TOWER GROVE — Six members of the 2008 St. Louis Cardinals were among the 65 players who filed for free agency on the first day they could, according to a release from the Major League Baseball Players Association. Filing is a formality that all players, even those pondering retirement or weighing an offer from their previous team, usually do just to be sure the appropriate paperwork is filed if necessary.

The six Cardinals who filed Thursday were: RHP Braden Looper, SS Cesar Izturis, INF Felipe Lopez, C Jason LaRue, LHP Ron Villone and veteran righthanded reliever Russ Springer. Springer, who threw the final pitch of the 2008 season, recently told senior baseball writer Joe Strauss that he is leaning toward pitching again in 2009 and would prefer to return to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals, especially manager Tony La Russa, have expressed interest in Lopez returning as a utility player with the chance of winning an everyday role at second base. The Cardinals are also open to Izturis’ return at shortstop if they can satisfy their offensive need at another position.

Looper, having been reinvented since his last turn as a free agent, will test his market value as a starter. The Cardinals have not closed the door on his return, though they already have five starters under contract (or, in the case of Todd Wellemeyer, under control) for 2009. Their interest in Looper’s return will hinge on Chris Carpenter’s checkups in the coming weeks.

The Cardinals have, in recent years, moved swiftly to sign their backup catcher, a role that LaRue said he is opening to returning to with the club.

These filings are hardly surprising, and even players with options file.

It’s part of the process.

General managers and many agents will converge on Dana Point, Calif., next week for the annual general manager meetings, which can be the tire-kicking prelude to the Winter Meetings.

In Detroit on Thursday, the Tigers officially severed ties with shortstop Edgar Renteria, buying out his option for the 2009 season. That makes him a free agent after a relatively disappointing season with the Tigers. His AL/NL splits are fascinating.

Other intriguing or familiar players who filed for free agency on Thursday included: SS David Eckstein, who will likely entertain offers to play second base; LHP Will Ohman; OF Jim Edmonds; RHP Ryan Dempster; RHP Bob Howry; and LHP Jeremy Affeldt … INF Mark Loretta; INF Mark Grudzielanek; RHP Derek Lowe; LHP Joe Beimel; OF Manny Ramirez; RHP Ben Sheets; LHP Eddie Guardado; LHP Oliver Perez; the previously mentioned outfielder Bobby Abreu … LHP Brian Shouse, an Illinois native who for Milwaukee last year held lefties to a .180 average and struck out 28 in 100 at-bats against; RHP Jason Jennings; and OF Raul Ibanez.

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