MLB free agency. Trades. Off season moves. ⚾

[Greenbacks]

Corbin Burnes among 8 Orioles entering MLB free agency pool.​

NEW YORK -- Outfielder Juan Soto, pitchers Corbin Burnes, Walker Buehler and Max Fried and first baseman Pete Alonso were among 136 players who became free agents Thursday morning.
Third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Anthony Santander and shortstop Willy Adames also went free.
There were 64 more players with pending option decisions who could become free agents by Monday, the fifth day after the World Series.
Teams and players can start discussing contract terms at 5:01 p.m. EST on Monday, after the deadline for teams to make $21.05 million qualifying offers to eligible free agents.
Pitcher Justin Verlander became a free agent after he failed to pitch 140 innings this year, the amount that would have triggered his ability to exercise a $35 million conditional player option. If he had exercised the option, the New York Mets would have been obligated to give an additional $17.5 million to Houston as part of last year's trade that sent the three-time Cy Young Award winner back to the Astros.
Among those with pending club options are Atlanta designated hitter Marcell Ozuna ($16 million), and New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo ($17 million) and reliever Luke Weaver ($2.5 million).
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole can opt out of his contract but the team can void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029.
Those with player options include pitchers Blake Snell of San Francisco ($30 million, of which $15 million would be deferred), Nick Martinez of Cincinnati ($12 million), Sean Manaea of the Mets ($13.5 million), Nathan Eovaldi of Texas ($20 million) and Michael Wacha of Kansas City ($16 million), along with Chicago Cubs first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger ($27.5 million).
Jordan Montgomery of Arizona exercised his $22.5 million player option for 2025.
Snell and Flaherty are ineligible for the qualifying offers. A free agent can be made a qualifying offer only if he has been with the same team continuously since opening day and has never received a qualifying offer before.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 13 of 131 offers have been accepted.

ORIOLES: Burnes, the Cy Young Award winner, and Santander were among the eight players from the Baltimore Orioles to enter free agency on Thursday.
The right-handed Burnes, 30, was 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 games in his first season with the Orioles after being traded by the Milwaukee Brewers, with whom he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021.
Santander, also 30, hit .235 in 2024 but had 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs.
Also taking the step were right-hander Brooks Kriske, left-handed pitcher John Means, catcher James McCann and outfielder Austin Slater. Outfielder Daniel Johnson and right-handed pitcher Burch Smith chose free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

RED SOX: Right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito exercised his $19 million player option for the 2025 season, the Boston Red Sox announced.
The move was expected after Giolito, 30, had surgery in March on his pitching elbow. The internal brace repair to his ulnar collateral ligament kept him from playing in his first season with the Red Sox after signing a two-year, $38.5 million offseason contract with Boston that included a player option for 2025.
An All-Star in 2019 for the Chicago White Sox, when he also finished sixth in American League Cy Young Award voting, Giolito has struggled in recent seasons, delivering a 4.90 ERA in 2022 and a 4.88 mark last season when he went 8-15 while pitching for the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians.
In eight major league seasons, Giolito is 61-62 in 180 appearances (178 starts) and has a 4.43 ERA with 1,077 strikeouts in 1,013⅔ innings.

WHITE SOX: The White Sox declined to exercise their 2025 option on infielder Yoan Moncada, who will receive a $5 million buyout and become a free agent. He signed a five-year, $70 million contract extension after the 2019 season.
The White Sox acquired Moncada, now 29, in December 2016 as part of the trade that sent left-hander Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. Injuries limited him to 92 games in 2023 and 12 games in 2024.
With the White Sox, he appeared in 739 games with a .254 batting average, 93 homers and 338 RBIs.

CARDINALS: The St. Louis Cardinals declined the options on right-handed pitchers Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Keynan Middleton.
Gibson, 37, was 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA after signing with the Cardinals last November. He earned $12 million last season and had an option for the same amount in 2025. He will receive a $1 million buyout.
Lynn, 37, signed a one-year, $10 million contract for 2024 with an $11 million option for 2025. He was 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA.
Middleton, 31, underwent season-ending flexor repair surgery on his right forearm in June and didn't pitch all season.
He last pitched in 2023 with the White Sox and New York Yankees, finishing 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA and two saves in 51 relief appearances.

BREWERS: Pitcher Wade Miley's $12 million mutual option for 2025 with the Brewers has been declined, making the veteran left-hander a free agent. He still gets a $1.5 million buyout.
Miley, who turns 38 on Nov. 13, made just two starts this season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He posted an 0-1 record and a 6.43 ERA. That followed an impressive 2023 season in which he went 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts.
Miley owns a 108-99 career record with a 4.07 ERA and 1,361 strikeouts with eight teams since 2011.

 

[Greenbacks]

Yankees pick up Luke Weaver's 2025 option for $2.5 million.​

NEW YORK -- Luke Weaver's 2025 option was exercised by the New York Yankees on Friday for $2.5 million.
Weaver took over from Clay Holmes as Yankees closer in September and finished 7-3 with a 2.89 ERA and four saves, striking out 103 and walking 26 in 84 innings.
The 31-year-old right-hander was 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA and four saves in the postseason as the Yankees won their first American League pennant since 2009 and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from Seattle in September 2023, became a free agent and re-signed with New York in January for a $2 million deal that wound up earning him another $250,000 in performance bonuses.

 

[Greenbacks]

Blake Snell, 2-time Cy Young winner, opts out of Giants deal.​

SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-hander Blake Snell has exercised his right to opt out of his contract with the Giants to become a free agent for the second straight offseason.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner agreed in March to a two-year, $62 million contract that included a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary for 2024 and a $30 million salary for 2025, of which $15 million would have been deferred and payable on July 1, 2027.
Snell, 31, was 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings.
He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin.
Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants.
Because Snell turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, San Francisco is not eligible to make him a qualifying offer this offseason and won't receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team.

 

[Greenbacks]

Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery exercises his $22.5 million option.​

As anticipated, left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million player option to remain with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to MLB.com on Friday.
A free agent after the 2023 season, Montgomery remained unsigned past the start of spring training but at the end of March, the Diamondbacks signed him to a one-year, $25 million deal with a player option for 2025.
In other moves Friday, the Diamondbacks have picked up the $15 million 2025 team option on veteran third baseman Eugenio Suarez, sources told ESPN''s Jesse Rogers.
Suarez, 33, batted .256 last season and had a career-high 30 homers to go along with 101 RBIs and 146 hits in 158 games. He had a .319 on-base percentage and .457 slugging percentage.
When Montgomery signed the shorter-term deal with the aid of his then-agent Scott Boras, instead of the long-term contract he was initially hoping for, the thinking was that Montgomery would earn a long-term deal by proving his value over the course of the season.
However, the 31-year-old had a tough season, going 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA across 25 games (21 starts). He struck out just 83 batters while walking 44 in 117 innings. He also earned his first career save in September.
After the Diamondbacks were eliminated from playoff contention, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick said in a radio appearance that he made a "horrible decision" to pursue Montgomery last spring.
"Let me say it the best way I can say it: If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed because I brought it to their attention," Kendrick said on "Burns & Gambo."
"I pushed for it. They agreed to it. It wasn't in our game plan when he was signed right at the end of spring training, and looking back in hindsight, [it was] a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that."
Later, Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said the ultimate decision to sign Montgomery was his.
"That was a group process, and I understand why we made that decision at the time, and I believe that Jordan Montgomery will have a better year next year," Hazen said, according to MLB.com. "It didn't work out, but I also think next year is going to look a lot different."
Montgomery is expected to compete with veterans Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, along with younger pitchers Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.
A longtime member of the New York Yankees, Montgomery split the 2023 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers and recorded a 3.20 ERA. He made five starts and one relief appearance for Texas in the playoffs on its run to the World Series title.
Since making the big leagues in 2017, he has career marks of 46-41 with a 4.03 ERA in 166 games (161 starts).
Also on Friday, outfielder Randal Grichuk turned down his $6 million mutual option with the Diamondbacks, triggering a $1.75 million buyout and becoming a free agent.
The 33-year-old hit .291 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs after missing the first week of the season while finishing his recovery from right ankle surgery. He played left and right field this year and played in center in previous seasons.
Grichuk agreed in February to a deal with the Diamondbacks that included a $1.5 million salary and the option. The price of buyout escalated based on his 279 plate appearances.
An 11-year major league veteran, Grichuk has a .252 batting average with 203 homers and 602 RBIs for St. Louis (2014 to 2017), Toronto (2018 to 2021), Colorado (2022-23), the Los Angeles Angels (2023) and the Diamondbacks.

 

[Greenbacks]

The Yankees have declined their club option for Anthony Rizzo. He is now a free agent and is owed a $6 million buyout.

 

[Bozzie]

The Yankees have declined their club option for Anthony Rizzo. He is now a free agent and is owed a $6 million buyout.

That 5th inning waddle towards 1st base..

Later meatball.

 

[Greenbacks]

Joc Pederson has reportedly declined his $14 million mutual option with the Diamondbacks for the 2025 season, entering free agency after one stellar season in Arizona.

 

[Greenbacks]

A study done by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found African Negro American players represented just 6.2% of players on MLB opening day rosters in 2024.
I guess they suck at baseball.

 

[Greenbacks]

Cody Bellinger did not opt out of his contract and will return to the Cubs in 2025.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Source: Mets LHP Sean Manaea opts out to become free agent.​

NEW YORK -- Left-hander Sean Manaea declined his $13.5 million option for 2025 with the New York Mets on Saturday to become a free agent for the third consecutive offseason, a source told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.
Manaea, 32, agreed to a contract in January that included a $14.5 million salary for 2024. He went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 184 and walking 63 in 181⅔ innings.
After dropping his arm slot in midseason, he became the Mets' most effective starting pitcher and went 6-2 with a 3.09 ERA in his final 12 starts. Manaea was 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four postseason starts.
He opted out of the final season of a $25 million, two-year contract with San Francisco last November, giving up a $12.5 million salary for 2024. He went 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA in his only season with the Giants.
A nine-year major league veteran, Manaea is 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 198 starts and 30 relief appearances with Oakland (2016-21), San Diego (2022), the Giants and Mets.

 

[Greenbacks]

LHP Robbie Ray sticking with Giants on existing deal.​

San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray did not opt out of the remaining two years and $50 million on his contract, sources told ESPN.
Ray, 33, returned from Tommy John surgery this year and made seven starts, posting a 4.70 ERA while striking out 43, walking 15 and allowing six home runs in 30⅔ innings. His season ended after a hamstring strain in late August sent him to the injured list.
The Giants acquired Ray in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, who had signed him to a five-year, $115 million free agent contract following his American League Cy Young Award-winning 2021 season. Over his 11-year career, Ray is 77-73 with a 3.98 ERA and 1,548 strikeouts, 535 walks and 194 home runs allowed in 1,258.2 innings.
Ray will rejoin a rotation that includes ace Logan Webb and left-hander Kyle Harrison but question marks beyond that. Right-handers Hayden Birdsong, Keaton Winn, Mason Black and Landen Roupp all took turns starting this year, and right-hander Jordan Hicks vacillated between the rotation and bullpen. Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants' top starting-pitching prospect, could be in the mix as well.
San Francisco fired president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi following an 80-82 season and replaced him with longtime Giants star Buster Posey. With a projected payroll in the $150 million range, the Giants are expected to pursue starting-pitching help in free agency and could be in the market for Corbin Burnes, the best available starter.

 

[Greenbacks]

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole opts out of contract​

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole opted out of his contract Saturday, leaving the team with the ability to ensure he remains in pinstripes by adding an additional year at $36 million to the four years and $144 million that had been remaining on the contract, sources told ESPN.
Cole, 34, has been among the best pitchers in baseball over the course of his first five years with the Yankees, winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2023. After an elbow injury sidelined him for the first 2½ months of the 2024 season, he returned to make 17 starts, posting a 3.41 ERA and striking out 99 over 95 innings while walking 29 and allowing 11 home runs.
Cole's opt-out comes days after he started a Game 5 loss in the World Series. Following four no-hit innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers scored five unearned runs off Cole, with two errors and a miscommunication between Cole and first baseman Anthony Rizzo leading to the deluge.
The Yankees have until Sunday night to invalidate Cole's opt-out by making the remainder of his deal five years at $180 million, sources said.
The expectation is that the Yankees will add the $36 million to keep Cole at the top of their rotation and ensure that they don't potentially lose multiple integral players, with star outfielder Juan Soto hitting free agency. Should New York decline its option to void Cole's opt-out, Cole would join a strong class of starting pitchers that includes Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell -- also represented by Cole's agent, Scott Boras -- Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, Yusei Kikuchi, Nick Pivetta, Luis Severino and Sean Manaea, who opted out of his deal with the New York Mets and will be a free agent, according to sources.
Before the 2020 season, Cole signed the largest free agent contract ever for a pitcher: nine years and $324 million. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, second in 2021 and ninth in 2022 before winning the award in 2023, posting an AL-best 2.63 ERA with a league-high 209 innings.
An elbow injury sustained in spring training this year delayed Cole's debut until June 19. While his average fastball velocity dipped by about 1 mph from last year and 2 mph from 2022, Cole's five-pitch mix -- which includes a curveball, slider, cutter and changeup -- remained effective.
In five postseason starts this year, Cole posted a 2.17 ERA over 29 innings with 22 strikeouts, 10 walks and 1 home run allowed. Over his career, Cole is 11-6 with a 2.77 ERA in 22 playoff starts.

 

[Greenbacks]

Royals retain Michael Wacha on 3-year, $51M deal.​

Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals agreed on a three-year, $51 million contract that includes a fourth-year club option and can max out at $72 million, sources told ESPN.
The Royals announced the deal Sunday but did not disclose terms.
Wacha, 33, was expected to opt out of the final year of the two-year, $32 million deal he signed with the Royals last winter but preferred to stay in Kansas City, where he thrived in front of one of baseball's best defensive teams.
Kansas City likely would have tendered Wacha a qualifying offer, which would have dampened his free agent market, and the sides struck a deal during the five-day quiet period after the World Series during which teams can re-sign their free-agents-to-be. Wacha will nearly double his career earnings with the deal.
Wacha's nomadic career -- he has played for six teams in the past six seasons -- has been on the upswing since he turned 30. He found perhaps the best version of himself last year, going 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 29 starts, his most since 2017. Wacha and Seth Lugo, his former San Diego Padres teammate, helped stabilize a rotation that also includes All-Star Cole Ragans and drove Kansas City's evolution from a 56-win team in 2023 to an 86-win playoff team this year.
"I can't say enough good things about him as a teammate. I really can't," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said before Wacha's Game 1 start of the American League Division Series. "He is the most dialed-in pitcher I have ever seen when he's not pitching. He's into every pitch. He's high-fiving guys for keeping the double play in order, for breaking up a double play, for throwing to the right base. He's into every at-bat when his teammates are up there. He's looking for things with the other team when he's on the bench.
"He is the consummate professional."
Over 166⅔ innings in 2024, Wacha struck out 145, walked 45 and allowed 17 home runs. Armed with one of the best changeups in baseball, Wacha has the 18th-ranked ERA (3.30) among the 80 starting pitchers with at least 300 innings since 2022.
The deal will pay Wacha $18 million in 2025, $18 million in 2026 and $14 million in 2027, with an additional $4 million available in easily reachable performance bonuses, sources said. The club option is for $14 million and includes the same $4 million in incentives and a $1 million buyout.
Kansas City is hoping to fortify its rotation as well as add impact bats this winter. The Royals' offense struggled in six postseason games -- two in a wild-card-round win against Baltimore and four in a division-series loss against New York -- hitting .231/.287/.291.
Wacha started Games 1 and 4 against the Yankees, going 4⅔ innings and allowing two runs in the first game and allowing three runs over four innings in his second start.

 

[NES]

A study done by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found African Negro American players represented just 6.2% of players on MLB opening day rosters in 2024.
I guess they suck at baseball.

That statistic actually speaks more to baseball’s changing demographics and how other sports are pulling top athletes. Baseball’s popularity among African American communities has declined in recent decades, and resources for baseball development can vary widely. It's a complex issue, and there’s been talk within MLB circles about how to bring more diversity back to the game.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

This makes 3 straight years Andrés Giménez and Steven Kwan have each won Gold Gloves. They're the 5th pair of teammates since 2000 to win 3 straight awards:
Andrés Giménez and Steven Kwan, Guardians 2022-24
Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy, Orioles, 2012-14
Brett Boone and Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 2002-04
Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds, Cardinals, 2002-04
Andruw Jones and Greg Maddux, Braves, 2000-02

 

[Greenbacks]