Brian McCann Hits The Free-Agent Market

The Houston Astros declined to pick up catcher Brian McCann's $15 million option for the 2019 season, making him a free agent. McCann played in just 63 games in his second year in Houston due to injuries and he wasn't very good when he did play, hitting .212/.301/.339 with seven home runs and 23 RBI. […]

Blue Jays Decline Yangervis Solarte's Option

The Toronto Blue Jays declined infielder Yangervis Solarte's $5.5 million option for the 2019 season, but he will remain on the 2019 roster and is eligible for salary arbitration. Solarte hit a disappointing .226/.277/.378 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 122 games in 2018. The switch-hitter certainly has pop in his lumber, but […]

A's Pick Up Fernando Rodney's Option

The Oakland Athletics exercised relief pitcher Fernando Rodney's $4.25 million option for the 2019 season on Wednesday. Rodney had a 3.36 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 70 K's in 64 1/3 innings over 68 outings in 2018. All 25 of his saves came with the Twins before being traded to Oakland at the trade deadline. Walks […]

Brett Gardner Re-Signs With Yankees

After declining New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's $12.5 million option for the 2019 season, the team signed him to a one-year, $7.5 million deal on Wednesday. Gardner struggled by hitting .236/.322/.368 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 530 at-bats in a crowded Yankees outfield in 2018. He still has […]

Cubs Pick Up Jose Quintana's Option

The Chicago Cubs picked up starting pitcher Jose Quintana's $10.5 million option for the 2019 season on Wednesday. In his first full season in Chicago, Quintana was the definition of up and down, going 13-11 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 over 32 starts (174 1/3 innings). Walks (3.5 per nine innings) […]

Leonys Martin Avoids Arbitration

The Cleveland Indians agreed to a non-guaranteed one-year, $3 million deal with outfielder Leonys Martin on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, according to a source. Martin was sidelined for the final seven weeks of the season with the Tribe due to a scary bacterial infection that was life-threatening. Before that, though, he was solid, hitting .255/.323/.425 […]

Jung Ho Kang Becomes Free Agent

The Pittsburgh Pirates declined to pick up infielder Jung Ho Kang's $5.5 million option for the 2019 season, making him a free agent. Kang has hurt himself with multiple DUIs in his native South Korea, but he should still find a taker this offseason after hitting .274/.355/.482 with 36 home runs and 120 RBI in […]

Pirates Decline Josh Harrison's Option

The Pittsburgh Pirates declined second baseman Josh Harrison's $10.5 million option for the 2019 season, instead paying him a $1 million buyout and making him a free agent. After being an All-Star in 2017, Harrison disappointed in 2018, hitting .250/.293/.363 with only eight home runs, 37 RBI and three stolen bases in 97 games. Injuries […]

Royals Rework Wily Peralta's 2019 Deal

The Kansas City Royals reworked their deal with closer Wily Peralta to guarantee his 2019 salary at $3.25 million and tack on a mutual option at $7 million for 2020, according to a source. His 2019 base salary will now be $2.25 million, with the other $1 million guaranteed in a buyout for the option. […]

Brewers Pick Up Jeremy Jeffress' Option

The Milwaukee Brewers picked up relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress' $3.175 million option for the 2019 season, according to a source. Jeffress was an All-Star in 2018, going 8-1 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 and 15 saves as a huge piece of a dominating Brewers bullpen this year. It was a huge turnaround […]

Brewers Decline Jordan Lyles' Option

The Milwaukee Brewers declined to pick up relief pitcher Jordan Lyles' $3.5 million option for the 2019 season on Wednesday, according to sources. Lyles will now be a free agent after spending most of his time last year with the Padres. The right-hander went 3-4 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.6 K/9 in […]

Brandon Kintzler Exercising His Player Option

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler will exercise his $5 million player option for the 2019 season after the team declined their $10 million option on him for next year, according to a source. Kintzler had a rough 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 6.0 K/9 over 70 relief outings between the Nationals and the Cubs […]

Athletics Want To Keep Jed Lowrie

The Oakland Athletics want to re-sign impending free-agent second baseman Jed Lowrie and are expected to make him an offer, according to sources. The 35-year-old was an All-Star and hit a career-high 23 home runs last season. He has averaged 155 games and an .804 OPS the last two years. If the A's do indeed […]

Trevor Rosenthal Signs With Nationals

Free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal is signing with the Washington Nationals. Rosenthal sat out all of 2018 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he'll now help anchor a bullpen that will have Sean Doolittle closing again in 2019. Rosenthal has plenty of experience (121 career saves), but he'll likely be in a setup role, […]

Austin Hays Resumes Running

Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Austin Hays (ankle), the No. 4 prospect in the organization, started a running program on Monday after having surgery on Sept. 13 to repair a stress fracture and cartilage defects in his left ankle. Two screws were inserted into his ankle and a bone graft was performed to prevent a cyst […]

David Price Won't Opt Out Of Contract

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price said he will not opt out of the final four years and $127 million of his deal. Why would he after just winning the World Series? Price exorcised some of his playoff demons with fantastic outings in the ALCS and World Series en route to a title with […]

Clayton Kershaw Expected To Work Out Extension With Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who can opt out of his 2019 season, is expected to work out a short extension with the Dodgers for one or two years beyond the two years and $70 million he's owed. Kershaw must decide if he wants to opt out on Wednesday. The future Hall of […]

Is it Legit? Max Muncy's Breakout Season

Welcome to the third edition of our new weekly column "Is It Legit?" that will discuss breakout performers from the 2018 MLB season and how they should be valued heading into 2019. With so many players seemingly becoming fantasy baseball darlings overnight, it can be challenging to sift through the multiple hype trains and determine […]

Denard Span Becomes Free Agent

The Seattle Mariners did not pick up outfielder Denard Span's $12 million option for the 2019 season, making him a free agent, according to a source. Span will instead be given a $4 million buyout. The 34-year-old hit .261/.341/.419 with 11 home runs, 58 RBI and nine stolen bases in 137 games with the Rays […]

Rockies Decline Option On Gerardo Parra

The Colorado Rockies declined to pick up outfielder Gerardo Parra's $12.5 million option for next season, making him a free agent. Instead they will pay him a $1.5 million buyout. The 31-year-old hit .284 with six home runs and 53 RBI while starting 90 games in left field and seven in right field. Parra is […]

Justin Smoak's Option Picked Up

The Toronto Blue Jays exercised first baseman Justin Smoak's $8 million option for the 2019 season on Tuesday, according to a source. Smoak predictably came back down to Earth in 2018 after going for a career-high 38 homers and 90 RBI in 2017. He hit .242/.350/.457 with 25 home runs and 77 RBI in 147 […]

Yasmany Tomas Won't Opt Out

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Yasmany Tomas will not opt out of his deal and is set to make $15.5 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2020. Tomas is a defensive liability that spent all of the 2018 season with Triple-A Reno, where he hit .262/.280/.465 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 106 games. […]

Mike Moustakas, Joakim Soria Become Free Agents

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas and relief pitcher Joakim Soria both declined their 2019 mutual options and will become free agents. Moose found a very cold market for his services last winter despite hitting a career-high 38 bombs in 2017, so he may struggle for takers again this year despite hitting .251/.315/.459 with 28 […]

J.T. Realmuto Expects To Be Traded

Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto's agent, Jeff Berry, said his client expects to be traded this winter. “I think he will definitely be wearing a different uniform by the start of spring training," Berry said. The agent also made it clear that Realmuto won't be signing a long-term contract extension with the Fish this offseason. […]

Mets Sticking With Mickey Callaway As Manager

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway will remain as the team's manager in 2019, according to new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. "I fully support him," Van Wagenen said. There was speculation that Callaway would get the boot with a new GM coming in, but that won't be the case. The Mets had a very […]

Jason Hammel Becomes Free Agent

The Kansas City Royals declined their $12 million 2019 option on starting pitcher Jason Hammel on Tuesday, making him a free agent. Hammel was pretty bad all around in 2018, going 4-14 with a 6.02 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 6.5 K/9 over 39 outings (18 starts) for the Royals. The veteran right-hander shouldn't be drafted […]

Twins Decline Options On Ervin Santana, Logan Morrison

The Minnesota Twins declined their 2019 options on starting pitcher Ervin Santana and first baseman Logan Morrison on Tuesday, giving each $1 million buyouts and making them free agents. Both players had lost seasons in 2018 due to injuries. Santana only made five starts due to a finger injury that required surgery, and he wasn't […]

Red Sox Exercise Chris Sale's Option

The Boston Red Sox predictably exercised starting pitcher Chris Sale's $13.5 million option for the 2019 season on Tuesday. Sale was once again one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2018, although left shoulder issues slowed him considerably at the end of the year. The southpaw went 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA, […]

Sell-High Now! Dynasty Players Due for Decline

As the World Series, and therefore the 2018 season as a whole, comes to an end, fantasy owners can begin to plan their 2019 seasons. For owners in dynasty and keeper leagues, this is the time to rate and review players, move on from some, and double down on others. This article will help start […]

Indians Pick Up Option On Carlos Carrasco, Decline Brandon Guyer

The Cleveland Indians picked up starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco's $9.75 million option for the 2019 season on Tuesday while declining outfielder Brandon Guyer's $3 million option. Guyer will receive a $250,000 buyout and will become a free agent. Likely an ace on most other teams, Carrasco went 17-10 with a nice 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP […]