Tuffy Rhodes was formally turned loose from the Pacific League club on Tuesday after the Japan pro baseball commissioner's office released a list of 79 players who were not put on reserve by their respective clubs.
Rhodes, who captured the Japanese home run title for a career third time with 51 homers this past season, failed to reach an agreement for a multiyear contract with Kintetsu and reportedly will begin talks with the Yomiuri Giants for a more lucrative deal.
The 35-year-old former Boston Red Sox outfielder will likely be seeking a deal of two or more years carrying an annual salary in the neighborhood of $5 million -- something the Buffaloes were unwilling to give him.