MLB Player News

Mize (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Mize is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday and will then move along to a normal offseason program, assuming all continues to go well. The 26-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he could be a consideration for the Tigers' Opening Day rotation in 2024 if his health cooperates.

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said Tuesday that Greinke is still deciding whether or not he will pitch next year, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Greinke posted the second-worst ERA (5.06) of his career in 2023 and hit age 40 a couple of weeks ago, but it sounds like there is at least a possibility that the free-agent right-hander could look to return in 2024 for what would be his 21st major-league season. He still has impeccable command and might have a landing spot back in Kansas City if that appeals to him.

Lively elected to become a free agent Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lively was removed from the Reds' 40-man roster last month after struggling to a 5.38 ERA over 88.2 innings (12 starts, seven relief appearances) during the 2023 campaign. The 31-year-old right-hander may have to settle for a minor-league contract on the open market this winter.

Battenfield elected to become a free agent Monday.

The Mets removed Battenfield from their 40-man roster and the pitcher has exercised his right to free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. He held a 5.19 ERA over 34.2 innings at the major-league level in 2023.

The Marlins declined Cueto's $10.5 million option for 2024 on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Cueto will get a $2.5 buyout and is now a free agent. The 37-year-old hurler struggled during his lone season in Miami, collecting a 6.02 ERA over 13 appearances (10 starts). Cueto might have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason if he wants to continue his career.

Smyly exercised his $8.5 million player option for the 2024 season Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Smyly will remain in Chicago for the 2024 campaign, as he was unlikely to surpass his guaranteed money elsewhere over the next year. He'll look to bounce back after a rocky 2023 season, accruing a 5.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with a 141:56 K:BB across 142.1 innings.

Battenfield cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

He's no longer part of the Mets' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Battenfield collected a 5.19 ERA over 34.2 innings at the major-league level in 2023.

Plassmeyer cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

He's no longer on the Phillies; 40-man roster but will remain in the organization for the time being. Plassmeyer was rocked for 10 runs (nine earned) over 3.2 innings in his lone appearance for Philadelphia this season.

Wacha declined his $6.5 million player option for 2024 on Monday and will become a free agent.

After the Padres informed Wacha that they wouldn't exercise a two-year, $32 million option that would keep him on the books through 2025, the veteran right-hander declined to decline an option of his own, albeit at a less favorable annual salary. Wacha presumably feels he can find a better deal on the open market, a fair conclusion after he turned in a 3.22 ERA (4.30 xERA), 1.16 WHIP and 14.6 K-BB% in 134.1 innings for the Friars in 2023. Durability has been a concern for Wacha for much of his career -- he hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017 -- so he may not be able to find a team that's willing to sign him to more than a two- or three-year deal as he heads into his age-32 campaign.

Atlanta exercised Morton's $20 million team option for the 2024 season on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

According to Passan, the organization had some uncertainty at bringing Morton back for his age-40 season at a sizable salary, but the veteran right-hander will ultimately stick around in Atlanta for what could be his final campaign in the big leagues. Though his 11.6 percent walk rate in 2023 represented his worst mark since his rookie campaign, Morton struck out more than a quarter of the batters he faced for the third season in a row and was able to suppress home runs (0.77 HR/9). Even in the twilight of his career, Morton still looks like a strong mid-to-back-end rotation arm, and his fantasy outlook is made more promising by the fact that he'll be back by one of the top offenses in baseball.