Red Sox decline club option on Craig Breslow

The Red Sox have declined their $4 million option on reliever Craig Breslow, according to an announcement from the team. Breslow will be paid a buyout of $100K as he hits free agency.

Breslow, who signed a two-year, $6.25 million extension with the Red Sox in January 2013, was considered unlikely to return to Boston after posting a career-low 5.96 ERA in 60 appearances with the Sox this season. He will now join left-handers Andrew Miller, Joe Thatcher, Sean Burnett, Scott Downs, Neil Coke and Tom Gorzelanny on what is shaping up to be an above-average market for left-handed relief.

Breslow, 34, has a career 3.20 ERA in parts of nine major league seasons with the Padres (2005), Red Sox (2006, 2012-2014), Indians (2008), Twins (2008), Athletics (2009-2011) and Diamondbacks (2012). He will likely have to settle for a one-year deal on the free agent market, but could get a multi-year pact due to his consistent performance over the last decade.