MLB Player News

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said last week of Tiedemann that the team is "thinking of him as a reliever" heading into the 2027 season, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Tiedemann returned from a nearly two-year absence in 2026 due to Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks, allowing one run with an 8:6 K:BB over six innings during his brief time in the big leagues. The 24-year-old boasts a 39.1 percent strikeout rate in the minors, but he's logged a total of just 152 innings since being drafted in 2021 because of myriad injuries.

Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Sunday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Lovelady is the odd man out on the 40-man roster after Washington traded for infielder Nate Furman on Sunday. Lovelady produced a 4.11 ERA and 1.86 WHIP with 31 strikeouts over 35 innings in 38 appearances, including six starts, with the Mets and Nationals during the 2026 campaign. He will now be claimed by another team, remain with the Nationals' organization or hit the open market as a free agent.

Stanek is expected to have his one-year option declined by the Cardinals, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Stanek appears to be set to become a free agent ahead of the 2027 campaign. The right-handed relief pitcher compiled a 4.02 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 65 strikeouts while recording 26 holds and two saves over 62.2 innings in 70 appearances with St. Louis during the 2026 regular season.

Matsui will make $6.5 million in 2027 with the Padres after electing not to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

The 31-year-old delivered the best campaign of his career in 2026, posting a 1.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 68:36 K:BB across 64 regular-season innings. Matsui also has a $7 million player option for 2028, though that will convert to a club option if he requires Tommy John surgery or has an elbow injury that causes 130 consecutive days on the IL, per Spotrac.com.

The Padres exercised Hart's $2.5 million club option for 2027 on Sunday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hart spent the final days of the regular season in the minors and didn't rejoin the active roster for the playoffs, but he was up with the Padres for much of the year and had a 4.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 59:26 K:BB across 64 innings. The left-hander started in just four of his 46 appearances and is likely to continue seeing most of his action out of the bullpen in 2027.

The Red Sox exercised Whitlock's (leg) $8.25 million club option for 2027 on Sunday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

The right-hander pitched through a fractured right tibia down the stretch, but he still pitched well as he didn't give up an earned run in his final nine outings of the regular season. It's no surprise that Boston picked up the option after he posted a 1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 59:9 K:BB while recording four saves and 27 holds in 54 regular-season appearances.

Peralta exercised his $4.45 million player option for 2027 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

It's the third straight offseason that Peralta has opted in for another year with San Diego. The lefty reliever tossed a career-high 77.1 innings over 65 appearances in the 2026 regular season, posting a 3.61 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 50:23 K:BB while notching three wins and five holds. Peralta should again be a key part of the Padres' bullpen in 2027, though that doesn't necessarily mean he'll log frequent high-leverage work.

Peralta elected free agency Saturday.

Peralta lost his spot on the 40-man roster when he was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. The veteran reliever ultimately decided to turn down that assignment and become a free agent instead. Peralta struggled over 16 appearances between the Rockies and Angels last year, posting a 6.65 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 23 innings while notching two holds and one blown save.

Selby (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day IL, cleared outright waivers, and has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Selby underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery last July to repair his labrum and rotator cuff. He's not expected to be ready for Opening Day in 2027, though there's a good chance he'll be able to return to game action at some point during the summer. Selby didn't pitch at all last year, but he showed some promise in 2025 when he posted a 14:2 K:BB over 14 innings spanning 11 relief appearances with the Orioles while recording a 3.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

Heuer cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Heuer ended the 2026 campaign in Triple-A before being designated for assignment. Rather than elect free agency, the veteran hurler has chosen to remain in Baltimore's organization. Heuer didn't pitch for the Orioles' big-league squad last year after being acquired in a trade with Milwaukee in early August. All of his MLB appearances in 2026 came with Cleveland, and he posted a 4.66 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB across 9.2 innings in his eight outings.