Add Damaso Marte to Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano as players the Yankees aren’t likely to exercise options on – which will make them free agents.
Giambi has a $22 million option with a $5 million buyout and Pavano has a $15 million option with a $1.95 million buyout.
Declining Marte’s $6 million option isn’t an indication the club doesn’t want the lefty reliever back. It means the Yankees don’t want to pick up the option ($250,000 buyout) that trailed Marte from Pittsburgh when he was acquired with Xavier Nady for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutcheon on July 26.