NEW YORK — The New York Yankees announced on Sunday that they would not be exercising the $5 million club option for pitcher Lou Trivino, effectively making him a free agent. This decision comes after Trivino faced challenges over the past two seasons due to an elbow injury that necessitated Tommy John surgery.

Trivino joined the Yankees on August 1, 2022, in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. In that deal, New York sent left-handed pitchers J.P. Sears and Ken Waldichuk, right-hander Luis Medina, and infielder Cooper Bowman to Oakland in exchange for Trivino and fellow right-hander Frankie Montas.

During his time with the Yankees, Trivino showcased an impressive performance, recording a 1.66 ERA over 25 relief appearances, including four postseason games. However, his situation took a downturn following a spring training appearance on March 2, when he was placed on the injured list due to a strained right elbow. Subsequently, he underwent Tommy John surgery on May 3, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After becoming a free agent last fall, Trivino signed a one-year contract with the Yankees in February, valued at $1.5 million, which included the option for the club. He made his return to the mound during the minor league season, debuting on August 14. In 11 appearances for both Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he posted a 4.91 ERA, while striking out 11 batters and issuing six walks across 11 innings. Notably, his four-seam fastball reached an average velocity of 94.2 mph while playing at Triple-A.