MLB Player News

Wittgren elected free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A Columbus by Cleveland on Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Wittgren began the 2021 campaign as a potential closing option for Cleveland, but he quickly fell out of favor for high-leverage opportunities and posted a 5.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 61:17 K:BB over 62.1 innings. The right-hander had a 2.97 ERA in 112 appearances across the previous three seasons, so he should be able to latch on somewhere during the offseason.

Wilson has exercised his player option and will remain with the Reds for next season.

Wilson will be owed $2.3 million next year. The lefty struggled to a 7.50 ERA in 18 innings for the Yankees to start the year but posted a 2.81 ERA in 16 frames after midseason trade to the Reds.

Perez was claimed off waivers from Cleveland by the Nationals on Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Perez spent most of 2021 at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 36:20 K:BB across 26 innings. However, the 24-year-old also made his MLB debut and allowed three runs on six hits with a 5:3 K:BB across 6.2 frames (four appearances).

Almonte elected free agency last week, according to his personal Twitter account.

He was designated for assignment by the Rockies in October, and it's not necessarily surprising to see a young pitcher opt to switch to a different organization when given the chance. Almonte was a prospect of note back in 2016, but he has transitioned to relief and has been unable to emerge as a reliable big-league reliever (career 5.30 ERA) in 114 appearances with the Rockies.

Minnesota have declined their mutual option in Colome's contract and will buy out his 2022 contract for $1.25 million, making him a free agent, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Had both sides elected the option, Colome would have made $5.5 million in 2022. Colome was signed to shore up the back end of the bullpen, but he lost the closer job after an awful April where he blew three of six save chances and had a 8.31 ERA. He improved in the second half of the season and regained the closer role in September. However, the Twins decided to move on even though his option wasn't too expensive for a veteran closer/set-up man.

The Padres have exercised their $3 million option on Johnson for the 2022 season, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The righty appeared in 63 games for San Diego in 2021, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 58.2 innings. Johnson has put together consecutive strong seasons and is a bargain for the Padres at only $3 million.

Melancon declined his half of the mutual option in his contract Friday, making him a free agent.

Melancon could have elected to stick around for $5 million. Coming off a year in which he saved 39 games while posting a 2.23 ERA, however, there's a good chance he can make more than that on the open market, even in his age-37 season. Melancon continues to post strikeout rates far lower than most closers, whiffing a modest 22.3 percent of opposing batters last season, but as long as he lands in a situation where he's the clear closer this winter, he'll head into next season with plenty of fantasy value.

The White Sox outrighted Cordero to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, making him a free agent, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The righty underwent Tommy John surgery in March and is unlikely to pitch sooner than the middle of next season, so his free agent market figures to be small. Cordero posted a 6.08 ERA and 1.58 in his most recent big-league action in 2020.

Jimenez signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Jimenez was selected by Oakland in the Rule 5 draft last year, but he was returned to the Blue Jays in mid-March. However, he'll rejoin the Athletics after he posted a 2.22 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 44.2 innings across 39 appearances (one start) at Triple-A Buffalo in 2021.

Chafin declined his portion of his $5.25 million mutual option with the A's on Thursday, making him a free agent Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Chafin had a career-best season with the Cubs and Athletics in 2021 with a 1.83 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 68.2 innings across 71 appearances. He'll have the chance to earn a payday during the offseason and is a candidate to serve as a high-leverage reliever in 2022 if his results continue.