The Philadelphia Phillies have decided not to pick up their 2010 team option on Pedro Feliz.  Feliz, 34, was instrumental in the Phillies 2008 World Series title and played a key role in the 2009 NL Pennant run.  The Phillies will pay a $500,000 buyout.  The Phillies also have not ruled out re-signing Feliz for 2010 and beyond.

Feliz is good defensive third baseman with decent pop.  He has hit a quiet 135 home runs over his career, won 1 World Series and played in an additional 2 World Series (2002 San Francisco Giants).  He’s not a distraction in the clubhouse, so he would be a good fit in all places.  After the 2007 season, Feliz wanted to make something happen with the San Francisco Giants. He wanted a 3 year contract, but General Manager Brian Sabean called it a “pie in the sky”.  Instead the Giants offered salary arbitration and Feliz skipped town to Philadelphia.

MLB.com mentions a few other third base replacements in addition to Feliz:  Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and former Philly Placido Polanco.  This will be Feliz’s last big money contract of his career, so he should be looking for a 3 year, $15 million contract with a 4th year team option as an attractive offer to Feliz