NEW YORK - New York Yankees captain Don Mattingly, who has spent his entire 14-year career with the club, filed for free agency Friday - two days before the major league deadline.

That doesn't necessarily mean he intends to leave. The Yankees could still negotiate a contract with Mattingly. But so could any other team interested in the 34-year-old first baseman.

Mattingly, who lives in Evansville, Ind., could not be reached for comment.

On several occasions last season, Mattingly talked about his future. His stated options included retirement, signing with another major-league team, signing with a Japanese team and re-signing with the Yankees - if the club wanted him back.

Yankees general manager Bob Watson has not said the club would offer Mattingly a contract.

But losing Mattingly to another team could be a public-relations disaster for the Yankees, who lost popular manager Buck Showalter last month.

A lifetime .307 hitter, Mattingly will turn 35 in April. His once-prodigious home-run power has been sapped by a chronically bad back. He had just seven homers and 49 RBI last season.

Yet he remains a superb defensive player and a team leader. He helped the 1995 Yankees win the American League wild-card race, the club's first playoff berth since 1981.

It also enabled Mattingly to appear in the playoffs for the first time. Mattingly hit .417 with one home run and six RBI in a five-game series against Seattle. HARRIS, CECIL

Copyright 1995, Gannett News Service, a division of Gannett Satelitte Information Network, Inc.