MLB Player News
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Jorge Polanco 2B | SEA
Jorge Polanco: Free agent after option declined
Polanco (knee) had has $12 million club option for 2025 declined by the Mariners on Friday.
He'll receive a $750,000 buyout instead and is now a free agent. Polanco produced a career-worst .651 OPS in 2024 while playing through a patellar tendon issue in his left knee which eventually required surgery in October. The expectation is that he will be healthy in time for spring training, but the veteran infielder is now looking for a new employer.
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Christian Roa SP | CIN
Marlins' Christian Roa: Claimed by Miami
The Marlins claimed Roa (shoulder) off waivers from the Reds on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Roa posted a 5.55 ERA and 47:30 K:BB over 48.2 innings with Triple-A Louisville in 2024 before going down in August with a right shoulder sprain. He did not have surgery, but it's unclear whether Roa will be ready for the start of spring training.
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Rhys Hoskins 1B | MIL
Brewers' Rhys Hoskins: Exercises $18 million player option
Hoskins exercised his $18 million player option for 2025 on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
It's possible Hoskins could have netted a multi-year deal on the open market, but it's unlikely he would have been able to top an average annual salary of $18 million. In his first year back from ACL surgery, Hoskins slashed .214/.303/.419with 26 home runs across 131 games for the Brewers. Slated to turn 32 in March, Hoskins should be Milwaukee's primary first baseman again in 2025, with some starts at designated hitter mixed in.
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Malcom Nunez 1B | PIT
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Back with Pittsburgh as NRI
The Pirates re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Nunez, who turns 24 in March, slashed .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs over 128 games this season for Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be with the Pirates in spring training but is likely headed back to Indianapolis to begin 2025.
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Max Stassi C | CHW
Max Stassi: Club option declined
The White Sox declined Stassi's $7.5 million club option for 2025 on Friday.
Stassi will be paid a $500,000 buyout and is now a free agent. The veteran catcher has not played in the majors since 2022, as he missed all of 2023 due to a hip injury in addition to a family medical issue and then all of 2024 (aside from five rehab games) before having left hip surgery in June. It's not clear what Stassi's current health status is.
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Ryan Noda 1B | OAK
Angels' Ryan Noda: Heads to Halos via waivers
The Angels claimed Noda off waivers from the Athletics on Friday.
Noda showed some promise in 2023 after the A's plucked him in the Rule 5 Draft, slashing .229/.364/.406 with 16 homers in 128 contests. He couldn't repeat even that level of production in 2024 however, posting just a .465 OPS in 36 games with Oakland while spending most of the year in the minors. Noda will turn 29 in March and could get a chance to compete for playing time at first base, the corner outfield spots and designated hitter.
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Royber Salinas SP | OAK
Braves' Royber Salinas: Claimed by Atlanta
Atlanta claimed Salinas (shoulder) off waivers from the Athletics on Friday.
Salinas was part of the package of prospects sent by Atlanta to Oakland in the Sean Murphy trade ahead of the 2023 season. He's now back in his original organization, although Salinas is expected to miss a large chunk of the 2025 campaign after having right shoulder surgery in July. The 23-year-old posted a 4.60 ERA and 50:34 K:BB over 43 innings between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2024.
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Adam Oller RP | MIA
Adam Oller: Becomes free agent
Oller elected free agency Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Oller is expected to pursue opportunities in Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization. The 30-year-old holds a 6.54 ERA over 36 appearances (23 starts) across parts of three seasons at the major-league level, most recently posting a 5.31 ERA over eight starts with the Marlins in 2024.
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Dominic Leone RP | CHW
Dominic Leone: Retiring from baseball
Leone announced his retirement from professional baseball last week, Scott Eisberg of WCIV in Charleston reports.
Leone's 2024 season ended when he was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. It's not clear whether he underwent surgery, but either way the 33-year-old has decided against pitching again after he recovers. Leone appeared in parts of 11 major-league seasons for nine different teams, finishing with a 3.94 ERA and 444:192 K:BB over 429 innings.
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Cavan Biggio 2B | ATL
Cavan Biggio: Elects free agency
Biggio elected free agency Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Atlanta removed Biggio from its 40-man roster and the player exercised his right to free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Biggio slashed only .197/.314/.303 over 78 games between three different teams in 2024.