Ken Macha was hired yesterday as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, taking over from Dale Sveum following the team's first postseason appearance since 1982.

The 58-year-old Macha, who managed Oakland to a pair of AL West titles, agreed to a two-year contract. He replaces Sveum, who became interim manager when Ned Yost was fired with 12 games left in the regular season.

"It means a tremendous amount to me," Macha said. "The players are the guys that go out there and win or lose the games for you, and I think the job of a manager and a coach is to get these players as prepared as you possibly can."

Macha immediately tried to dispel the notion that he lost touch with his players in Oakland, including Jason Kendall, now the Brewers catcher.

"I've got a couple things to say about that. No. 1, the job of the manager is really not to be buddies with all the players. You have to make very difficult decisions over the course of the year," he said. "Sometimes players get a little personal and think it's personal. It really isn't."

Macha led Oakland to a 368-260 record. He was fired two days after the Athletics were swept by Detroit in the 2006 AL Championship Series, a result that frustrated players.

FREE AGENTS

MANNY AMONG 65 TO FILE

Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and Ben Sheets wasted no time in filing for free agency.

The trio were among 65 players who filed on the first possible day. Yesterday began a 15-day window in which approximately 180 players can become free agents.

Eligible players may file through Nov. 13, and teams can start negotiating money with players the following day.

A trio of pitchers, Milwaukee's CC Sabathia, Toronto's A.J. Burnett and the Los Angeles Angels' Francisco Rodriguez, figure to be among the most prized free agents in this year's group. Burnett is expected to opt out of the final two seasons of his $55 million, five-year contract with Toronto, forgo $24 million in remaining salary and enter the market.

Ken Griffey Jr. became eligible when the Chicago White Sox declined his $16.5 million option. Griffey is owed a $4 million buyout, which completes a $116.5 million, nine-year deal that he agreed to with Cincinnati before the 2000 season.

SHORT HOPS

Outfielder Fernando Tatis, who hit .297 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 92 games and was eligible for free agency, agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year deal with the New York Mets. ... The Florida Marlins traded power-hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs yesterday to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Leo Nunez.