Pirates reliever Tyler Yates, on injured reserve after Tommy John surgery, elected for free agency after being outrighted to Class AAA today -- the same day when center fielder Andrew McCutchen was announced as Baseball America's Major League Rookie of the Year.

The current edition of the publication features McCutchen on the cover.

McCutchen, 23, hit .286 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 54 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 108 games with Pittsburgh after joining the club on June 4. He led all National League rookies with 47 extra-base hits and ranked second among N.L. rookies in multi-hit games (36), runs, walks and total bases (204).

The more well-known American League and National League Rookie of the Year Awards, selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of Americam will be announced Nov. 16.

Yates, 32, was placed on waivers today for the purpose of placing him on the Indianapolis roster, but his veteran status allowed him the option of free agency, which he took. He went 6-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 72 games in 2008, provided a power, set-up man as a right-hander -- evidenced by 63 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings. This season, however, arm troubles limited him to an 0-2 record and a 7.50 ERA before July -- when he underwent the same surgery for the second time in seven years. The move left 38 players on the Pirates' 40-man roster.

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