ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who missed the second half of the season with a knee injury, can become a free agent if he chooses to continue his career.
Major League Baseball and the players' union have determined the Braves have no club option for 2019 with McCarthy.
McCarthy had a clause in his contract that could have triggered a team option if he had been on the disabled list for a certain amount of time due to a specific injury.
The 35-year-old McCarthy told MLB.com in August he plans to retire, but he has not yet made that decision final with necessary paperwork.
McCarthy was 6-3 with a 4.92 ERA in only 15 games this season. He was placed on the disabled list June 28 with right-knee tendinitis and never returned.
McCarthy was acquired by Atlanta from Los Angeles following the 2017 season in the deal that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to the Dodgers.