Giants decline Huff's option for 2013 GIANTS

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As expected, the Giants formally cut ties Thursday with a stalwart of their 2010 championship team when they declined Aubrey Huff's $10 million option for 2013, instead buying him out for $2 million. Huff becomes a free agent and likely will have to sign a minor-league deal with another team and win a job in spring training if he hopes to continue playing at age 36.

Huff was a contributor on and off the field in 2010. His "rally thong" became a symbol of that team's joie de vivre and reputation as misfits.

In the post-Series glow, the Giants re-signed Huff to a two-year, $22 million contract that turned out poorly for the team. His production in 2011 declined drastically. In 2012, the Giants got only 78 at-bats for their $10 million after Huff left the team with an anxiety disorder, then injured his knee leaping over the railing to celebrate Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13.

The Giants face two deadlines Friday.

An exclusive negotiating window with their free agents ends at 9 p.m. Though no deals were said to be close Thursday afternoon, the Giants have checked in with the agents for Marco Scutaro, Angel Pagan and Jeremy Affeldt to gauge the players' interest in signing before they can negotiate with any team after the Friday deadline. Scutaro is the likeliest to sign early because, at 37, he probably will not seek an expensive deal.

Also as expected, the Giants will not extend a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer to any of their free agents by a separate Friday deadline, which means the team would not get a compensatory draft pick if any of them sign elsewhere.