MLB Player News
-
Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Not expected by Opening Day
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday it's unlikely Strider (elbow) will be ready for Opening Day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The revelation isn't altogether surprising, as Anthopoulos indicated last month that while Opening Day was possible for Strider, the pitcher's season debut might not come until early June. Any timeline at this point is approximate, with more clarity likely to come by spring training. Strider is working his way back from an internal brace procedure he underwent in mid-April.
-
Robbie Ray SP | SF
Giants' Robbie Ray: Doesn't opt out of deal
Ray (hamstring) will not opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Giants, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Ray missed the first half of the 2024 campaign while recovering from the Tommy John procedure he underwent in May of 2023. Once he returned, he was able to make seven starts for the Giants before a strained left hamstring cut his season short in August. Because of his injury history, he likely wouldn't receive an offer in free agency close to the $50 million he's due to make over the next two years, so his decision to remain in San Francisco on his current deal is hardly a surprise. He'll aim to bounce back in 2025 after turning in a 4.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 30.2 innings this past season.
-
Reynaldo Lopez SP | ATL
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Reworks contract
Lopez signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday.
Lopez was originally set to make $11 million in 2025 and 2026 with an $8 million club option for 2027. In an effort to minimize payroll, Atlanta will now pay him $8 million next season while his 2026 salary increases to $14 million, and he's now guaranteed to make $8 million in 2027 (compared to his $4 million option buyout). The 30-year-old posted a minuscule 1.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 135.2 innings this year.
-
Colin Rea SP | MIL
Brewers' Colin Rea: Placed on waivers
The Brewers placed Rea on waivers Saturday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Rea has a $5.5 million club option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. It appears the Brewers are willing to move on from the 34-year-old righty, but they will first make him available to the other 29 clubs via waivers before paying the $1 million that would send him to free agency. Rea finished the 2024 season with a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but he surrendered 20 earned runs over 21.2 frames during his six starts in September.
-
Freddy Peralta SP | MIL
Brewers' Freddy Peralta: Club option exercised
The Brewers exercised Peralta's $8 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Peralta became the ace of the Brewers' staff in 2024 following the departure of Corbin Burnes to Baltimore and Brandon Woodruff's season-ending shoulder surgery. Given the lack of reliable arms in Milwaukee's rotation, it's unsurprising to see the team bring back Peralta, who under-performed by his own standards with a 3.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 173.2 innings.
-
Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: D-backs pick up option
The Diamondbacks exercised Kelly's $7 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
After missing a four-month chunk of the season due to a shoulder injury, Kelly finished 2024 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 73.2 innings over 13 starts. Hopeful for a bounce-back campaign in 2025, the D-backs will keep the 36-year-old righty around to bolster a pitching staff that ranked 27th in the majors with a 4.62 ERA.
-
Sean Manaea SP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Will decline player option
Manaea is expected to decline his $13.5 million player option for 2025, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Manaea posted a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 181.2 innings in 2024 -- all of which represent career-best marks for a full season. The 32-year-old southpaw will now look to capitalize on his strong campaign and likely pursue a multi-year deal in free agency.
-
Clayton Kershaw SP | LAD
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Scheduled for surgery
Kershaw said Friday that he will undergo surgery on his toe and left knee Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Kershaw's season came to an early end in late August due to bone spurs in his left big toe, and his toe surgery Wednesday will address the issue as well as a ruptured plantar plate. He has also been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee, which will require an additional procedure. A timeline for his return likely won't be available until after the operations, though the veteran lefty confidently said Friday that he will pitch for the Dodgers in 2025. Kershaw is 32 strikeouts away from reaching 3,000 for his career.