Top-of-the-heap Yankees enjoy New York parade; Baseball.

Byline: The Associated Press 

NEW YORK -- Crowds roared, church bells rang and streams of paper rained down on Broadway as the New York Yankees celebrated their 27th championship Friday in a way only this city can, with a parade up the Canyon of Heroes.

The players, joined by some celebrity fans and Yankees of the past, rode on floats and double-decker buses through Manhattan's financial district.

It has been years since the city used actual ticker tape to celebrate its World Series victories, but the experience was authentic to the thousands who crammed the sidewalks along the three-quarter-mile parade route near Wall Street.

"I love it!" city sanitation worker John Freeman said as he raked up paper and toilet-paper rolls thrown from skyscrapers.

Whole families skipped work or school to be there. Players recorded the crowd with their cameras as they rode to a second celebration at City Hall, where they received keys to the city.

Shortstop and captain Derek Jeter carried the trophy, holding it above his head while the crowd screamed and "We Are the Champions" blasted on loudspeakers.

"It's been too long, hasn't it?" Jeter asked the crowd, a reference to the team's eight-year absence from the top of the sport. "It feels good to be back."

The crowd at City Hall chanted "twenty-eight!" Manager Joe Girardi said he had already talked on the phone with owner George Steinbrenner about not letting up.

"He told me this morning ... the only thing greater than this celebration is doing it two years in a row," Girardi said. "So he asked me to remind everyone, pitchers and catchers report in 96 days. Be ready to defend it."

Notes

* Manny Ramirez, 37, has decided to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rather than become a free agent, Ramirez exercised his $20 million option, part of a deal the outfielder agreed to with the Dodgers in March that included a $25 million salary for 2009.

One of 16 Dodgers potentially eligible for free agency, Ramirez hit .290 with 19 homers and drove in 63 runs this year, his season tainted by a 50-game suspension for violating the sport's drug policy.

* The Chicago White Sox acquired Mark Teahen, primarily a third baseman, from the Kansas City Royals for infielders Josh Fields and Chris Getz and cash.

* Minnesota obtained shortstop J.J. Hardy from Milwaukee for outfielder Carlos Gomez, one of the players the New York Mets sent to the Twins in a 2008 deal for pitcher Johan Santana.

* Two pitchers were blocked from becoming eligible for free agency when teams exercised their 2010 options.

Cliff Lee, who beat the Yankees twice in the World Series, gets a $9 million salary from Philadelphia next year. Brandon Webb, the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner, receives $8.5 million from Arizona rather than a $2 million buyout.

* Reliever J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option was declined by the Mets, who will pay the former Mariner a $1 million buyout.

* The Chicago White Sox declined a $12 million mutual option on right fielder Jermaine Dye. The 2005 World Series most valuable player gets a $950,000 buyout and immediately filed for free agency.

* Washington declined a $10 million option and chose to pay a $1 million buyout to outfielder Austin Kearns, who was bothered by a thumb injury and hit .195.

* The Los Angeles Angels' Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins and Kelvim Escobar were among 39 players who filed Friday, raising the total of free agents to 118. About 65 additional players are potentially eligible to file by the Nov. 19 deadline. Free agents can start negotiating financial terms with all teams the next day.

CAPTION(S):

Jim Mcisaac / Getty Images : Captain Derek Jeter of the Yankees hoists the championship trophy Friday at City Hall in New York. (0410394656)

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