Reliever Lou Trivino's $5 million team option declined by New York Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) — Lou Trivino's $5 million club option was declined Sunday by the New York Yankees, making the right-hander a free agent after he missed his second straight big league season following an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

New York previously exercised its $2.5 million option on reliever Luke Weaver and declined its $17 million option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The Yankees must decide by 5 p.m. EST Monday whether to add a $36 million salary for ace Gerrit Cole for 2029, which would void his opt out.

Trivino was acquired from Oakland on Aug. 1, 2023, along with right-hander Frankie Montas for left-handers J.P. Sears and Ken Waldichuk, right-hander Luis Medina and infielder Cooper Bowman.

Trivino had a 1.66 ERA in 25 relief appearances for the Yankees plus four more in the postseason. He made one spring training appearance the following March 2, went on the injured list with a strained right elbow and had Tommy John surgery that May 3 with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

After becoming a free agent last fall, Trivino agreed in February to a $1.5 million deal with the Yankees that included the team option.

He made his minor league season debut on Aug. 14 and had a 4.91 ERA in 11 appearances for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 11 and walking six in 11 innings. His four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph at Triple-A.

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