NEW YORK -- Bartolo Colon, Javier Vazquez and Vladimir Guerrero might be available for the right price.

The Montreal Expos have concluded they will have to shed some payroll in 2003 to keep to the budget given them by the commissioner's office.

Expos general manager Omar Minaya began calling other GMs Thursday, telling them to think about proposals to bring to the winter meetings, which start Dec. 13 in Nashville, Tenn.

Montreal president Tony Tavares said the team had begun talking about possible trades and about extensions with the agents for Guerrero and Colon, both eligible for free agency after the 2003 season.

''Omar is looking at the landscape right now to see what's out there,'' Tavares said. ''You have to look at what all the alternatives are.''

Montreal, sold by Jeffrey Loria to the other 29 teams last winter, is operated by the commissioner's office, which is exploring a possible sale before the 2004 season. The Expos had a $38 million payroll last season, and keeping the same group together probably would result in a $50 million payroll next year, the team estimates.

''We probably can't take on 50,'' Tavares said, ''but that doesn't mean we can't be creative about getting additional revenue and reducing expenses.''

Guerrero's salary goes from $8 million in 2002 to $11.5 million next year, Colon's salary jumps from $4.8 million to $8.25 million and second baseman Jose Vidro's increases from $4 million to $5.5 million. Vazquez, who made $4,775,000, is eligible for salary arbitration.

Montreal, whose attendance is among the lowest in the major leagues, figures it will increase revenue by shifting 22 home games from Olympic Stadium to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

''You've seen a lot of creative deals out there,'' Tavares said. ''We're looking to do that out of necessity, not out of choice. This year we're revenue challenged, but we can take on more in the future.''

Minaya declined comment, and commissioner Bud Selig didn't return a telephone call seeking comment.

''We don't know exactly which way this Rubik's cube is going to spin,'' Tavares said.