Andy Benes The Free Agent

October 29, 1999 / 9:54 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Andy Benes exercised an option that allowed him out of the final year of his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and filed for free agency Friday.

The 32-year-old right-hander, a veteran of 10 major-league seasons, threw the first pitch in the franchise's history and was 27-25 in his two seasons at Arizona.

"We all feel that he made a tremendous contribution to the Diamondbacks, particularly in our first year," general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He will always be an important part of that first-year story and certainly was a contributor to our success this year."

Benes was 13-12 last season with a 4.81 ERA for the NL West champions. He struck out 141 and walked a team-high 82.

Benes was due to make $6 million from the Diamondbacks next season. His decision frees up that money for the team to use to pursue other free agents. It also likely opens the way for Brian Anderson to move into next year's starting rotation.

Benes' final few weeks with the team were touchy ones.

After his last start, a 9-3 victory over Colorado, he refused to answer questions from reporters, apparently upset that he had not been treated fairly by the media.

A few days later, Benes was left off the playoff rotation in favor of Anderson and was sent to the bullpen for the first-round series against the New York Mets. He did not pitch an inning as the Diamondbacks were eliminated by the Mets 3-1 in the best-of-5 series.

Gregg Olson, the Diamondbacks' closer in the their first year, also filed for free agency. Olson had 30 saves in 1998 but lost his job this season after a rocky start.

He finished 9-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 14 saves and Matt Mantei, obtained from Florida, finished as the closer, getting 32 saves.

Benes signed an $18 million, three-year contract with the expansion Diamondbacks in 1998, with a clause that allowed him out after two years if so chose. He was the starter in the team's first game, on March 31, 1998, against Colorado.

He has a reputation as a strong late-season pitcher. Benes' career record after the All-Star break is 74-47. He won six of his last seven decisions this year. In 1998, he allowed three runs in his last six starts. His best game with Arizona came in Cincinnati on Sept. 13, 1998, when he threw a no-hitter for 8 1-3 innings before giving up a single to Sean Casey.

Benes has a career record of 131-119 with a 4.13 ERA with San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and Arizona.

There has been speculation that me may try to return to St. Louis, wherhis brother Alan has come back from major arm surgery to pitch for the Cardinals. Andy Benes was 18-10 for St. Louis in 1996 and 10-7 for the Cardinals in 1997.

A standout pitcher at the University of Evansville, Benes was the No. 1 pick overall, by San Diego, in the 1988 amateur draft and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team that year.