This was a slam-dunk decision for the 2026 American League champions, who have seen Rasmussen blossom into one of the majors’ best starters over the past few years. Acquired from the Brewers in a May 2021 trade centering on shortstop Willy Adames, Rasmussen has logged a stellar 2.73 ERA in 133 appearances (111 starts) and 600 1/3 innings as a Ray. An internal brace procedure held him to 73 1/3 innings from 2023-24, but he has made 61 starts since then and continued to produce excellent results.

This past season, in which he earned his second straight All-Star nod, counts as the best of Rasmussen’s career. Across a personal-high 172 innings, the 31-year-old recorded a 2.67 ERA with above-average strikeout and walk rates of 26% and 4.8%, respectively. He ranked seventh in the majors in ERA and fWAR (5.0), while his walk rate was second among qualified starters. Teammate Nick Martinez finished first in that category.

Thanks in large part to Rasmussen, Martinez and the rest of their pitching staff, the Rays won 98 games and entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the AL. Rasmussen largely thrived in the playoffs, helping the Rays win their third pennant in franchise history. Over five outings and 28 2/3 frames in October, Rasmussen logged a 2.20 ERA with 31 strikeouts against five walks. The Rays knocked off the Yankees and Guardians in their first two playoff rounds, but they fell to Rasmussen’s former team, the Brewers, in a five-game World Series. He toed the rubber twice in the Fall Classic, including in a 4-1 loss in Game 5, and combined for 7 2/3 innings of four-run ball.

While many teams would be happy to have Rasmussen in the fold for $20MM, it is fair to wonder if he has put on a Rays uniform for the last time.  In their list of this offseason’s top 40 trade candidates, MLBTR’s Steve Adams, Anthony Franco and Darragh McDonald placed Rasmussen at No. 2. As great as he is, the notoriously frugal Rays have never paid a player $20MM for one season. Rasmussen’s $20MM option, which came with the two-year, $8.5MM extension he signed in 2025, carried a base value of $8MM. However, that number climbed by $12MM because he hit health and innings escalators.

Including Rasmussen’s money, MLBTR’s Payroll Tracker (via contributor Ethan Hullihen) estimates the Rays have upward of $105MM in cash commitments for next season. They have never entered a season with a nine-figure payroll, which could jeopardize Rasmussen’s chances of  staying with the organization. Between his high salary (by the Rays’ standards) and the fact that he is down to one year of team control, the Rays could move Rasmussen for a haul this offseason. There would be no shortage of suitors. If Rasmussen were a free agent this year, he would be the second-most desirable starter available after Tarik Skubal.

Rasmussen could exit via trade, while Martinez and Freddy Peralta could walk in free agency. If all three of them depart, the Rays would still have Shane McClanahan, Ryan Pepiot (who missed 2026 with a hip injury), Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour among their rotation options for 2027.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images

Suarez was a waiver wire mainstay this season. He was designated for assignment on five occasions. Each time, the veteran righty found his way back to the organization. Suarez was most recently selected to the big-league club during the final week of the regular season. He made one appearance, tossing four scoreless frames in relief to pick up a win over the Yankees.

Baltimore routinely leaned on Suarez whenever the club needed a fresh arm. He’d be added to the roster to save a tired bullpen, then bumped off whenever another player needed his spot. Suarez would inevitably pass through waivers and accept an outright assignment or re-up with the team on a new minor league deal. There’s a solid chance that happens again this time around. After spending five seasons in Asia, Suarez has been with the Orioles for the past three years.

Heuer came to Baltimore at the trade deadline. He was one of the final moves on deadline day, heading to the Orioles from Milwaukee in exchange for cash considerations. It was the second trade in two days for the righty. Heuer and Bo Naylor went to the Brewers in the deal that sent Blake Perkins and Craig Yoho to the Guardians.

The 30-year-old Heuer put up decent numbers at Triple-A in Cleveland’s system, posting a 3.46 ERA across 26 appearances. He joined the big-league club on multiple occasions but failed to stick around for more than a couple of weeks in his various stints. Heuer had a mid-4.00s ERA with a 6:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in eight games with the Guardians. He was tremendous in 12 games with Norfolk after the trade. He fired 14 2/3 scoreless innings with a sub-1.00 WHIP.

Selby missed the entire 2026 campaign with arm injuries. He hit the 60-day IL in February with shoulder inflammation. The issue ultimately required surgery. Selby is expected to be sidelined into the 2027 season.

Baltimore acquired Selby in a minor trade with the Royals back in 2024. He tossed four scoreless frames with the Orioles that season. The righty pitched well in limited opportunities with the big-league club in 2025 and could’ve been in the mix for a job in the bullpen this past season. He could be an option at some point in 2027.

Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images

The 35-year-old Diaz provided another productive season atop Tampa Bay’s lineup. He hit .293 with 22 homers as the club’s primary DH. He led the AL with 180 hits. Diaz was at least 20% better than league average at the plate for the fifth consecutive season.

Diaz was a solid contributor on a Rays squad that represented the AL in the World Series. He recorded a .742 OPS across 59 playoff at-bats. Diaz was particularly important in the ALCS against the Guardians, hitting .333 with two home runs. His two-run shot in the eighth inning of Game 6 helped seal Tampa Bay’s series-clinching win.

The three-year, $24MM extension Diaz signed with the Rays heading into the 2023 season has worked out swimmingly for Tampa Bay. The cost has risen, and Diaz is in his mid-30s, but the numbers have been there. The Rays preemptively exercised their 2026 club option on Diaz before the 2025 season. The organization also tacked on the 2027 option at that time. Diaz made $12MM this past season. He’ll do one better on that figure for next year after reaching the vesting threshold.

Diaz has never had the top-tier power of a typical first baseman/DH, but he’s made strides in that department recently. He’s now popped at least 22 homers in three of the past four seasons. The career-high 25 home runs in 2025 comes with a bit of an asterisk, with the Rays playing their home games in a minor league venue, but Diaz came back with another solid power season this year.

The Rays’ lineup next year could look pretty similar to the pennant-winning squad. The club didn’t pick up Cedric Mullins’ option, so the fourth outfielder spot will change. That’s about it as far as roster movement on the offensive side. Tampa Bay could look to upgrade the unit via trade or free agency.

Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images

8:39pm CT: The Astros have acquired right-hander Evan Reifert in a deal with the Rays, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

Reifert is coming off a solid year at Triple-A, recording a 2.48 ERA across 46 appearances with Durham. He’ll now head to Houston in search of his first chance in the majors.

The 27-year-old Reifert has spent the majority of his pro career with the Rays. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Brewers in 2020. Milwaukee sent him to Tampa Bay after one season in a deal that netted infielder Mike Brosseau.

Reifert has routinely put up massive strikeout numbers in the minors, but it’s almost always come with an untenable walk rate. He did manage a 9.9% walk rate in 35 games at Double-A in 2024, to go with an excellent 40.4% strikeout rate. That was enough for the Nationals to select him with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft. Reifert walked 12 in seven Spring Training games. Washington returned him to the Rays shortly before Opening Day.

Tampa Bay bumped Reifert to Triple-A for the first time in 2025. He recorded a 2.48 ERA over 29 innings. He’s posted nearly identical stat lines the past two years with the Bulls, including a strikeout rate around 39% and a walk rate just over 14%. The fact that he’s still missing bats at the highest minor league level is an encouraging sign. The control remains the issue and is likely what has held him back from getting a big-league look up to this point.

Reifert leans heavily on a slider that sits in the low-80s. He’s thrown the pitch more than 50% of the time at Triple-A. The righty has used a sinker about a third of the time with Durham. A 93.5 mph four-seamer rounds out his arsenal.

Photo courtesy of Reinhold Matay, Imagn Images

OCTOBER 29: The Orioles are expected to decline their $20MM club option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., reports Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. Robert will become a free agent and collect a $2MM buyout on his way out the door.

Robert, now 29, signed an extension with the White Sox back in 2020. That deal ran through 2025, with $20MM club options for 2026 and 2027, both of which came with $2MM buyouts. Robert hadn’t yet made his major league debut at the time that deal was signed but he would go on to flash some All-Star upside in subsequent years.

That was especially the case in 2023. He got into 145 games that year, hit 38 home runs and stole 20 bases. He slashed .264/.315/.542 for a 129 wRC+. FanGraphs credited him with five wins above replacement. He finished 12th in American League Most Valuable Player voting. The rest of the deal looked good and the club options looked like bargains.

A lot has changed since then. Robert battled injuries in the final two guaranteed years of his deal. He got into a total of 210 games over the 2024 and 2025 campaigns and produced a lackluster .223/.288/.372 line and 85 wRC+ in the process. The Sox picked up his 2026 option but then traded him to the Mets for Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley.

The Mets were hoping to get the 2023 version of Robert but got more of the 2024-25 version. He spent almost three months on the injured list with lumbar spine disc herniation. He hit .223/.303/.399 in 58 games around that IL stint. The Mets weren’t able to line up a trade at the deadline, likely because Robert had just come off the IL less than two weeks prior.

They did put him on waivers in August. Robert still had about $3MM in salary remaining to be paid out, plus the $2MM buyout on the 2027 option. Despite his poor health, subpar results and that financial commitment, teams were still willing to bet on the upside. He was claimed by the Orioles and they weren’t the only team willing to do so. Subsequent reports indicated that the Padres and Rays submitted claims, but the Orioles had higher priority by virtue of having a worse record at the time.

The O’s were clinging to some hope of making a playoff push. It’s hard to add talent after the deadline, so they decided to pony up for Robert. That didn’t work out. He got into three games before left hamstring discomfort put him on the IL. He stayed there the rest of the year. The O’s finished 79-82, four games back of a playoff spot.

They could have brought him back for 2027 but the price is fairly hefty when looking at recent trends. Presumably, the Orioles called around to see if any other club was willing to pay Robert $20MM next year. Since they appear to be turning down his option, it looks like they couldn’t line up a trade, implying none of the 30 clubs like Robert at this price.

Robert is still young enough to have enticing upside but it’s hard to bet on it after three years of injury absences and disappointing numbers. He will probably be a popular name as a low-cost bounceback option. Despite his flaws, he’s arguably still the most exciting player on the center field market. Teams such as the Astros, Reds, Rays, Royals, Phillies and others might be interested.

Photo courtesy of Gregory Fisher, Imagn Images

Neither decision comes as a surprise, especially considering it has been over a decade since both a team and a player triggered a mutual option. Suárez’s $16MM option did not come with a buyout. Meanwhile, the Reds chose to pay Johnson a $1MM buyout in lieu of the $8MM they would have owed him had both sides exercised the option.

Unless the 35-year-old Suárez sticks around on a new deal, this will wrap up his second stint in Cincinnati. The right-handed slugger previously played there from 2015-21, when he put together three seasons of at least 4.0 fWAR and two with 30-plus home runs. He also earned his first of two All-Star nods during that stretch.

The Reds first moved on from Suárez when they sent him (and outfielder Jesse Winker) to the Mariners in a blockbuster trade three weeks before the 2022 season opened. He then spent two seasons with Seattle before going to Arizona for one and a half. The Diamondbacks traded him back to the Mariners ahead of the 2025 deadline. Between the D-backs and pennant-contending Mariners last year, Suárez swatted 49 homers for the second time in his career and slashed .228/.298/.526. Despite a low batting average and on-base percentage, he put up a solidly above-average wRC+ of 125.

The Reds likely expected more of the same from Suárez when they guaranteed him $15MM last offseason, but the move didn’t pan out as hoped. When the All-Star break rolled around in mid-July, Suárez owned a dismal .208/.285/388 line. Thanks in part to his struggles, the Reds were sitting on a 43-52 record then. Suárez turned it on in a big way from August onward, as he recorded an .852 OPS that month and a .935 mark in September, but the Reds finished 75-87 and fell miles short of a second straight playoff berth. In late August, a month before their season ended, the Reds placed Suárez on waivers. They would have saved around $2.5MM had somebody claimed him, but the rest of the league passed.

While Suárez was productive over the final two months of the season, he could only muster an overall line of .212/.307/.433 in 498 plate appearances. He racked up 26 homers, but his output was only 2% better than league average. A career-worst 33.9% strikeout rate didn’t help his cause. Suárez offered even less at the hot corner, where he earned negative grades (minus-7 Outs Above Average, minus-6 Fielding Run Value and minus-4 Defensive Runs Saved) over 50 games and 401 innings of work. For the first time in his career, most of his action came at designated hitter.

Ke’Bryan Hayes, who was one of the least valuable players in the game this year, was the Reds’ main option at third. Hayes is still under contract, and the Reds added Oswaldo Cabrera via waivers last month, but they could look for a better option in free agency or on the trade market if they don’t bring back Suárez.

A year ago at this time, Johnson was fresh off a season in which he gave the Braves 59 innings of 3.05 ERA ball. He parlayed that into a $6.5MM guarantee with the Reds in free agency, but it was another signing that didn’t go in the team’s favor. Despite averaging 95.8 mph on his fastball, Johnson struck out just 19.9% of hitters (against a roughly average 9% walk rate) and yielded a 4.62 ERA with similar underlying numbers across 48 2/3 frames. The 35-year-old is now on track to join 2026 bullpen mate Emilio Pagan, who declined his player option on Saturday, on the open market.

Photo courtesy of Katie Stratman, Imagn Images

The 35-year-old Pagán, who has pitched for six teams since he debuted with the Mariners in 2017, spent the past three seasons in Cincinnati. He originally joined the club on a two-year, $16MM guarantee in December 2023, but the first season of the contract didn’t go particularly well. Pagán had separate stints on the injured list with triceps and lat issues, and he only delivered 38 innings of 4.50 ERA ball when healthy.

The past two years went far better for Pagán, who took over as the Reds’ closer in 2025. That year, he converted 32 of 38 save opportunities and recorded a stingy 2.88 ERA with quality strikeout and walk rates of 30.0% and 8.1%, respectively, over 68 2/3 frames. He was able to keep runs off the board despite inducing ground balls just 28.7% of the time. Pagán has walked that tightrope throughout his career, having logged a 29.3% ground-ball rate over 549 1/3 innings in the majors.

Pagán’s results in 2026 were similar, though he got off to a slow start and then went on the IL with a hamstring strain on May 6. He spent almost two months on the shelf and returned on July 1 looking to improve on a 6.43 ERA. Not only did Pagán do that, but he excelled over the last three months of the season. He finished with 25 saves in 28 chances, including 19 in a row after he came back from the IL, and a 3.38 ERA across 42 2/3 frames. The second-lowest walk rate of his career (6.8%) helped offset a lack of ground balls (25.7%) and a significant drop in strikeouts. His K rate fell to 25.9%, 2.2 points lower than his lifetime mark, and he benefited from a .243 batting average on balls in play and an 83.8% strand rate. Pagán has only given up a .252 BABIP in his career, but he has typically left runners on base at a 77% clip.

There are red flags with Pagán, who has put up an ERA well over 4.00 in five seasons, but he will nonetheless leave good money on the table with the Reds and seek a third straight multiyear pact. The deal he is opting out of was worth $20MM over two years. Even if Pagán doesn’t do that well this time around, he should approach or exceed the $10MM player option that he turned down. With that in mind, there doesn’t seem to be much downside in rejecting the option.

This marked Klobosits’ first taste of affiliated baseball since 2023, as he spent the previous two years with independent league teams.  The righty was a 36th-round pick for the Nationals in the 2017 draft, and he has pitched in parts of nine pro seasons with some notable interruptions — Klobosits missed most of 2018-19 due to Tommy John surgery, and he didn’t pitch at all in 2020 when the minor league season was canceled by the pandemic.

Klobosits’ tenure in Washington paid off with some playing time at the big league level, as the righty’s MLB resume consists of 11 1/3 innings of 5.56 ball for the Nats during the 2021 season.  He then pitched in the minors with the A’s and Blue Jays over the next two years before turning to indy ball.

For his career, Klobosits has a 4.09 ERA, 23.18% strikeout rate, and 12.3% walk rate over 81 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level.  He has worked almost exclusively as a reliever, apart from a few pseudo-starts as an opener.  Klobosits’ shaky control and a two-month stint on the injured list in 2026 probably kept him from getting any looks even from a Chicago team desperate for healthy relievers, but the Cubs clearly liked enough of what they saw to bring the 31-year-old back into the fold.

Oliver Dunn (Rays)

Dunn signed a minor league deal with the White Sox last winter, and was traded to the Rays in May.  He was quickly added to the active roster as infield depth when Ben Williamson was placed on the IL, and Dunn had a .258 OPS in 12 plate appearances over nine games, appearing mostly as a late-game substitute.  Tampa optioned Dunn back to Triple-A after that nine-game stint, and outrighted him off the 40-man in September.

Dunn has now played in parts of the last three MLB seasons, and has hit .197/.253/.275 over 157 PA in the Show with the Brewers and Rays.  He can play all over the infield (and has played left field in the minors) and has some good base-stealing ability, so Dunn will try to parlay that skillset into another minor league contract this offseason.  Dunn is out of minor league options, which will complicate his chances of sticking on a 40-man roster.

Thomas Pannone (Brewers)

The left-hander pitched in just one game for Milwaukee this season, getting the start and allowing three runs (two earned) in three innings of work in the Brewers’ 16-3 loss to the Giants on July 29.  The Brew Crew designated Pannone for assignment and outrighted him shortly afterwards, but the cup of coffee in the majors was surely welcome for a pitcher who had just one other MLB appearance in the last seven seasons.

Pannone broke into the big leagues with 116 innings of 5.43 ERA ball with the Blue Jays in 2018-19, then pitched once for the Brewers in 2023 before his one game this year.  In between his one-game cameos, Pannone has pitched abroad in the KBO League and also in the minors with the Angels, Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees, and Brewers.  The 32-year-old southpaw didn’t pitch at all in 2025 due to flexor surgery, but returned this year to post a 4.70 ERA, 20.2% strikeout rate, and 6.9% walk rate over 99 2/3 innings with Triple-A Nashville.

Although Severino previously expressed dissatisfaction with the facilities at Sutter Health Park, it’s no surprise that the veteran will stick around for the third and final year of his contract. Severino posted a 4.16 ERA over 12 starts and 62 2/3 innings before going on the 15-day injured list at the end of May with a strain of his shoulder capsule and subscapularis muscle. The injury proved to be season-ending, as Severino was able to resume throwing but didn’t get deep enough into his recovery process to even begin a minor league rehab assignment.

Between this shortened season and his so-so performance in 2025, Severino wouldn’t have made anywhere close to $22MM in free agency. Opting out of his deal also would’ve meant hitting the open market in offseason that is bound to be interrupted by a lockout, so it makes plenty of sense for Severino to take his guaranteed payday and focus entirely on returning to the mound in 2027 (Severino’s age-33 season).

Severino’s last stint in free agency saw him join the Athletics on a three-year, $67MM guarantee in December 2024 — the largest free agent contract in A’s franchise history. The first two years of the deal have seen Severino deliver a 4.43 ERA in 41 starts and 225 1/3 innings. He’s no longer a strikeout artist like he was at his peak with the Yankees, as Severino has struck out a below-average 19.4% of opponents with the A’s (24% in this season’s limited action). The righty’s 8.3% walk rate and 42% ground ball rate in 2025-26 are slightly better than the league average.

As one might expect, Severino’s metrics have been a lot better on the road than in Sacramento. In 20 home starts as an Athletic, he has a 5.85 ERA and has allowed 14.2% of fly balls to leave the yard. In 21 away starts, Severino has a 3.14 ERA and 6.0% HR/FB rate. He’s also held opponents to a .640 OPS on the road compared to an .823 OPS at Sutter Health Park.

With these splits in mind, it’s not out of the question that Severino could be traded this winter. The A’s explored dealing Severino at the 2025 trade deadline but were reportedly not eager to eat much of the remaining money on the right-hander’s contract. While $22MM isn’t a small sum, perhaps the A’s are more open to covering a portion of this remaining salary to help facilitate a deal. Alternatively, the A’s could deal Severino for another player on an unwanted contract.

Given how much the A’s need rotation help and how difficult it is to convince other pitchers to come to Sacramento, however, the likelier scenario is that Severino just returns as the veteran anchor of a young rotation. The A’s declined their club option on Jeffrey Springs yesterday, leaving Severino, J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez, and Gage Jump as the projected top four starters. Jack Perkins, Luis Morales, Luis Medina, and a host of other hurlers will be competing for the fifth spot, unless the A’s bring in another more experienced arm during the offseason.

McFarland’s report doesn’t specify which side formally declined the Higashioka/Junis options, yet it’s safe to assume the team passed on both. Neither player was much of a factor down the stretch, and Texas is clearly working against payroll limitations.

Higashioka wraps up a two-year, $13.5MM free agent deal. He combined for a .233/.296/.391 slash line with 18 homers across 513 plate appearances. That’s perfectly serviceable for a part-time catcher. Higashioka has a solid reputation as a receiver but has been below average at throwing out baserunners. He didn’t play after July 20 due to a flexor strain in his forearm.

It’ll almost certainly be a one-year deal this time around, as Higashioka hits the market in advance of his age-37 season. The Phillies, Yankees, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Brewers, Marlins, Reds, Red Sox, Twins and Tigers could all be in the market for a backup catcher. Texas will also need to address the position. Elias Díaz is a free agent, leaving Danny Jansen and Logan O’Hoppe as an underwhelming catching tandem.

Junis could look for a sixth different team in the past five seasons. The 34-year-old righty has bounced around the league on a series of one-year contracts. Junis typically puts up solid results behind plus control and a heavy diet of sweepers. He sits in the low-90s with below-average strikeout stuff but has managed four consecutive seasons with a sub-4.00 earned run average.

That includes 54 1/3 innings of 3.64 ERA ball for Texas this year. Junis led the club with 18 holds and even recorded six saves, briefly holding the ninth inning before Jacob Latz seized the job with an All-Star season. It was a nice overall return on investment for a $4MM free agent pickup. The production was heavily frontloaded, however. Junis took a 2.80 ERA across 35 1/3 frames into the All-Star Break. He battled left hip and adductor issues in July and August and wasn’t effective upon returning, giving up 11 runs with more walks than strikeouts in 19 second-half innings.

Curry has a prototypical pitcher’s build at 6’5″ and 205 pounds. A product of a New York high school, he’s worked as a starter throughout his minor league career. The results have been mixed, but Curry has a five-pitch arsenal and has shown the ability to push his fastball into the mid-90s.

It has been a couple seasons since Baseball America ranked him among the top 30 prospects in a weak Texas farm system. Brendan Gawlowski of FanGraphs was a little more bullish, slotting him 25th in the organization back in April. Gawlowski’s report graded all five pitches at average or better but noted that lackluster control is likely to push him to the bullpen.

Texas has continued to give Curry developmental reps as a starter. He opened this year in High-A, played most of the season in Double-A, and made one start in mid-August at Triple-A Round Rock. Curry combined for a 4.93 earned run average across 104 innings. He struck out an impressive 29% of opponents against a concerning 12.4% walk rate that points to his likely future as a reliever. The Rangers have enough bullpen uncertainty that they could make that transition as soon as next spring, as Curry’s spot on the 40-man should have him under consideration for a midseason promotion.

The Rangers have 10 impending free agents, giving the front office some early roster space with which to play. Curry’s selection brings them up to 37 players on the 40-man.

This was inevitable, as Soroka has put himself in position to do pretty well financially. The Diamondbacks picked him up on a $7.5MM deal last offseason. (He earned an additional $1.35MM in performance bonuses by starting 20 games.) He was initially slated to open the season in a swing role, but an Opening Day injured list stint for Merrill Kelly drew him into the starting five.

Soroka was one of Torey Lovullo’s more reliable starters and held a rotation spot all season. He pitched to a 3.41 earned run average across 116 innings. He led Arizona starters with a 24.1% strikeout rate while limiting his free passes to a 6% clip. Soroka tailed off a bit in the second half as he navigated injured list stints for a left glute strain and arm inflammation, yet it was mid-rotation production on a rate basis. This was also his highest workload since 2019.

The innings questions are going to keep Soroka from commanding a massive contract, but he’s very likely to secure a multi-year deal. He’s entering his age-29 season and has one of the better strikeout and walk profiles of the group of mid-tier free agent starters. Soroka has a chance at three years, with a two-year pact in the $10-12MM range feeling like a floor.

While there’s mutual interest in a reunion with the Snakes, that may be too pricey given the team’s other needs. GM Mike Hazen downplayed the notion of spending big on a free agent starter when speaking with Piecoro on Thursday — instead implying they could look to the trade market for a younger arm. They’ll need to replace half the bullpen and upgrade one or both of first base and designated hitter.

This resolves the D-Backs’ option decisions for this offseason. Corbin Burnes made the easy call to opt in to the final four years on his six-year contract yesterday.

Pinazzi, 27, hasn’t taken the typical path to a roster spot with the Angels. Born in Italy, he was signed by the Reds back in 2020. He was with that club through 2023 but was released before the beginning of the 2024 season. He spent a couple of seasons pitching in indy ball and then signed with the Halos for the 2026 campaign.

His numbers this year have been outstanding. Across four different levels, he tossed 64 innings over 48 appearances, allowing 0.84 earned runs per nine. His 12.5% walk rate is certainly high but he struck out 38.9% of batters faced and induced grounders on 60.8% of balls in play, those latter two both being excellent figures.

Brendan Gawlowski of FanGraphs profiled Pinazzi back in August. The lefty’s fastball sits in the mid-90s but he throws his breaking ball more than half the time. Pinazzi calls this pitch a cutter but admits the label is wrong. “I say cutter, but it’s definitely a slider,” he said. “I say cutter to delude myself, I throw more strikes that way.” Gawlowski notes that Pinazzi also mixes in a curveball but this cutter/slider is the money pitch.

Given his excellent numbers, the Angels have given Pinazzi a roster spot to prevent him from returning to free agency. The club doesn’t have a lot of established relievers and might be in rebuilding mode next year. There should be lots of opportunities for unproven guys such as Pinazzi to push into the mix. He has a full slate of options and could be shuttled between the majors and the minors fairly freely. Though his profile is unusual, he will share a roster with a pitcher with some similarities. Sam Aldegheri, another Italian lefty, is also with the Halos.

Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images

Tolentino, 25 next month, was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The fact that the Guardians are adding him to the roster now suggests he was about to qualify for minor league free agency. By giving him a roster spot, they prevent him from getting away.

He has never really been a top prospect in the system but he clearly has some tools. He has spent the past two years at the Triple-A level. He has stepped to the plate 957 times in that span, hitting 42 home runs and drawing walks at a strong 12.5% clip. The flipside is that he has also struck out as a massive 32.9% pace. That has led to a lopsided .221/.321/.445 batting line and 100 wRC+, indicating his offense works out to league average on the whole.

Defensively, Tolentino has spent most of his time at shortstop while also getting lots of action at second and third base. He very briefly dabbled in the outfield this year. The Guards have Travis Bazzana at second and José Ramírez at third. Shortstop could be covered by either Brayan Rocchio or Ángel Genao. Daniel Schneemann is on the roster and could be in a bench/utility role.

Tolentino will try to push into that mix but he has a full slate of options and could be in line for more time at Triple-A. He already has a couple of seasons at that level but it wouldn’t hurt to get some more seasoning in an attempt to cut down on the punchouts.

Turning to the option decisions, neither is surprising. Stephan signed an extension with the Guards in 2023. That deal quickly went south. He required Tommy John surgery in 2024. He has been back on the mound in 2025 and 2026 but with diminished velocity and poor results. The Guards have kept him in the minors, where he has posted a 9.99 earned run average over 2025 and 2026.

His deal had a $7.25MM club option for 2027 with a $1.25MM buyout. Given his trend lines, it was an easy choice for Cleveland to take the buyout. He becomes a free agent and will be limited to minor league offers.

As for Armstrong, he signed a one-year deal with the Guards last offseason. The $5.5MM guarantee was broken down as a $4MM salary with a $1.5MM buyout on an $8MM mutual option. It has been over a decade since a mutual option was bought out by both sides. They essentially only exist to defer part of the payment. In this case, the Guards only had to pay Armstrong $4MM during the season, with the final $1.5MM due now with this transaction. Declining the option was always the expected outcome and he now returns to free agency.

His 2026 season was a mixed bag. He made two trips to the injured list, one for a groin strain and another for a calf strain. Around those, he tossed 35 1/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA, 22.1% strikeout rate, 12.3% walk rate and 42.7% ground ball rate.

He at least finished strong. He returned from his second IL stint in September and posted three scoreless appearances as the regular season was winding down. He then tossed 8 2/3 innings in the postseason, only allowing one earned run. He could be able to secure another major league deal this time but perhaps with a slightly lesser guarantee.

Photo courtesy of Samantha Madar, Imagn Images