OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin declined his portion of a mutual option to stay with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, instead accepting a $500,000 buyout and becoming a free agent.
The A's had decided to exercise the $5.25 million contract for 2022.
Also Thursday, Oakland declined its $4 million contract option for lefty Jake Diekman and he also becomes a free agent. Diekman will receive a $750,000 buyout.
The A's, who missed the playoffs after making the postseason in three straight years, acquired Chafin from the Cubs before the trade deadline. He went 2-2 with a 1.53 ERA and five saves over 28 relief appearances for Oakland.
Fellow reliever Diekman went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and a career-best seven saves in 67 outings.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
