Main League Baseball’s free-agent market is not going to open for enterprise till Monday. Between from time to time, groups and gamers throughout the league shall be making selections on varied sorts of contractual choices. Our personal Mike Axisa analyzed 5 of probably the most intriguing calls elsewhere, together with these belonging to right-handed starter Marcus Stroman and shortstop Tim Anderson.
Beneath, CBS Sports activities shall be chronicling the weekend’s most notable possibility 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).
Choose-outs
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Rodriguez had three years and $49 million left on his contract with Detroit, however Jon Heyman experiences 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 Okay/BB ratio in 152 2/3 innings for the Tigers. He owns an ERA+ of 112 throughout elements 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 through which he pitched to a 3.95 ERA/113 ERA+ with a Okay/BB ratio of two.29 in 136 2/3 innings — an innings whole compromised by a hip harm that value him virtually six weeks. This previous yr, Stroman was named an All-Star for the second time in his profession.Â
Sean Manaea, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Manaea is in free company after turning down a $12.5 million possibility with the Giants in 2024. Manaea had some sturdy years in Oakland, however has not discovered that type with the Padres or Giants within the final two seasons. He had a 4.44 ERA (95 ERA+) in 37 apperances (10 begins) in San Francisco in 2023.
Exercised
Kyle Hendricks, RHP, Chicago Cubs
As anticipated, the Cubs picked up their $16.5 million membership possibility for Hendricks, experiences ESPN. Hendricks is the group’s longest-tenured participant. The 2 sides reported mentioned an extension final month, they usually might nonetheless conform to a brand new deal, however Chicago went forward and picked up the choice earlier than Monday’s deadline. Hendricks, 33, returned from shoulder surgical procedure this season and threw 137 innings with a 3.74 ERA.
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 possibility 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 shall 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 possibility (versus a $1 million buyout). Kepler will grow to be a free agent subsequent winter.
Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins
Polanco has missed severe time due to harm during the last two seasons, showing in simply 184 whole video games. He is produced when wholesome, and that was purpose sufficient for the Twins to train a $10.5 million membership possibility. The Twins retained a membership possibility on Polanco for the 2025 season as nicely.
Andrew Heaney, LHP, Texas Rangers
Heaney has exercised his $13 million participant possibility 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 possibility 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.
Ross Stripling, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Stripling will use his participant choice to return to the Giants in 2024, per KNBR. The righty signed a two-year, $25 million deal final winter and struggled in 2023. He posted a 5.36 ERA in 89 innings throughout 22 appearances (11 of which have been begins).
Declined
Michael Wacha, RHP, Padres
The Padres have declined Wacha’s two-year, $32 million membership possibility. Wacha is now anticipated to say no his $6.5 million participant possibility, making him a free agent, in line with 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 transferring on from the franchise legend, which suggests they will pay his $7 million buyout moderately than choosing up the $20 million group possibility for 2024. Votto, 40, is coming off a 2023 season through which he slashed .202/.314/.433 with 14 dwelling runs in 65 video games. Given his age and up to date harm 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 possibility, the group introduced. He’ll obtain a $5 million buyout and grow to be 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 possibility 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 could possibly be a tricky marketplace for the two-time All-Star.
Justin Turner, DH, Purple Sox
Turner has declined his $13.4 million participant possibility, the Purple Sox introduced. Turner will acquire a $6.7 million buyout and grow to be a free agent. Because of the buyout, this was solely a $6.7 million determination for Turner. He shouldn’t 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 possibility on Hendriks, in line with the New York Submit. His possibility determination was one of the fascinating of the offseason. The White Sox nonetheless owe Hendriks a $15 million buyout, although will probably be paid out in $1.5 million annual installments from 2024-35 moderately than all in 2024. Hendriks had Tommy John surgical procedure in August and is more likely to miss your complete 2024 season.
Mike Clevinger, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Clevinger declined his half of a $12 million mutual possibility, the White Sox introduced Friday. He’ll obtain a $4 million buyout and grow to be a free agent. The 32-year-old had a strong 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 possibility for 2024 and an $8 million participant possibility. That places Martinez available on the market. This previous season, he made 9 begins and 54 aid 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 possibility for 2024 and can grow to be a free agent, Chandler Rome experiences. Neris, 34, is coming off a wonderful season within the Houston bullpen. In 68 1/3 aid 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 possibility in favor of testing the open market once more.
Lance Lynn, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have declined their $18 million possibility on Lynn’s companies, in line with 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 possibility. As such, Merrifield will acquire 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 whole of his profession.
Jorge Soler, OF, Miami Marlins
That Soler rejected a $13 million participant possibility 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.
Brad Hand, LHP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves declined Hand’s possibility for the 2024 season. Hand was acquired on the commerce deadline from Colorado and had a 7.50 ERA in 20 appearances for Atlanta.
Johnny Cueto, RHP, Miami Marlins
The Marlins declined Cueto’s $10.5M possibility for 2024, per the New York Submit. The 37-year-old righty had a 6.02 ERA in 13 appearances in 2023.
Joe Kelly, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kelly, a right-handed reliever, shall be in free company after the Dodgers declined his $9.5M possibility for subsequent season. Kelly pitched for each the Dodgers and White Sox in 2023, and had a cumulative 4.12 ERA in 42 video games.
