BOSTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox on Friday declined to pick up 2002 contract options on outfielder Troy O'Leary, infielder John Valentin and pitcher Bret Saberhagen.
However, Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette had indicated that the team is still interested in bringing back O'Leary and Valentin next season. The 37-year-old Saberhagen has hinted that he does not plan on pitching in 2002.
O'Leary, in his seventh year with the Red Sox this past season, appeared in a career-low 104 games and batted a career-worst .240 with 13 homers and 50 RBI.
The 32-year-old O'Leary had his best all-around season in 1999, hitting .280 with 28 homers and 103 RBI. He has 113 homers and 526 RBI in 1,008 careeer games with the Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers (1993-94).
Valentin, 34, appeared in only 20 games this season before landing on the disabled list on June 7 with season-ending plantar fascitis in his right heel. He went 12 for 60 with a homer and five RBI.
Valentin has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his big league career, which began in 1992. He belted a career-best 27 homers with 102 RBI in 1995 and hit .306 two years later in 1997, when he was second on the Red Sox with 156 hits.
Saberhagen, who did not play in the majors in 2000 because of right shoulder surgery, returned to the Red Sox on July 27 and made three starts before tightness in his right shoulder shelved him for the rest of the campaign on Aug. 8.
