MLB Player News
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Devin Williams RP | MIL
Brewers' Devin Williams: Option declined, still with Milwaukee
The Brewers declined Williams' $10 million club option for 2025 on Sunday, though he remains in the organization and is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The right-hander is estimated to make a bit less through the arbitration process, so Milwaukee will pay the $250,000 buyout while targeting a slightly lower salary. Williams didn't debut in 2024 until late July due to a back injury -- which is why his estimated salary for 2025 should be under $10 million -- but he was again one of the best closers in baseball once healthy with a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB across 21.2 innings. He's a candidate to be moved during the offseason, as Brewers GM Matt Arnold said the organization will "stay open-minded" regarding a potential trade, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Sticking around in Los Angeles
The Dodgers exercised Rojas' $5 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Rojas appeared in 103 regular-season games for the Dodgers in 2024 and slashed .283/.337/.410 with six home runs and 36 RBI across 337 plate appearances. Rojas suffered a torn adductor injury during the NLDS against the Padres, which will require surgery during the offseason, but he was able to play in Game 2 of the World Series against the Yankees, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. It's unclear whether Rojas' procedure will have the 35-year-old shortstop sidelined for the start of spring training.
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Austin Barnes C | LAD
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Brought back for 2025
The Dodgers exercised Barnes' $3.5 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Barnes slashed .264/.331/.307 with 11 RBI across 156 plate appearances in 2024 -- good enough for the Dodgers to keep him around as the backup catcher behind Will Smith. While Barnes is likely to break spring training as Los Angeles' reserve backstop, a drop in production from the 34-year-old could eventually result in prospects Dalton Rushing or Hunter Feduccia taking his spot on the roster.
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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.
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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.
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Aaron Bummer RP | ATL
Braves' Aaron Bummer: Gets new deal from Atlanta
Bummer signed a two-year, $13 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday.
Bummer's original deal included two club options over the next two years, worth $7.25 million and $7.5 million, respectively. However, his latest contract will void those two option years while saving the team a bit of cash, as the left-hander is now due to make $3.5 million in 2025. The 31-year-old finished with a 3.58 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 55.1 innings during his first season in Atlanta.
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Owen Miller 1B | MIL
Rockies' Owen Miller: Shipped to Colorado
The Brewers traded Miller to the Rockies on Saturday in exchange for cash, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Miller spent the majority of 2024 with Triple-A Nashville, where he slashed .274/.353/.382 with 36 RBI across 385 plate appearances. He'll have a better chance of getting back to the majors as part of the Rockies organization, though he will first need to be added to the 40-man roster.
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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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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Sticking with Giants
Flores (knee) exercised his $3.5 million player option for 2025 on Saturday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Flores slashed just .206/.277/.318 with 26 RBI across 242 plate appearances in 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in late July. Given his poor performance and injured knee, he was unlikely to receive more than $3.5 million on the open market, making it easy to see why he chose to opt in for 2025. It's unknown if he'll be ready for the start of spring training.
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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.