PITTSBURGH — Right-handed reliever Tyler Yates, a Kauai native, has chosen to become a free agent after the Pittsburgh Pirates requested outright waivers on him.

Yates had Tommy John surgery in July to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow for the second time in his career. He is not expected to pitch again until the middle of next season. Yates also had the ligament repaired in 2002 and needed major shoulder surgery in 2005.
The Pirates apparently planned to offer Yates a minor league contract, but he preferred to seek work in another organization. Yates made $1.3 million this season.
Yates, 32, didn’t pitch again after being placed on the disabled list May 15 with a 7.50 ERA. He was 6-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 72 games with Pittsburgh in 2008.