Trevor Hoffman doesn't know if he's going to retire, but he does know he won't be back in Milwaukee.

"Why would they pay $7 million for me to pitch in this role?" Hoffman told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .

Hoffman has been replaced as the team's closer by rookie John Axford. The team has a $7 million option for 2011 that includes a buyout of $750,000.

"If I'm going to continue playing, I don't want to continue in this capacity," Hoffman said. "I'd like to see what's out there, if there's [an] option to close somewhere. I know it wasn't a great year, but it's five months out of a decent run."

Hoffman will be 43 next week and has 601 career saves. He blew five of his first 10 save opportunities this season, but has a 2.67 ERA over his last 32 appearances.

"I might not get to that stage [of fielding offers]," Hoffman said. "I might make my decision before I ever get to that. It would have to be a fit like this. I don't know how many fits are out there like this."

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

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