Left-hander Hisanori Takahashi was released by the New York Mets on Friday after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract, his agent said.
The club placed the 35-year-old on waivers to grant an unconditional release.
"Unfortunately, the Mets and I were not able to reach an agreement prior to the expiration of our negotiating deadline," said Takahashi in a statement provided by his agent Arn Tellem.
The Mets faced a Friday deadline to sign Takahashi or release him unconditionally just a week after extending the original closing date.
Takahashi's contract stipulated that he must sign with the club by Oct. 31, but the two sides agreed to extend negotiations after the Mets hired general manager Sandy Alderson.
Takahashi was seeking a multiyear contract worth $4 million to $6 million annually, but the Mets offered a one-year, $1.5 million contract with incentives that could have totaled $3 million, according to The New York Times.