"Uncertain of his abilities and uneasy over what it might cost to keep him, the Pirates allowed Matt Capps to become a free agent.

Late Saturday night, the Pirates opted to non-tender a contract to Capps, their closer the past two-plus seasons. That made the 26-year-old right-hander a free agent.

"I'm surprised," Capps said Sunday morning from his offseason home in Florida. "It's a weird feeling. I've played my whole career with the Pirates, and I appreciate the opportunities they've given me. But I guess it's time to move on."

What made the Pirates' decision on Capps a bit surprising is that he is in just his second year of arbitration eligibility. Whichever team signs him will control his rights through 2011.

Capps made $2.425 million this past season, when he racked up 27 saves in 32 chances but also had a ghastly 5.80 ERA and allowed 10 homers. The Pirates, wary that he could be awarded upwards of $4 million in arbitration for 2010 and even more in 2011, chose to cut him loose.

"Closers' values are artificially inflated in arbitration," general manager Neal Huntington said. "On paper, yes, we're giving up a year of control. But, there's no guarantee it'd work out that way. Matt would have been due for a very substantial raise next year, even if he would've put up (mediocre) numbers for us in 2010."

By early Saturday night, talks between the Pirates, who were unwilling to offer more than $2.5 million, and Capps' agent had reached a deadlock. As the midnight deadline approached, Huntington was forced to make what he termed a difficult, but prudent, decision.

"For what we got from Matt in the second half of 2007 and in 2008, it was great to have him," Huntington said. "Will he get back to that level? Time will tell. We can use that money to fill some holes."

With Capps gone, the Pirates' payroll next season sits at about $32 million. Even with the addition of one or two value-priced free-agent relievers, the Pirates again will have one of the lowest payrolls in the majors."