MLB Player News
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Jose Urquidy SP | DET
Jose Urquidy: Reaches free agency
The Tigers declined Urquidy's $4 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Urquidy missed most of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, though he finished the 2025 campaign healthy. The 30-year-old right-hander got knocked around in two regular-season relief outings for the Tigers but pitched well on his rehab assignment, posting a 2.91 ERA and 18:5 K:BB over 21.2 innings. Urquidy will look to land a rotation job somewhere this winter, though he might have to settle for a minor-league contract.
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Pierce Johnson RP | ATL
Pierce Johnson: Club option declined
Atlanta declined Johnson's $7 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Johnson has posted a 2.91 ERA and 158:49 K:BB across 139 innings over the past two-and-a-half seasons for Atlanta, so it's a bit of a surprise the club passed on retaining him for a relatively modest sum. The 34-year-old should draw plenty of interest on the open market.
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Robinson Pina RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Robinson Pina: Activated, then outrighted
The Blue Jays activated Pina (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday and outrighted him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Pina was recalled and immediately placed on the 60-day IL with a UCL sprain in September as a means to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. The righty did not require surgery and could be ready for spring training, but it would now be as a non-roster invitee.
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Dillon Tate RP | TOR
Dillon Tate: Becomes free agent
Tate elected to become a free agent Thursday.
Tate has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment by the Blue Jays. The 31-year-old reliever made six regular-season appearances for Toronto in 2025, allowing three runs with an 8:6 K:BB over 6.1 innings.
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Ryan Burr RP | TOR
Ryan Burr: Elects free agency
Burr (shoulder) elected to become a free agent Thursday.
Burr was removed from the Blue Jays' 40-man roster and has exercised his right to free agency. He's recovering from July 2025 right shoulder capsule surgery and might not be ready for the start of the 2026 season.
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Tyler Kinley RP | ATL
Tyler Kinley: Free agent after option declined
Atlanta declined Kinley's $5.5 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The decision comes as a bit of a surprise, as Kinley pitched well for Atlanta after being acquired at the trade deadline, posting a 0.72 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 25 innings. It's possible Atlanta will look to bring back Kinley at a lesser rate, but the veteran reliever is now free to negotiate with all teams.
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Casey Kelly RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Casey Kelly: Outrighted to Triple-A
Kelly cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Reno, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Kelly spent the vast majority of the 2025 season at Reno, where he finished with a 5.63 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 115 innings. Now that the 36-year-old righty no longer owns a spot on Arizona's 40-man roster, he may elect free agency and look elsewhere for his next opportunity.
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Kyle Nelson RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Nelson: Kicked off 40-man
Nelson cleared waivers Wednesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Reno, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Nelson appeared in just three games for the D-backs in 2025, giving up two earned runs over two innings. He didn't find much success in the minor leagues either, posting an 8.83 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 34.2 frames. His poor performance will now cost him his roster spot as the offseason begins, and it's unknown whether he will exercise his right to elect free agency.
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John Curtiss RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' John Curtiss: Outrighted to Reno
Curtiss cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Reno, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Curtiss finished the 2025 campaign with a 3.93 ERA and 0.93 WHIP alongside a 24:5 K:BB across 36.2 innings. However, with the Diamondbacks aiming to clear roster space before free agency begins, the 32-year-old righty will lose his place on the 40-man roster. He will have the option to elect free agency.
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Jose Alvarado RP | PHI
Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Club option exercised
The Phillies exercised Alvarado's (forearm) club option Wednesday.
As expected, the Phillies have opted to pick up the $9.5 million club option on Alvarado for the 2026 season. He ended the 2025 campaign on the 15-day injured list due to a left forearm strain, and he missed 80 games earlier in the season due to a PED suspension. Across the 28 appearances he made in 2025, Alvarado posted a 3.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and seven saves over 26 innings. He'll have the offseason to heal from his injury and will aim to be available for the start of spring training.