MLB Player News

The Mets exercised Raley's $4.75 million option for 2026 on Tuesday.

Raley was sharp in the second half after making his way back from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 25.2 innings. The 37-year-old reliever will handle a high-leverage relief role for the Mets in 2026.

The Mets declined Smith's (elbow) $2 million option for 2026 on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith didn't pitch at all in 2025 after having Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in July 2024. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of next season, but the Mets decided against bringing him back at the $2 million rate his option required. Smith has a career 3.48 ERA and 24.5 percent strikeout rate, so the 32-year-old reliever should draw interest in free agency.

The Diamondbacks declined Rodriguez's $1.35 million option for 2026 on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Rodriguez was a waiver claim of the Diamondbacks in September but never made an appearance for them. The 27-year-old collected a 9.15 ERA and 18:7 K:BB over 19.2 frames between the Brewers and Orioles in 2025. Rodriguez pitched for Japan's Yakult Swallows for part of 2023 and all of 2024, and Romero notes that several teams in Asia have expressed interest in the righty.

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.

The White Sox exercised Robert's $20 million option for 2026 on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Robert has slashed only .223/.288/.372 over 210 games covering the past two seasons and has a lengthy history of injuries. However, he hit .298/.352/.456 after the All-Star break in 2025, and the White Sox are betting on his ability to bounce back. Having a $20 million club option for 2027 surely factored into their decision, as well. Robert ended this season on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring, but he'll be 100 percent for spring training.

Colorado declined its $7 million mutual option on Estrada (hamstring) for the 2026 season Monday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Harding notes that Estrada is eligible for arbitration, so he'll remain under club control for the moment. Estrada appeared in only 39 games in 2025 due to various injuries, including a hamstring issue that forced him to be shut down for nearly the last two months of season. He slashed .253/.285/.370 with three home runs, 21 RBI, one stolen base and 14 runs scored.

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.

McArthur (elbow) has begun a throwing program, MLB.com reports.

McArthur missed the entire 2025 season following surgery last offseason to address an olecranon fracture in his right elbow. He required a follow-up procedure in July to remove one of the two screws inserted into the elbow and only just recently was cleared to throw again. McArthur is scheduled for a follow-up appointment in mid-November to make sure his elbow is healing as expected.

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.

Erceg (shoulder) will undergo imaging Monday in hopes of being cleared to begin a throwing program, MLB.com reports.

Erceg landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-September due to a right shoulder impingement. As long as scans Monday come back clean, the reliever should have a normal offseason. Erceg notched two saves and 22 holds for the Royals in 2025 and is slated to enter the 2026 campaign in a setup role.