Phillies Exercise Jose Alvarado's 2026 Option

The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Wednesday that they exercised the $9.5 million club option on left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado (forearm) for the 2026 season. Alvarado will be back with the Phillies next season despite ending the season on the 15-day injured list with a left-forearm strain. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw had a 2025 campaign to […]

Reds Decline 2026 Option on Austin Hays

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they declined the $12 million mutual option on outfielder Austin Hays for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. The team also declined the 2026 club options on right-hander Scott Barlow and left-hander Brent Suter. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout and will be free […]

Jorge Polanco Declines his 2026 Option to Become a Free Agent

Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco declined his $6 million vesting player option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, a source told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Polanco is now officially a free agent, although there will be interest from the Mariners to try and re-sign him. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter played in 138 games in […]

MLB Expecting Tatsuya Imai to be Posted This Offseason

MLB team officials are preparing for "the strong possibility" that the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan will make right-hander Tatsuya Imai available via the posting system this offseason, according to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com. Imai had a great year in 2025, contributing to a combined no-hitter and earning his second straight […]

Yankees Decline Jonathan Loaisiga's 2026 Option

The New York Yankees declined to pick up right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga's (elbow) $5 million club option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, making him a free agent, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. It's not much of a surprise after Loaisiga had another injury-plagued season that limited him to just 30 relief appearances (29 […]

Braves Picking Up Chris Sale's 2026 Option

The Atlanta Braves are picking up future Hall of Fame left-hander Chris Sale's $18 million option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Even though Sale missed extended time once again in 2025 due to injury (a left rib-cage fracture), there was never any doubt that the […]

Shane Bieber Staying in Toronto for 2026

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber will stay in Canada next year after exercising his $16 million player option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. After spending the first seven years of his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians, Bieber made his debut in Toronto in […]

Salvador Perez Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Royals

The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a two-year contract extension with veteran catcher Salvador Perez through the 2027 season. The deal is worth $25 million. Before the extension, Perez had a $13.5 million team option for the 2026 campaign. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star showed his age by hitting .236 (141-for-597) […]

Harrison Bader Becomes Free Agent After Phils Decline his Option

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader declined his side of a $10 million mutual option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, as expected, and is officially a free agent, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Bader is now on the open market, but the Phillies said last month that they'd be interested in re-signing Bader this […]

Pablo Lopez to Have Normal Offseason

Minnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said on Tuesday that right-hander Pablo Lopez (forearm) is "fully healthy" and will "be able to have a normal offseason routine," according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Lopez missed time early in the 2025 season with a Grade 2 teres major strain and was shut down […]

Jack Flaherty Elects to Stay With Tigers

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty is not opting out of his $20 million contract for the 2026 season, according to sources. Flaherty will return to Motown, where he has played in each of the last two seasons. The 30-year-old veteran began the 2024 season in Detroit before being traded […]

Braves Pick Up Ozzie Albies' 2026 Option

Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on 929 The Game on Tuesday that the team is picking up the $7 million club option on second baseman Ozzie Albies (hand), according to Mark Zinno. Albies will stick around in Atlanta for his 10th season in 2026 despite having his worst full-season offensive performances. The three-time […]

Brewers Decline Option on Jose Quintana on Tuesday

The Milwaukee Brewers declined their $15 million mutual option on left-hander Jose Quintana on Tuesday, making him a free agent, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Quintana will be given a $2 million buyout and will be free to sign with any MLB team this offseason. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw only struck out 89 hitters in 131 […]

Rhys Hoskins Becomes a Free Agent

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins has become a free agent after the team declined their $18 million mutual option on him on Tuesday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Instead, Hoskins will receive a $4 million buyout and will be free to sign with any team this winter. The decision to decline the 32-year-old […]

Brewers Decline William Contreras' 2026 Option

The Milwaukee Brewers declined catcher William Contreras' $12 million option for the 2026 season, but he will remain with the team next year and go into his second year of salary arbitration, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop remains under team control through the 2027 season, but he will receive a […]

Trevor Story Opts in for Remaining Two Years on his Contract

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story has opted into the remaining two years and $50 million left on his deal with the team, a source told Chris Cotillo of Mass Live on Tuesday. Story will make $25 million in each of the next two seasons and has a $25 million club option for 2028 that […]

Yu Darvish to Miss All of 2026 Following Flexor-Tendon Surgery

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season after having surgery to fix a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow that included an internal-brace procedure, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Darvish had the surgery last Wednesday with Dr. Keith Meister. The 39-year-old Japanese hurler only made 15 starts […]

Mariners Pick Up 2026 Option on Andres Munoz

The Seattle Mariners exercised right-handed closer Andres Munoz's $6 million option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, a source told Francys Romero. It was an expected move for the Mariners to keep one of the most dominant relievers in baseball around for another year. The 26-year-old Mexican reliever was an All-Star for a second straight […]

Keegan Thompson Signs Split Contract With Reds

Former Chicago Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson signed a one-year split contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The split contract will pay Thompson $1.3 million on the big-league half (with $100,000 in performance incentives). Thompson will stay in the National League Central after playing the first four […]

Orioles Acquire Andrew Kittredge From the Cubs

The Baltimore Orioles acquired right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Kittredge will return to Baltimore after opening the 2025 season with the O's. The 35-year-old veteran was traded from Baltimore to Chicago at the trade deadline over the summer. Now […]

Shota Imanaga Becomes a Free Agent

Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga has become a free agent after the team rejected their option to extend his contract to a fifth year, sources told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. That triggered Imanaga's ability to exercise a $15 million player option for the 2026 season, but he also declined that to hit the open market. […]

White Sox Pick Up 2026 Option on Luis Robert Jr.

As expected, the Chicago White Sox picked up the $20 million option for the 2026 season on outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The White Sox also have another $20 million club option on Robert for the 2027 campaign. The 28-year-old Cuban outfielder has been a name thrown around […]

Braves Hire Walt Weiss as Their Next Manager

The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they hired Walt Weiss as their new manager. Weiss, who has served as the team's long-time bench coach, will be promoted to manager after the team parted ways with former manager Brian Snitker following a disappointing 2025 campaign that ended without a playoff appearance. The 61-year-old managed the […]

Kris Bubic Cleared to Begin a Throwing Program

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) has been cleared to begin an offseason throwing program, according to MLB.com. Bubic's 2025 season ended early in late July due to a left rotator-cuff strain, but he thankfully avoided having to go under the knife. The 28-year-old southpaw should be ready for the start of the 2026 […]

Brandon Woodruff Declines Mutual Option for 2026

The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that right-hander Brandon Woodruff (lat) declined his $20 million mutual option for the 2026 season and will officially become a free agent. Despite ending an injury-plagued season with a lat injury in late September, Woodruff will decline his 2026 option and take a $10 million buyout instead. The 32-year-old […]

Brewers Exercise 2026 Option on Freddy Peralta

As expected, the Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that they exercised the $8 million option for the 2026 season on right-hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta was one of the best pitchers in baseball for the Brew Crew in 2025, going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA (3.65 FIP), 1.07 WHIP, and 204:66 K:BB in 176 2/3 innings […]

Lucas Giolito Declines his 2026 Player Option

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (elbow) will decline his side of the mutual option with the team for the 2026 season, a source told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. The Red Sox must now decide whether they will extend a one-year, $22 million qualifying offer to Giolito. The veteran hurler will receive a […]

Ha-Seong Kim Opts Out, Becomes Free Agent on Monday

Atlanta Braves infielder Ha-Seong Kim opted out of his contract on Monday and has become a free agent, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kim had offseason shoulder surgery and didn't make his 2025 debut with the Tampa Bay Rays until July 4. The 30-year-old South Korean native then dealt with a […]

Pete Alonso Officially Opts Out of his Contract With Mets

As expected, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso officially opted out of his deal with the Mets on Monday and is now a free agent, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Alonso was a free agent last offseason as well and didn't find what he was looking for on the open […]

Alex Bregman Opts Out of his Contract With Boston

Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman has officially opted out of his contract with the team and is now a free agent, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Bregman had player options with the Red Sox for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons that would have combined to pay him $40 million, but he […]