updated 2:00 p.m. ET Feb. 27, 2004

TAMPA, Fla. - Third baseman Aaron Boone was released Thursday by the New York Yankees, nearly six weeks after hurting his knee in a pickup basketball game.

The injury, which could sideline him the entire season, set the stage for the Yankees to acquire Alex Rodriguez from Texas last week. Boone, an NL All-Star last season, becomes a free agent.

“It’s a tough situation we’re all in,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “You have to move on. We’d like to continue discussing the possibility of keeping him within the Yankees’ fold in some form or fashion that would manifest itself with him maybe being a player for us next year.”

Boone was hurt Jan. 16 and had surgery last week to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Adam Katz, Boone’s agent, said recovery will take five to nine months, but Boone is more optimistic.

“I know I’ll be back 100 percent next year for the season,” Boone told The Associated Press from his home in Newport Beach, Calif., where he’s already begun physical therapy on the knee. “That is ultimately my goal. Now with that said, I expect that I will be playing late in this season.

“But I don’t want to impede the healing process and getting to where I need to be. I would never put myself in a risky position, just because I want to get back this year, to go out there too soon. If I’m out there, it’s because I’m ready to be out there and it’s a safe choice.”

Boone, a hero in New York after his playoff homer against Boston last fall, wasn’t surprised the Yankees let him go.

“Certainly with what transpired with A-Rod, I kind of knew it was coming,” Boone said. “But we’re keeping the lines of communication open. Who knows? It’s an unfortunate and kind of ironic situation. I know it is for them as well.”

The 30-year-old third baseman already had agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract, but the Yankees contend Boone violated the guarantee language, which prohibited basketball.

“I’m just sorry that Boonie played basketball, a guy as good as he would go out there and take a chance playing basketball,” Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said.

New York says he is entitled to just 30 days of termination pay, which comes to $917,553 over the Yankees’ 188-day season. The move cuts the Yankees’ active payroll to $180.9 million.

“We’re exercising our rights in the contract,” Cashman said. “Would we want to pay him the full salary despite the injury? That wouldn’t make any sense whatsoever from a business perspective.”

Boone hit the 11th-inning homer off Tim Wakefield that won Game 7 of the Al championship series against Boston.

“He killed Boston twice,” Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi said. “You feel terrible for the guy.”

Boone batted .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs last year for the Yankees, who acquired him from Cincinnati on July for left-handers Brandon Claussen and Charlie Manning.

“I know Aaron wanted to come back and show he could play better than he did for the time that we had him,” New York shortstop Derek Jeter said. “You feel bad. You don’t want to see anyone go through an injury like that.”

Overall, Boone hit .287 with 24 homers and 96 RBIs last year.

“He’ll get back from this injury,” Cashman said. “He’ll be down for almost the entire year, if not the whole season. We’re looking toward next year, maybe. We don’t have anything in place, but I do volunteer that we would be interested.”

Katz said Boone could stay with the Yankees for 2005 but that it was too early to tell.

“We wouldn’t rule anything out,” he said. “He’s still the same player they traded Claussen for, he’s still an All-Star. Aaron has lots of options. He has a bright future wherever he lands.”

Steinbrenner said he would have no problems bringing Boone back.

“Boonie did a good job,” he said.

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