the two-time All-Star will be back for another season in Minnesota.

La Russa's staff returns for next year: A week after Tony La Russa agreed to a new two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced that all of his coaches also would be back: pitching coach Dave Duncan, first-base coach Dave McKay, third-base coach Jose Oquendo, bullpen coach Marty Mason, bench coach Joe Pettini and hitting coach Hal McRae.

World Series sweep draws second lowest ratings: Boston's sweep of the Colorado Rockies drew better ratings than last season's World Series but fell short of previous years.

The four games averaged a 10.6 rating, the second lowest ever, ahead of only the 10.1 in 2006 for the St. Louis Cardinals' five-game win over the Detroit Tigers.