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  • Jack Flaherty SP | DET

    Tigers' Jack Flaherty: Staying in Detroit

    Flaherty will remain with the Tigers after electing not to opt out of his $20 million contract for 2026, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

    Flaherty surely could have received more guaranteed money on the open market, but he has decided to stay put following an up-and-down 2025 campaign. The right-hander posted a 4.64 ERA across 31 regular-season starts for the Tigers, but he also fanned 188 batters over 161 innings. Staying put at Comerica Park and having what should be an above-average offense to support him help Flaherty's case for 2026.

  • David Festa P | MIN

    Twins' David Festa: Expected to resume throwing soon

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Tuesday that Festa (shoulder) should resume throwing relatively soon, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

    Festa was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in September, but it's considered a mild version and he was given Botox injections to alleviate a compressed nerve between his right shoulder and neck. A setback is possible, but for now Festa is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. If healthy, the young righty will compete for a spot in the Twins' rotation next season. Festa held a 5.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 53:19 K:BB over 53.1 innings in 2025 with the big club.

  • Pablo Lopez SP | MIN

    Twins' Pablo Lopez: Considered fully healthy

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Tuesday that Lopez (forearm) is fully healthy and projected to have a normal offseason, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

    Lopez's 2025 season ended in late September with a mild right forearm strain, and he also missed two months earlier in the year with a Grade 2 teres major strain. However, there are no current concerns with Lopez's pitching arm entering the offseason, and he will not face restrictions at the beginning of spring training. The 29-year-old pitched well in 2025 when healthy, posting a 2.74 ERA and 73:20 K:BB over 75.2 innings. Lopez is owed $43.5 million over the next two seasons, and with the Twins shedding payroll, he's a trade candidate this winter.

  • Jose Quintana SP | MIL

    Jose Quintana: Hits free-agent market

    The Brewers declined Quintana's $15 million mutual option for 2026 on Tuesday.

    The veteran left-hander will be given a $2 million buyout instead. Quintana made 24 regular-season starts for the Brewers this season, finishing with a 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 89:50 K:BB over 131.2 frames. The southpaw will turn 37 in January but should be able to land a decent contract from a club in need of a back-end starter.

  • Kyle Wright SP | KC

    Royals' Kyle Wright: Placed on outright waivers

    The Royals placed Wright on outright waivers Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

    Wright didn't pitch at all in 2024 and made only eight rehab starts in 2025 due to right shoulder surgery and more recently an oblique strain. He's considered healthy now, but Wright's velocity was down and he posted a 5.48 ERA in his 23 innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha this season. The former 20-game winner turned 30 last month and might have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason.

  • Yu Darvish SP | SD

    Padres' Yu Darvish: Out for 2026 after UCL surgery

    Darvish will miss the 2026 season following a right elbow UCL repair with an internal brace and flexor tendon surgery on Oct. 29.

    Darvish has missed time each of the last three seasons with elbow issues, having been limited to 72 regular-season innings in 2025. It's unclear how long he's been pitching with UCL damage, but the decision was finally made to have surgery on the elbow. It's the second UCL repair for Darvish, who had Tommy John surgery in March 2015. Darvish turned 39 in August, but he intends to rehab and return to the Padres for the 2027 season.

  • Frankie Montas RP | NYM

    Mets' Frankie Montas: Officially exercises player option

    Montas (elbow) exercised his $17 million player option for 2026 on Tuesday.

    Montas posted a 6.28 ERA in seven starts and two relief appearances in 2025 and will miss the entire 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, making his option decision an easy one.

  • Shota Imanaga RP | CHC

    Shota Imanaga: Enters free-agent market

    The Cubs declined Imanaga's three-year, $57.75 million option Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

    The team deciding against picking up Imanaga's three-year option triggered a $15.25 million player option, which the pitcher also declined, making Imanaga a free agent. It's unclear whether the Cubs intend to make the southpaw a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. Imanaga held a 4.70 second-half ERA and 8.10 ERA in two postseason starts, and his strikeout rate dipped to 20.6 percent in 2025. However, with a 3.28 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 291:54 K:BB over 318 regular-season innings since the beginning of the 2024 campaign, Imanaga will draw plenty of interest on the free-agent market.

  • Hunter Dobbins SP | STL

    Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins: Beginning throwing progression

    Dobbins (knee) has been cleared to start a full throwing program, the pitcher revealed on his X account Monday.

    Dobbins blew out the ACL in his right knee in mid-July and had surgery, but he's expected to have a normal offseason and show up to spring training without restrictions. The right-hander posted a 4.13 ERA and 45:17 K:BB through 61 innings with the big club in 2025 and could compete for a spot in Boston's 2026 rotation.

  • Kris Bubic SP | KC

    Royals' Kris Bubic: Cleared to begin throwing

    Bubic (shoulder) has been cleared to begin a throwing program in November, MLB.com reports.

    Bubic missed nearly all of the second half after being diagnosed with a left rotator cuff strain, but he avoided surgery and is ready to resume throwing. While the left-hander currently appears on track for a normal offseason, the nature of the injury points to Bubic being a risky health proposition. The 28-year-old was having a breakout season before getting hurt, putting up a 2.55 ERA and 116:39 K:BB over 116.1 innings covering 20 starts.

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