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ST. LOUIS -- Rick Ankiel's wild and difficult time with the St. Louis Cardinals organization could be over.

The Cardinals failed to offer the pitcher-turned-outfielder a contract by Tuesday's deadline, making him a free agent. St. Louis said it intends to continue negotiations with Ankiel and reliever Jorge Sosa, who also wasn't offered a contract.

The 27-year-old Ankiel missed last season after hurting his left knee in spring training, the latest in a series of setbacks.

He went 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 2000 with 194 strikeouts in 175 innings and started the Cardinals' postseason opener against Atlanta. Pitching with a big lead in the third inning, Ankiel walked four of eight batters and became only the second pitcher in major league history to throw five wild pitches in an inning, the first since 1890. He threw nine wild pitches in all over four postseason innings.

Ankiel went 1-2 in 2001 while trying to work through the wildness. After that, he pitched just 10 more innings in the major leagues.

In the spring of 2005, Ankiel threw just three strikes among 23 pitches at a spring training scrimmage against Cardinals hitters and decided to give up on pitching and try and make it as an outfielder.

DETROIT -- Playoff hero Alexis Gomez was not offered a contract by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, making him a free agent.

Gomez split last season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo. He batted .272 with a home run and six RBI during the regular season for the Tigers, then hit a go-ahead, two-run single and a two-run homer in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series. The outfielder also batted .288 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 58 games at Toledo.

SEATTLE -- Joel Pineiro will have a new address in 2007.

The Seattle Mariners on Wednesday did not tender the 28-year-old a contract, thus allowing the right-hander to become a free agent.

Pineiro was 8-13 with a 6.36 ERA in 40 games, including 25 starts, for the Mariners in 2006.

A 12th-round pick in 1997, Pineiro was 58-55 with a 4.48 ERA in 185 games over seven seasons with Seattle. He won 30 games between 2002-03 but posted just 21 victories since.

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees didn't plan to offer outfielder Aaron Guiel a contract by Tuesday night's deadline, making him a free agent.

Guiel was claimed by the Yankees off waivers from Kansas City on July 5. He hit .256 with four homers and 11 RBI in 44 games with New York, playing outfield and first base.

Guiel's playing time decreased after New York acquired right fielder Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia in late July.

Overall, the 34-year-old Guiel hit .242 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 63 games last season. He began his major league career with the Royals in

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets didn't offer pitcher Victor Zambrano a contract by Tuesday night's deadline, making the injured pitcher a free agent.

The Mets planned to continue negotiations with Zambrano, a right-hander acquired from Tampa Bay on July 30, 2004, for Scott Kazmir. By not offering a contract, the Mets can get around baseball's rule that says they must offer at least $2.4 million -- 80 percent of his salary this year.

Zambrano was 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts this year. He was hurt May 6, when he took himself out of a game against the Atlanta Braves after striking out Andruw Jones, and was diagnosed with a torn flexor muscle.

During surgery on Zambrano on May 15, Mets team physician Dr. David Altchek repaired the right-hander's elbow tendon, removed bone spurs and replaced the ligament.

Also, the Mets agreed to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with Dave Williams. Acquired from Cincinnati on May 25, Williams was 3-1 with a 5.59 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance with New York.

He also can earn $375,000 in performance bonuses based on relief appearances and $750,000 based on starts, getting the full amount with 60 relief appearances or 30 starts.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jason Bulger wasn't offered a 2007 contract by the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, making the 28-year-old right-hander a free agent.

He was acquired form Arizona on Feb. 28 for infielder Alberto Callaspo. Bulger appeared in two games for the Angels last season and had no record, allowing three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. He was 2-2 with four saves and a 4.72 ERA in 27 appearances for Triple-A Salt Lake.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Outfielder Damon Hollins became a free agent when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays declined to offer him a contract for next season.

The 32-year-old was the only Tampa Bay player not tendered a contract by Tuesday night's deadline. He spent the past two seasons the Devil Rays and batted .228 with 20 doubles and 15 homers in 121 games in 2006.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Right-hander Mike Wood became a free agent when the Texas Rangers didn't offer him a major league contract for the 2007 season.

Wood was the only Rangers player not tendered a contract by Tuesday night's deadline.

The Rangers obtained Wood on a waiver claim from Kansas City in October. He was 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 23 games for the Royals this season, when he spent two months on the disabled list with an inflamed back.

In four major league seasons with Oakland and Kansas City, Wood is 13-20 with a 5.52 ERA with two saves in 94 games that included 35 starts.

The Associated Press and SportsTicker contributed to this report.