Pirates decline options on four players

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that they have declined the 2012 club options on shortstop Ronny Cedeno, catcher Ryan Doumit, left-hander Paul Maholm and catcher Chris Snyder.

All four players will become free-agents. The Pirates had until 11:59 PM ET to decide whether they would exercise the club options. The organization will scour the free-agent market to fill the spots but the Pirates have not closed the door on bringing any of them back next season.

Cedeno had a club option for $3 million and will receive a $200,000 buyout. Cedeno batted .249 with 25 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 32 RBI and two stolen bases in 128 games in 2011. Cedeno was acquired by the Seattle Mariners in 2009 along with first baseman Jeff Clement, and pitchers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin, Nathan Adcock for shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell.

Herd That 2 Wins Away From $1,000,000

Herd That Wins Again

Best Virginia to Face Off Against Herd That

Internal options: Pedro Ciriaco, Chase d’Arnaud, Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer, Brandon Wood

Doumit had a option that, if picked up, would trigger a second option in 2013. The combined total was for $15.50 million. Doumit will receive a $500,000 buyout. Doumit batted .303 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 70 games with Pittsburgh this season. The 30-year-old was drafted by the Pirates in the 2^nd round of the 1999 draft and spent the past seven seasons in the Majors with Pittsburgh.

Internal options: Eric Fryer, Jason Jaramillo, Michael McKenry, Matt Pagnozzi

Maholm had a club option for $9.75 million for the 2012 season and will receive a $750,000 buyout. Mahom went 6-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 26 starts (162.1 innings) this season. Maholm was drafted by the Pirates in the 1^st round (eighth overall) of the 2003 draft and spent the past seven seasons in the Majors with Pittsburgh.

“I’ve been saying for seven months that I’d be open to [coming back],“ said Maholm in September after being placed on the 60-day disabled list, knowing the possibility of not playing again in a Pirates uniform. “There’s no hard feelings if anything happens. If I go test free-agency, obviously Pittsburgh would be one of the teams that I hope wants me and we’ll see how it goes.”

Internal options: Jeff Locke, Brad Lincoln, Chris Leroux, Rudy Owens, Aaron Thompson

Snyder had a club option for $6.75 million and will receive a $750,000 buyout. Snyder appeared in just 34 games in 2011 after requiring back surgery. He batted .271 with three home runs and 17 RBI. Snyder was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2010 season along with shortstop Pedro Ciriaco for outfielder Ryan Church and infielder Bobby Crosby.