Adam Wainwright Plans To Return In 2020

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright plans to return to the team in 2020, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. The 38-year-old right-hander bounced back in 2019 to post better numbers than his three previous seasons, going 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 in 171 2/3 innings over […]

Phillies Decline Option On Jason Vargas

The Philadelphia Phillies declined their 2020 option on starting pitcher Jason Vargas and will instead pay him a $2 million buyout to make him a free agent. The team also declined the options for relief pitchers Jared Hughes and Pat Neshek. Vargas went 7-9 with a 4.51 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 149 […]

Pirates Pick Up Starling Marte's Option

The Pittsburgh Pirates will pick up their $11.5 million 2020 option on outfielder Starling Marte, according to sources. It was a no-brainer move after Marte set new career highs in home runs (23), RBI (82), runs (97), slugging percentage (.503) and OPS (.845). He also finished with a 2.9 Wins Above Replacement, which was tied […]

J.D. Martinez Doesn't Opt Out Of Deal

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez chose not to opt out of his contract with the team, so he can earn $62.5 million over the next three years: $23.75 million for 2020 and $19.375 million for both 2021 and 2022. As long as he doesn't have a lengthy stay on the injured list, Martinez […]

Kole Calhoun's Option Declined

The Los Angeles Angels declined their $14 million option for the 2020 season on outfielder Kole Calhoun on Monday, making him a free agent. Calhoun got off to an atrocious start in 2019 but bounced back with a solid second half to finish with a .232/.325/.467 slash line, a career-high 33 home runs, 74 RBI, […]

Cubs Moving On From Brandon Morrow

The Chicago Cubs declined the 2020 option on relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) on Monday, making him a free agent. Relief pitchers Tony Barnette and Kendall Graveman also had their options declined. Morrow pitched only half of the 2018 season before landing on the injured list with right biceps inflammation, and he didn't pitch at […]

Twins To Decline Martin Perez's Option

The Minnesota Twins will decline the $7.5 million 2020 option on starting pitcher Martin Perez, making him a free agent. They'll instead pay him a $500,000 buyout. The 28-year-old left-hander finished 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 135 strikeouts in 165 1/3 innings over 29 starts and three relief outings for the Twins […]

Braves Decline Julio Teheran's Option

The Atlanta Braves declined their $12 million option for the 2020 season on starting pitcher Julio Teheran on Monday, making him a free agent. Teheran will instead receive a $1 million buyout. The 28-year-old Colombian went 10-11 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 162 K's in 174 2/3 innings (33 starts) for the Braves […]

Eric Thames Becomes Free Agent

The Milwaukee Brewers declined the 2020 $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames on Monday, making him a free agent. Milwaukee paid him a $1 million buyout instead, but general manager David Stearns said the team is open to bringing him back. If Thames goes elsewhere, Ryan Braun could see even more time at […]

Braves Bringing Nick Markakis Back

The Atlanta Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year, $4 million deal on Monday, according to sources. This comes after the team declined his $6 million option and gave him a $2 million buyout. The 35-year-old continued to hit for a high average (.285) because of a high contact rate, but he didn't do […]

Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo Could Enter Rotation

New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said that relief pitchers Robert Gsellman and/or Seth Lugo could be shifted to starting roles in 2020 with Zack Wheeler potentially moving on in free agency. Lugo and Gsellman have both been more effective in relief, but both could be effective streamers in the right matchups in […]

Pirates To Pick Up Chris Archer's Option

The Pittsburgh Pirates will pick up the 2020 option on starting pitcher Chris Archer worth $8.25 million, according to a source. The 31-year-old dealt with injuries in 2019 and disappointed with a 3-9 record and 5.19 ERA in his first full season with the Bucs. Pittsburgh is hoping that Archer working with a new pitching […]

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 […]