Baseball | Milwaukee Brewers buy out pitcher Braden Looper

MILWAUKEE — "Financial flexibility" is the new catchphrase in the front offices of the Milwaukee Brewers.

In a move Friday designed to clear money to pursue free-agent starting pitchers, the Brewers declined their half of a $6.5 million mutual option for 2010 on the contract of right-hander Braden Looper. Instead, the Brewers paid Looper a $1 million buyout.

In cutting the pitcher who led the team with 14 victories this year, the Brewers showed how serious they are about upgrading a starting rotation that ranked last in the National League with a 5.37 earned-run average.

"I talked with Braden," said general manager Doug Melvin. "I told him we still had some interest in him returning, but we want to keep some flexibility right now. We still have some holes to fill on the ballclub.

"We don't know what it's going to cost on the free-agent market yet. ... We might revisit signing Braden at a later date."

Looper, 35, was 14-7 and led the Brewers with 34 starts and 194-2/3 innings. He posted a 5.22 ERA and his victory total was partly a product of receiving the second-highest run support (5.71) in the NL. Looper led the major leagues with 39 home runs allowed, setting a franchise record.

Looper admitted after the season he pitched with torn cartilage in his right knee.

The decision was the Brewers' latest personnel move designed to free money to pursue pitching help. Earlier, the Brewers traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to Minnesota for young center fielder Carlos Gomez, shedding Hardy's $4.65 million salary as well as the $10 million paid last season to center fielder Mike Cameron, a former Mariner who is a free agent.

Notes

• The Rockies declined a $5 million option on right-hander Rafael Betancourt, a key setup man as Colorado won the NL wild-card race. Betancourt filed for free agency. Colorado general manager Dan O'Dowd said the team will continue to negotiate with him.

• Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells had surgery on his left wrist and is expected to be ready for spring training. He hit .260 with 15 homers and drove in 66 runs this year.