The Yankees declined their 2009 options on first baseman Jason Giambi and pitcher Carl Pavano yesterday, making them eligible for free agency.

Giambi will receive a $5 million buyout rather than a $22 million salary next season, completing his $120 million, seven-year contract. Pavano gets a $1.95 million buyout instead of a $13 million salary, finishing his $39.95 million deal.

The 2000 AL MVP with Oakland, Giambi hit 209 homers during his time with the Yankees. Slowed by injuries and in the center of controversy during baseball's performance-enhancing drug investigation, Giambi failed to win any World Series titles during his time in New York.

Pavano was one of the biggest free-agent busts, spending most of the past four years on the disabled list. He made just 26 starts during the contract, going 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA.

Pitcher Chris Carpenter had surgery to transpose a nerve in his right elbow, the same procedure St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols had last month. The Cardinals did not say whether Carpenter remained on a timetable to return by spring training. After Carpenter visited four specialists, the Cardinals announced Oct. 1 that he would not undergo a procedure on his right shoulder brought on by nerve irritation in his elbow. Carpenter's elbow surgery was not expected to "interfere with or prolong" his current shoulder therapy and rehabilitation.. ... Braden Looper, a starter the past two seasons, has opted for free agency.

The Brewers hired Dale Sveum as hitting coach, bringing back the interim manager who led Milwaukee to its first playoff berth in 26 years. The former Pirates infielder had been a managerial candidate, but general manager Doug Melvin picked former Oakland Athletics skipper Ken Macha last week, citing a need for experience. Sveum took over as manager this year after the club fired Ned Yost with 12 games to go. Sveum finished with a 7-5 record, winning six of the final seven games to help Milwaukee win the NL wild card.

A.J. Burnett told the Blue Jays that he will opt out of the remaining two seasons of his $55 million, five-year contract. The pitcher will forfeit $24 million and can file for free agency. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said talks will continue on the possibility of a new deal for the hard-throwing right-hander, who turns 32 in January. Burnett went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA in 34 starts this season and led the American League with 231 strikeouts.

First baseman Dmitri Young was sent outright to Class AAA Syracuse, the latest setback for the 2007 NL comeback player of the year. Young played in only 50 games this year, batting .280 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 150 at-bats. He missed time with a lower back injury and while receiving treatment for diabetes. He was shut down for the season after straining his left hip while running the bases during a minor league rehab assignment in early September.

The Dodgers paid $50,000 to buy out the contract option they held on catcher Gary Bennett for next year. Bennett played in only 10 games for the Dodgers last season, getting four hits including a home run in 21 at-bats and driving in four runs.

Jose Canseco has pleaded guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor offense of trying to bring a fertility drug across the border from Mexico. The former baseball star was sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks. Canseco told the judge he had gone to Tijuana looking for a substance to restore his testosterone levels in an attempt to reverse damage done by his admitted steroids use. Canseco was detained at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing last month after agents searched his vehicle and said they found human chorionic gonadotropin, which is illegal without a prescription.