1 month agoTexas Rangers left-hander
Andrew Heaney exercised his $13 million player option for the 2024 season and will be back in Texas next year. Heaney was a big part of the Rangers' pitching staff this year on their way to their first-ever World Series championship. The 32-year-old southpaw appeared in five games (three starts) in the playoffs and allowed five earned runs on 11 hits while walking four and striking out four in 11 innings pitched. During the regular season (his first in Texas), he went 10-6 with a 4.15 ERA (4.66 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP while walking 60 and striking out 151 in 147 1/3 innings over 34 appearances (28 starts). Heaney should enter his second year with the Rangers as a back-end starter in their rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
1 month agoThe Texas Rangers exercised right-handed reliever
Jose Leclerc's $6.25 million option for the 2024 season. Although he had just four saves during the regular season, Leclerc was a vital late-inning bullpen piece that helped the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title this fall over the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games. In his seventh big-league season, he had a strong 2.68 ERA (3.62 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, 28 walks and 67 strikeouts in 57 innings in relief during the regular season. The 29-year-old allowed five earned runs on nine hits (three home runs) while walking six and striking out 14 in 13 2/3 relief innings in the postseason, securing four saves and a hold. Given his dominance in the late innings for Texas in recent seasons, he should be in line for more saves at the back end of their bullpen again in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Daniel Hudson is set to become a free agent this winter. The organization has decided to decline the $6.5 million player option on Hudson for the upcoming 2024 campaign. It's not shocking to see the Dodgers move on from Hudson after he was only able to pitch in three games this past season. When healthy, Hudson has shown to be a reliable option out of the bullpen. That being said, Hudson shouldn't have any issues finding a landing spot this offseason.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
1 month agoSan Francisco Giants pitcher
Sean Manaea has decided to opt out of his $12.5 million deal with the team for the upcoming 2024 season. The left-hander would rather test his value on the open market. The 31-year-old was used in a swingman role for the Giants this past season. He posted a 4.44 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 128/42 K/BB ratio across 117 2/3 innings in his 37 appearances (10 starts) with the Giants. It's possible that Manaea declined because he wants to be a full-time starter elsewhere. Regardless, he should be able to land a multi-year deal in free agency.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Baggarly
1 month agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Alex Cobb is expected to remain with the organization for the upcoming 2024 season. The organization is reportedly planning to pick up the $10 million team option on Cobb. The veteran right-hander was a reliable piece to the Giants rotation this past season. He registered a 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 131/37 K/BB ratio over 151 1/3 innings in 28 starts. It's worth noting that Cobb did recently undergo hip surgery, which will sideline him for six months. That being said, Cobb is likely to miss at least the first month of the 2024 season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 month agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Eddie Rosario is likely going to be a free agent this week. The organization is reportedly leaning towards declining Rosario's $9 million club option for the 2024 season. The team hasn't officially declined it yet, but are expected to do so ahead of Monday's deadline. The 32-year-old was a key piece to the Braves title run in 2021, but hasn't been the same at the plate. He's still effective with 21 home runs and 74 RBI this past season, so he should be able to find a spot on a contending roster.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 month agoMiami Marlins first baseman
Josh Bell has decided to stick around for at least one more season. The 31-year-old slugger has decided to accept his $16.5 player option for the 2024 season. On paper, this appears to be a good decision on both sides. Last season, Bell slashed .270/.338/.480 with 11 homers and 26 RBI over 224 plate appearances in his 53 games with the Marlins. He figures to play everyday and will be locked into a spot in the middle of the lineup.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jordan McPherson
1 month agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Michael Wacha will become a free agent this winter. The organization has decided to decline the two-year $32 million team option on Wacha. It sounds like the right-hander would rather test free agency after a strong 2023 campaign. The 32-year-old held a 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 124/43 K/BB ratio over 24 starts. He should be able to secure a solid multi-year deal in free agency. There should be plenty of suitors for Wacha after his reliable 2023 season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Dennis Lin
1 month agoTampa Bay Rays pitcher
Jalen Beeks has been placed on outright waivers. If Beeks goes unclaimed, he will likely elect free-agency to look for another opportunity.
Cole Sulser and
Josh Fleming were also sent to Triple-A. Beeks, in particular, has been an essential part of the Rays' pitching corps since coming over from the Red Sox in 2018. For his career, Beeks has 274 strikeouts in 277 2/3 innings pitched. The 30-year-old has a career ERA+ of 95, but that's brought down by the 70 he posted in 2023.
--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
1 month agoTampa Bay Rays catcher
Christian Bethancourt has been sent outright to Triple-A. Chances are Bethancourt will be unclaimed off waivers and wind up selecting free agency. Bethancourt started 89 games but eventually lost the starting job to
Rene Pinto. He produced a .635 OPS on the season. Infielder
Tristan Gray and outfielder
Raimel Tapia were also placed on outright waivers.
--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
1 month agoChicago White Sox shortstop
Tim Anderson saw his option declined on Saturday. Anderson is now a free agent. It's a $1 million buyout for the White Sox, as they declined a $14 million option. His .245/.286/.296 slash line was almost unfathomable for someone who had produced four straight above-average seasons that started with a batting title in 2019 and included all-star appearances in 2021 and 2022. The 30-year-old still has time to turn things around and could become a fantasy commodity once again, but he won't be going off boards early in 2024.
--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Rogers
1 month agoHouston Astros relief pitcher
Hector Neris has declined his $8.5 million player option for the 2024 season and is now a free agent, according to a source. Neris should be in line for a nice deal on the open market this winter after recording a stellar 1.71 ERA (3.83 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP while picking up two saves, walking 31 and striking out 77 in 68 1/3 innings over his 71 appearances out of Houston's bullpen during the regular season. The 34-year-old right-hander will receive a $1 million buyout after declining his option. His 2023 campaign was the best so far of his 10-year big-league career, so it makes sense for him to go out and try to capitalize on it on the open market. Neris has 89 career saves, so he could be an option as a primary closer for a team looking to upgrade the back end of their bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 month agoMilwaukee Brewers left-hander
Wade Miley declined his half of a mutual $10 million option for the 2024 season and will now become a free agent, according to a source. The 36-year-old southpaw went 9-4 with a strong 3.14 ERA (4.69 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, 38 walks and 79 strikeouts in 120 1/3 innings over 23 starts in 2023. He is open to returning to the Brewers in free agency but wants to test the open market first. Miley will turn 37 years old in November and was pretty fortunate to have such a low ERA given his 4.69 FIP and weak 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Miley will see if he can secure one more decent payday from an interested club as he nears the end of his career. The soft-tossing left-handed relies on inducing weak contact on the mound rather than racking up the strikeouts, so he's not all that intriguing in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
1 month agoThe Detroit Tigers acquired outfielder/first baseman
Mark Canha from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for right-hander Blake Holub. Canha will now head to his third different team in the last year. The 34-year-old veteran began the 2023 campaign with the New York Mets, hitting .245 (63-for-257) with six homers, 29 RBI and seven stolen bases in 89 games before being traded to Milwaukee midseason. In 50 contests with the Brew Crew, he went 51-for-178 (.287) with five long balls, 33 RBI and four stolen bases. Canha will now join the Tigers and compete for playing time in the outfield with
Akil Baddoo,
Kerry Carpenter,
Zach McKinstry and
Matt Vierling. Holub, 25, had a 3.03 ERA and eight saves in 48 relief outings with Single-A Michigan and Double-A Erie in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brewers Twitter
1 month agoThe Cincinnati Reds declined first baseman
Joey Votto's $20 million 2024 option on Saturday, sending him to free agency this offseason. It was a no-brainer decision on the 40-year-old left-handed slugger, who will now be a free agent for the first time in his career after 17 fruitful seasons in Cincinnati. Votto doesn't have much left in the tank, but he said earlier this year that he wants to play for at least one more season. He'll have to do that with another club unless the Reds decide to bring the veteran six-time All-Star back on a cheap deal. Votto has become more of a part-time player at this point in his career. He played in 65 games due to injuries in 2023 and hit just .202 (42-for-208) but with 14 home runs, six doubles, 38 RBI and 26 runs scored in 242 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Reds Twitter
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