SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β The San Francisco Giants have declined their 2016 contract options on outfielders Nori Aoki and Marlon Byrd.
General manager Bobby Evans made the announcement on a conference call Wednesday night.
San Francisco, which missed the playoffs after winning its third World Series title in five years in 2014, declined a $5.5 million option on Aoki and will owe him a $700,000 buyout. Byrd had an $8 million option.
Aoki was limited to 93 games, batting .287 with five home runs and 26 RBIs before a broken right leg and concussion derailed his second half.
Both players have interest in returning, Evans said, but it would be down the line after the Giants figure out what else they need to do this offseason, such as improving the starting rotation.
“Keep an open dialogue with (Aoki) and an open door with Byrd,” Evans said. “Definitely not closing any doors. It’s a timing issue.”
