The Yankees let Tino Martinez go Tuesday, declining their $3 million option on the popular first baseman.
Martinez returned to New York this year and hit .241 in part-time duty with 17 home runs and 49 RBI. He was a staple in the Yankees' lineup from 1996-01, helping the team to four World Series championships and five AL pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense.
Always a fan favorite at Yankee Stadium, he was brought back to provide insurance at first base for slugger Jason Giambi, who was coming off a 2004 season wrecked by illness and injury. And Martinez did his job, going on an early home run tear while Giambi was still struggling, a big reason the Yankees were able to recover from an 11-19 start to win their eighth consecutive AL East title.
But Giambi, now healthy, found his stroke as the summer wore on, pushing Martinez to the bench most games. Often used as a defensive replacement, the two-time All-Star finished with 303 at-bats in 131 games.
Martinez, who will turn 38 next month, went 0-for-8 in the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Angels, and the Yankees were eliminated in five games.
He is a .271 career hitter with 339 homers and 1,271 RBI in 16 major league seasons.
Martinez gets a $250,000 buyout and becomes a free agent. His salary was $2.75 million last season.