MLB Free Agency Tracker: Follow Stroman and Anderson

Under, CBS Sports activities will probably be chronicling the weekend’s most notable choice calls forward of the official begin of enterprise. To enhance your studying expertise, we have separated the choices into two helpful classes: those who have been exercised and those who have been declined (making the participant a free agent).

Decide-outs

Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Rodriguez had three years and $49 million left on his contract with Detroit, however Jon Heyman reviews that he is opted out and chosen free company. Rodriguez in his age-30 season re-established his worth fairly properly by registering a 3.30 ERA and a pair of.98 Ok/BB ratio in 152 2/3 innings for the Tigers. He owns an ERA+ of 112 throughout components of eight MLB seasons.

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Stroman exercised his opt-out with one yr and $21 million remaining on his Cubs pact, Jon Heyman has reported. Meaning he is a free agent and thus out there to all groups. Stroman, 32, is coming off a 2023 season during which he pitched to a 3.95 ERA/113 ERA+ with a Ok/BB ratio of two.29 in 136 2/3 innings — an innings complete compromised by a hip damage that price him nearly six weeks. This previous yr, Stroman was named an All-Star for the second time in his profession.

Exercised

Josh Bell, 1B, Miami Marlins
Bell will return to the Marlins for the 2024 season because the veteran first baseman exercised his $16.5 million choice for subsequent season, per the Miami Herald. Acquired from Cleveland on the commerce deadline, Bell hit .270/.338/.480 in 53 video games with Miami. Bell, 31, totaled 22 dwelling runs in 2022. The Marlins are Bell’s fifth MLB group, and 2024 will probably be his ninth season within the league.

Max Kepler, OF, Minnesota Twins
Kepler launched 24 dwelling runs and posted the second finest OPS+ of his profession in 2023. The Twins rewarded him by exercising a $10 million membership choice (versus a $1 million buyout). Kepler will develop into a free agent subsequent winter.

Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins
Polanco has missed severe time due to damage during the last two seasons, showing in simply 184 complete video games. He is produced when wholesome, and that was cause sufficient for the Twins to train a $10.5 million membership choice. The Twins retained a membership choice on Polanco for the 2025 season as effectively.

Andrew Heaney, LHP, Texas Rangers
Heaney has exercised his $13 million participant choice for the 2024 season. He posted a 4.15 ERA (107 ERA+) and a 2.52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34 appearances with the Rangers.

José Leclerc, RHP, Texas Rangers
The Rangers exercised Leclerc’s membership choice value $6.25 million. He appeared 57 instances for the Rangers in 2023, compiling a 2.68 ERA (167 ERA+) and a 2.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Declined

Michael Wacha, RHP, Padres
The Padres have declined Wacha’s two-year, $32 million membership choice. Wacha is now anticipated to say no his $6.5 million participant choice, making him a free agent, in response to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin. Wacha began 24 instances for San Diego, posting a 3.22 ERA (127 ERA+) and a 2.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
The membership introduced that it was shifting on from the franchise legend, which suggests they’re going to pay his $7 million buyout fairly than selecting up the $20 million group choice for 2024. Votto, 40, is coming off a 2023 season during which he slashed .202/.314/.433 with 14 dwelling runs in 65 video games. Given his age and up to date damage historical past, Votto could go for retirement. Regardless of the case, he stands as one of many best gamers in Reds historical past.

Cody Bellinger, OF, Chicago Cubs
In what was a mere formality, Bellinger declined his half of a $25 million choice, the group introduced. He’ll obtain a $5 million buyout and develop into a free agent. Bellinger, who continues to be solely 28, authored a .307/.356/.525 batting line in 2023, and is poised to signal a nine-figure contract this offseason.

Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
The White Sox have declined their $14 million choice on Anderson and as an alternative opted for the $1 million buyout. That makes Anderson, 30, a free agent coming off the worst season of his profession. In 2023, he batted simply .245/.286/.296 with just one dwelling run in 123 video games. Anderson additionally confirmed indicators of decline within the area, so it might be a troublesome marketplace for the two-time All-Star.

Justin Turner, DH, Crimson Sox
Turner has declined his $13.4 million participant choice, the Crimson Sox introduced. Turner will gather a $6.7 million buyout and develop into a free agent. Due to the buyout, this was solely a $6.7 million resolution for Turner. He should not have any bother beating that on the open market, even along with his thirty ninth birthday arising later this month.

Liam Hendriks, RHP, Chicago White Sox
As anticipated, the White Sox declined their $15 million membership choice on Hendriks, in response to the New York Submit. His choice resolution was one of the crucial attention-grabbing of the offseason. The White Sox nonetheless owe Hendriks a $15 million buyout, although it is going to be paid out in $1.5 million annual installments from 2024-35 fairly than all in 2024. Hendriks had Tommy John surgical procedure in August and is more likely to miss the complete 2024 season.

Mike Clevinger, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Clevinger declined his half of a $12 million mutual choice, the White Sox introduced Friday. He’ll obtain a $4 million buyout and develop into a free agent. The 32-year-old had a stable 2023 season — 3.77 ERA and three.3 WAR in 131 1/3 innings — and figures to hunt a multi-year contract in a free-agent market that’s skinny on high quality beginning pitchers.

Nick Martinez, RHP, San Diego Padres
Martinez and the Padres have declined their respective choices — a $16 million membership choice for 2024 and an $8 million participant choice. That places Martinez available on the market. This previous season, he made 9 begins and 54 reduction appearances for San Diego. Over that stretch, Martinez had an ERA of three.43 in 110 1/3 innings. He is 33 years of age.

Hector Neris, RHP, Houston Astros
Neris has handed on his his $8.5 million participant choice for 2024 and can develop into a free agent, Chandler Rome reviews. Neris, 34, is coming off a superb season within the Houston bullpen. In 68 1/3 reduction innings for the Astros, he put up an ERA of 1.71 with 77 strikeouts.

Seth Lugo, RHP, San Diego Padres
Lugo began a career-high 26 video games for the Padres final season, amassing a 3.57 ERA (115 ERA+) and a 3.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That was sufficient for him to say no a $7.5 million participant choice in favor of testing the open market once more.

Lance Lynn, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have declined their $18 million choice on Lynn’s providers, in response to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. Lynn, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on the deadline, will as an alternative obtain a $1 million buyout. Lynn began 32 video games final season, compiling a 5.73 ERA (77 ERA+) and a 2.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Whit Merrifield, 2B/LF, Toronto Blue Jays
Merrifield and the Blue Jays every declined their parts of an $18 million mutual choice. As such, Merrifield will gather a $500,000 buyout en path to the open market. He made his third All-Star Sport final season, although he additionally completed with the second-lowest full-season WAR complete of his profession.

Jorge Soler, OF, Miami Marlins
That Soler rejected a $13 million participant choice ought to come as no shock. He had the most effective offensive seasons of his profession in 2023, homering 36 instances and amassing a 128 OPS+. He now profiles as one of many higher DH choices within the class.