Giants Decline to Exercise Renteria's Option

Nov. 3, 2010GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO

SANFRANCISCO (AP) The champion San Francisco Giants declined to exercisetheir 9.5 million option on World Series MVP Edgar Renteria onThursday, instead paying him a 500,000 buyout.It's no surprise because the 34-year-old Renteria is consideringretirement after an injury-plagued season. Still, the Giants had tomake the decision only three days after Renteria's tiebreakingthree-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning Monday night helpedSan Francisco win the franchise's first title since moving West in 1958."He was obviously a big reason we won, not just the last game butthe whole playoff run,'' said Bobby Evans, the Giants' vice presidentof baseball operations. Edgar played a huge role, whether in theclubhouse, on the field, or his leadership and his professionalism andhis ability to string together some very good games and big hits forus.''The shortstop said Wednesday he will rest for a while before determining his future."It's always hard to think about retiring,'' Renteria said afterthe team's victory parade. "I want to rest. Whew, I feel great.''A five-time All-Star, Renteria batted .412 (7 for 17) with twohomers and six RBIs in the Series. He had all of three home runs and 22RBIs during an injury-filled regular season that included three stintson the disabled list.At the end, he played through a torn biceps muscle. He rarely was pain-free this year when he was on the field.Renteria's trips to the disabled list were because of a strainedright groin (May 6-22 and May 25-June 16) and a strained left biceps(Aug. 11-Sept. 1). His 72 games were the fewest of his 15-year bigleague career. In fact, he had never been below 106 games before.Renteria might just decide to go out on top - often somethingplayers hope for when leaving the game. He is a career .287 hitter with135 home runs and 887 RBIs for the Marlins, Cardinals, Red Sox, Braves,Tigers and Giants.In 1997, his 11th-inning single led Florida past Cleveland for thetitle. Renteria made the final out for St. Louis in Boston's 2004 WorldSeries win."He's a guy we're glad we brought here. Despite the injuries thisyear, he still found a way and he stuck it out to contribute,'' Evanssaid. "He fought through it. He's a great baseball man and aconsummate professional. A World Series MVP says it all.''