MLB Player News

Junis declined his $8 million mutual option for 2025 on Friday and became a free agent.

Junis put up a career-best 2.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across 67 innings between Milwaukee and Cincinnati last season. Rather than accepting an $8 million salary for 2025, the 32-year-old will cash in a $3 million buyout and seek a more lucrative multi-year deal on the open market.

The Reds outrighted Antone (elbow) to Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

He's not on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Antone has undergone multiple elbow surgeries, including one in April to repair UCL and flexor tears. It's not clear when he might be ready to pitch again.

The Athletics outrighted Muller to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Because he's been outrighted before, Muller has the option to elect free agency. The left-hander made 21 appearances for the A's in 2024 in relief, posting a 4.01 ERA and 36:10 K:BB across 49.1 frames.

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.

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.

Pagan has an $8 million option for the 2025 season that he's expected to exercise this offseason, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Pagan missed three months of the season with a lat injury, but returned to action Aug. 10 and finished the campaign healthy. He wasn't as effective as usual over his 38 innings in 2024 (4.50 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), and given that he would be unlikely to receive a contract exceeding $8 million on the open market, it makes sense for him to run it back with Cincinnati for another season.

Stratton (forearm) exercised his $4.5 million player option for the 2025 season Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Stratton threw 58.1 innings out of the bullpen for the Royals in 2024, occasionally working in high-leverage situations. He posted a 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP to go along with four saves and five holds. Stratton's season ended in mid-September due to forearm injury, though he is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

Adams (forearm) cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Adams turned in a 3.92 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 41.1 innings in 2024, but forearm tendinitis kept him out of action since mid-August. It's unclear if the 33-year-old will be ready for the start of spring training, but he'll now have to re-earn a spot on the 40-man roster once healthy.

Smith elected free agency Thursday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Smith cleared waivers after the Orioles removed him from their 40-man roster, but he will look for a job elsewhere rather than accepting an outright assignment. The righty collected a 4.95 ERA and 46:12 K:BB over 56.1 innings between the Marlins and Orioles this season.

The Rangers claimed Contreras off waivers from the Angels on Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Contreras looked in 2022 like he might be part of the Pirates' rotation for a while, but he's collected a 5.47 ERA and 111:63 K:BB over 136.2 innings since the start of the 2023 season and is now in his third organization since May. The righty mostly pitched in relief in 2024, but the Rangers could stretch him back out during spring training.