Braves Decline Tyler Flowers' Option, Re-Sign Him

The Atlanta Braves are re-signing catcher Tyler Flowers to a one-year, $4 million deal on Monday, according to a source. This comes after the team declined his $6 million 2020 option and offered him a $2 million buyout. Flowers split time with Brian McCann, who has since retired, in 2019 and hit .229/.319/.413 with 11 […]

Blue Jays Acquire Chase Anderson

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired starting pitcher Chase Anderson from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in exchange for minor league first baseman Chad Spanberger. Anderson, 31, was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 139 innings (27 starts, five relief outings) for the Brew Crew in 2019. He posted a career-best […]

No Timetable For Yoenis Cespedes

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (ankle) continues to rehab from his injuries the past year, and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said it's "too early to tell" if Cespedes will play in 2020. "I don't have enough information to predict when he's going to be back." He didn't play at all in 2019 and […]

Cubs Pick Up Anthony Rizzo's Option

As expected, the Chicago Cubs picked up first baseman Anthony Rizzo's $16.5 million option for the 2020 season on Sunday, according to a league source. 2019 was Rizzo's second straight season with under 30 home runs -- he previously had four straight seasons with 30-plus round-trippers -- but he was otherwise consistent for fantasy owners […]

Nationals Want To Re-Sign Stephen Strasburg

The Washington Nationals want to re-sign starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg after he opted out of the final four years and $100 million of his contract. The word is that Washington is willing to give the right-hander a nice annual raise from $25 million per season. The sticking point could be the years, but the two […]

Dodgers Decline Option On Jedd Gyorko

The Los Angeles Dodgers declined infielder Jedd Gyorko's option for the 2020 season, making him a free agent. The 31-year-old had a miserable year in 2019, splitting time with the Dodgers and Cardinals. Gyorko dealt with injuries and hit .174/.248/.250 in a part-time role for both Los Angeles and St. Louis. He had only two […]

Aroldis Chapman Reaches Extension With Yankees

The New York Yankees and closer Aroldis Chapman agreed to a restructured deal on Saturday that will keep the left-hander with the team through the 2022 season, according to sources. The 31-year-old could have opted out of the final two years of his deal, but instead the Yanks will add another year for $18 million […]

Ryan Zimmerman, Yan Gomes Become Free Agents

The Washington Nationals declined their 2020 options on first baseman Ryan Zimmerman ($18 million) and catcher Yan Gomes ($9 million), making them both free agents. The Nats expect to work something out to re-sign Zimmerman, who was the team's first-round pick in 2005, but the same can't be said for Gomes. Zimmerman has dealt with […]

Nats Pick Up Options On Sean Doolittle, Adam Eaton

The Washington Nationals picked up their 2020 options on closer Sean Doolittle ($6.5 million) and outfielder Adam Eaton ($9.5 million). Doolittle had a down year in 2019 and struggled with injuries, posting a 4.05 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 29 saves and 66 K's in 60 innings. The left-hander shared closing duties with Daniel Hudson late in […]

Stephen Strasburg Opts Out Of Deal

Washington Nationals starting pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg opted out of the final four years and $100 million of his deal on Saturday night. The 31-year-old right-hander dominated in the postseason and won five of his six starts, including two in the World Series. He also dominated in the regular season, going 18-6 […]

Cubs Pick Up Jose Quintana's Option, Decline Derek Holland's

The Chicago Cubs picked up starting pitcher Jose Quintana's 2020 option on Saturday and declined pitcher Derek Holland's, making him a free agent. Quintana was 13-9 in 2019 but with a 4.68 ERA in 32 outings. He's gone 33-23 with a 4.23 ERA in 78 outings for the Cubs since being acquired from the White […]

Billy Hamilton A Free Agent Once Again

The Atlanta Braves declined their mutual option on outfielder Billy Hamilton for the 2020 season, making him a free agent. Hamilton had a $7.5 million mutual option, but the Braves will instead pay him a $1 million buyout. He earned an extra $200,000 this year in bonuses based on plate appearances. The 29-year-old hit a […]

Nationals Decline Option On Matt Adams

The Washington Nationals declined a $4 million mutual option for 2020 on backup first baseman Matt Adams, making him a free agent. He'll receive a $1 million buyout. The 31-year-old hit just .226 but did slug 20 home runs and drove in 56 runs in 111 games as a part-time player. Adams had just four […]

Starlin Castro Becomes Free Agent

The Miami Marlins declined their $16 million option on second baseman Starlin Castro and will instead pay him a $1 million buyout, allowing him to become a free agent this winter. The 29-year-old was ice-cold in the first half in 2019 but rebounded to hit .270 with a career-high 22 home runs and 86 RBI […]

Mike Moustakas Declines His 2020 Option

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman/second baseman Mike Moustakas declined his mutual 2020 option to become a free agent. Moustakas will attempt to land a multi-year deal this winter after slugging 35 home runs and showcasing his versatility at the keystone for the Brew Crew. Milwaukee is not ruling out re-signing Moose if it works for both […]

Mets Decline Juan Lagares' Option

The New York Mets declined the option for outfielder Juan Lagares, ending his 13-year run with the team and making him a free agent. Lagares' option was worth $9.5 million, but they'll instead pay him a $500,000 buyout. The 30-year-old has become a glove-first player in the big leagues, but he's become injury-prone and averaged […]

Mets Hire Carlos Beltran As Manager

The New York Mets hired former All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran as their new manager on Friday. He'll receive a three-year deal with an option for a fourth season. The nine-time All-Star played for New York from 2005 to 2011, but this will be his first gig as a manager in the big leagues. Beltran spent […]

Alex Gordon Becomes Free Agent

The Kansas City Royals will decline outfielder Alex Gordon's $23 million option and buy him out for $4 million. He'll become a free agent, but the Royals are hoping to bring him back at a rate that makes sense. The 35-year-old just isn't worth the $23 million these days. He wasn't as bad as expected […]

Reds Pick Up Freddy Galvis' Option

The Cincinnati Reds picked up shortstop Freddy Galvis' $5.5 million option for the 2020 season. Galvis has always been known for his superior glove work at the 6, but he managed to hit a career-high 23 home runs with the Blue Jays and Reds in 2019. Don't count on the power returning again in 2020, […]

Ryan Zimmerman Hopes To Play A Few More Years

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said that he hopes to play at least a couple more seasons. Winning a World Series title tends to give aging veterans renewed life. The 35-year-old was a staple for the Nats at first base throughout the postseason, but he battled injuries during the regular season, playing in just […]

Aroldis Chapman Will Pursue Contract Extension

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman wants to stay with the team and will pursue a contract extension. However, if an extension isn't reached quickly, he will opt out of the $30 million and two years left on his contract. The Yankees will likely extend Chapman sooner than later. He's one of the best closers […]

Mariners Decline Wade LeBlanc's Option

The Seattle Mariners declined starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc's $5 million team option for 2020, making him a free agent. The left-hander will receive a $450,000 buyout in return. LeBlanc wasn't a very effective spot starter for the M's or fantasy owners in AL-only leagues in 2019, going 6-7 with a 5.71 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and […]

Yasmani Grandal Will Decline His Option

As expected, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal will decline his $16 million option for the 2020 season and take a $2.25 million buyout to become a free agent. Grandal bet on himself in 2019, and the move paid off, as he hit .246/.380/.468 with a career-high 28 long balls, 77 RBI and even five stolen […]

Rangers Acquire Welington Castillo

The Texas Rangers acquired catcher Welington Castillo and international slot compensation from the White Sox on Thursday in exchange for minor league infielder/outfielder Jonah McReynolds. Castillo had a tough year with the Pale Hose, hitting .209/.267/.417 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 230 at-bats as the backup in Chicago. His best year came […]

Wilmer Flores Hits The Open Market

The Arizona Diamondbacks declined their team option on infielder Wilmer Flores and pitcher T.J. McFarland on Thursday, making them both free agents. Flores played in just 89 games for the Snakes in 2019 because of injury, but he was solid when on the field, hitting .317/.361/.487 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 265 […]

Royals Name Mike Matheny As Manager

The Kansas City Royals hired Mike Matheny as their next manager on Thursday. Matheny, 49, went 591-474 with the Cardinals from 2012-18 and was the first manager to reach the playoffs in his first four seasons. St. Louis lost to the Red Sox in the 2013 World Series. He was hired by the Royals as […]

Yankees Decline Edwin Encarnacion's Option

The New York Yankees declined their 2020 option for first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion on Thursday, making him a free agent. The 36-year-old slugger was lost at the plate in the postseason for the Yanks, but he was productive in 44 games for them in the second half, hitting .249/.325/.531 with 13 home runs and […]

Yu Darvish Won't Opt Out Of Contract

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish will not opt out of his deal with the Cubs with $81 million and four years left on his contract. The Japanese right-hander started slow because of injuries but had a 0.81 WHIP, 2.76 ERA and .199 opponent's average in the second half of the season. Overall, Darvish went […]

George Springer Goes Hitless in Game 7

It was a terrible night at the plate for Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, who went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a walk in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday. He did make hard contact against Patrick Corbin, but he couldn’t find grass or the seats. It’s hard to say it's disappointing, but […]

Alex Bregman Goes 0-for-3 in Game 7 Loss

It was a quiet night at the plate for Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday, but he had a solid series overall. He did walk, but it never led to anything productive. Scherzer had his number early and Patrick Corbin kept him quiet late with a […]