MLB Player News
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Justin Topa RP | MIN
Twins' Justin Topa: Option declined, but arb eligible
The Twins declined Topa's $2 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa remains in the organization, as he has another year of team control via arbitration eligibility. The righty reliever collected a 3.90 ERA and 49:18 K:BB over 60 innings out of the Twins' bullpen in 2025, notching four saves along the way. Topa could see high-leverage innings again in 2026 as part of an unsettled Minnesota relief corps.
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Brandon Woodruff SP | MIL
Brandon Woodruff: Receives qualifying offer
The Brewers extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to Woodruff (lat) on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Woodruff declined his $20 million mutual option earlier this week, and it's possible the veteran right-hander could do the same to Thursday's qualifying offer in search of a multi-year deal. Woodruff suffered a lat injury in late September, but he's expected to be a full-go for spring training. He logged a 3.20 ERA and an 83:14 K:BB across 64.2 innings spanning 12 starts in 2025.
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Michael King SP | SD
Michael King: Receives qualifying offer
The Padres extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to King on Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
King will presumably decline the offer and instead pursue a multi-year deal in free agency, and if he signs somewhere other than San Diego, the Padres will receive a compensatory draft pick. The 30-year-old righty is likely to have plenty of suitors this offseason after turning in a 3.44 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 73.1 innings in 2025.
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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | NYM
Mets' Ji Hwan Bae: Claimed by Mets
The Mets claimed Bae off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Bae was placed on waivers earlier this week, and he'll have a new home ahead of the 2026 season. The outfielder appeared in 13 games for Pittsburgh during 2025, going 1-for-20 with nine Ks. He slashed .292/.380/.424 with a homer and four stolen bases in 305 plate appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Rafael Lantigua 2B | PHI
Rafael Lantigua: Becomes free agent
Lantigua cleared waivers Thursday and elected free agency.
Lantigua spent a brief period of time with the Phillies in 2025 but never appeared in an MLB game. He played in 125 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, however, where he slashed .231/.357/.331 with seven homers, 57 RBI, 82 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. The 27-year-old has yet to make his big-league debut and will likely have to settle for another minor-league deal in free agency.
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Jack Little P | DET
Tigers' Jack Little: Claimed by Tigers
The Tigers claimed Little off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday.
Little went from the Dodgers to the Pirates via waivers in August but never made an MLB appearance in Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old allowed two runs in three innings with the Dodgers in 2025 and held a 4.06 ERA and 53:22 K:BB over 62 frames at the Triple-A level.
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Cody Laweryson RP | LAA
Angels' Cody Laweryson: Claimed by Halos
The Angels claimed Laweryson off waivers from the Twins on Thursday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Laweryson made his MLB debut in September, and the 27-year-old right-hander yielded merely one run across 7.1 innings in the closing weeks of the regular season. He struck out seven batters and didn't record a walk. He'll have a chance to build on his strong debut with a new organization.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Option for 2026 exercised
The Orioles exercised Kittredge's $9 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Orioles reacquired Kittredge from the Cubs earlier this week after dealing him to Chicago at the deadline, so it was a foregone conclusion that the reliever's option would be picked up. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. He'll be a high-leverage reliever for Baltimore in 2026 and could even serve as closer, depending on what else the Orioles do with their bullpen this offseason.
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Christian Roa SP | HOU
Marlins' Christian Roa: Outrighted to Triple-A
Roa cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville.
Roa pitched three scoreless innings for the Marlins this season but spent most of his time in Triple-A, where he posted a 2.83 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 60.1 frames. Despite his strong performance, he'll now lose his place on Miami's 40-man roster and aim to earn it back during spring training.