MLB Player News
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Reynaldo Lopez RP | 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Sean Manaea RP | 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.
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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.
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Christian Roa SP | CIN
Marlins' Christian Roa: Claimed by Miami
The Marlins claimed Roa (shoulder) off waivers from the Reds on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Roa posted a 5.55 ERA and 47:30 K:BB over 48.2 innings with Triple-A Louisville in 2024 before going down in August with a right shoulder sprain. He did not have surgery, but it's unclear whether Roa will be ready for the start of spring training.