Chicago White Sox designated hitter Frank Thomas declared himself a free agent on Tuesday, less than a week after the club decided to buy out his 2006 contract option for $3.5 million. Thomas appeared in just 34 games for the White Sox during the 2005 season and was not on the postseason roster during their World Series title run. He began the year on the disabled list while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, then made his season-debut on May 31 but went back on the DL on July 21 with a second fracture in the left ankle and missed the remainder of the season. The 37-year-old Thomas batted just .219, but 12 of his 23 hits went for home runs and he also drove in 26 runs. Thomas, a five-time All-Star and AL MVP in 1993 and '94, is a career .307 hitter with 448 home runs and 1,465 RBI in 1,959 career games -- all with the White Sox. First baseman Tino Martinez also declared free agency after the New York Yankees declined his 2006 contract option. The 37-year-old first baseman played in his 16th season last year during his second stint with the Yankees. He hit .241, with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 131 games this past season. In 2,023 career games he has a .271 average, 339 home runs and 1271 RBI. He led the 1988 United States baseball team to the gold medal in the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Other players declaring free agency on Tuesday were San Diego Padres outfielder Eric Young and Florida Marlins third baseman Mike Mordecai.