PITTSBURGH — Reliever Jose Mesa filed for free agency Friday after the Pittsburgh Pirates elected to pay a $500,000 buyout rather than exercise a $4 million option.

The 39-year-old Mesa had 70 saves in two seasons with Pittsburgh but lost his closer's job late last season after blowing his final three save opportunities.

The right-hander went 2-8 with a 4.76 ERA, converting 27 of 34 save opportunities before pitching only twice during the Pirates' final 16 games. He was much better a season ago, converting 43 of 48 save chances while going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA. Mesa has 319 career saves.

Unless they make a trade during the offseason, the Pirates expect to go into next season with right-hander Salomon Torres (5-5, 2.76 ERA, three saves) and left-hander Mike Gonzalez (1-3, 2.70 ERA, three saves) sharing or competing for the closer's job.

Other Pirates pitchers filing for free agency Friday were right-handers Brian Meadows (3-1, 4.58 ERA) and Rick White (4-7, 3.72 ERA, 2 saves).