Yankees decline Encarnacion's 2020 option

Edwin Encarnacion is a free agent.

The New York Yankees declined the 2020 club option tied to the first baseman/designated hitter's contract, the team announced Thursday.

New York will pay the 36-year-old Dominican a $5-million buyout instead of forking over $20 million for his services next season.

Encarnacion hit .249/.325/.531 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 44 regular-season games with the Yankees following a June trade from the Seattle Mariners. Overall, he slashed .244/.344/.531 with 34 home runs and 86 RBIs across 109 games during the 2019 campaign.

In the playoffs, after a strong division series against the Minnesota Twins, Encarnacion managed just one hit in 22 plate appearances against the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

The Yankees also announced that outfielder Aaron Hicks underwent UCL reconstruction surgery Wednesday. Hicks will likely miss the first half of the 2020 campaign.