MLB Player News

Ray (hamstring) will not opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Giants, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ray missed the first half of the 2024 campaign while recovering from the Tommy John procedure he underwent in May of 2023. Once he returned, he was able to make seven starts for the Giants before a strained left hamstring cut his season short in August. Because of his injury history, he likely wouldn't receive an offer in free agency close to the $50 million he's due to make over the next two years, so his decision to remain in San Francisco on his current deal is hardly a surprise. He'll aim to bounce back in 2025 after turning in a 4.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 30.2 innings this past season.

Lopez signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday.

Lopez was originally set to make $11 million in 2025 and 2026 with an $8 million club option for 2027. In an effort to minimize payroll, Atlanta will now pay him $8 million next season while his 2026 salary increases to $14 million, and he's now guaranteed to make $8 million in 2027 (compared to his $4 million option buyout). The 30-year-old posted a minuscule 1.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 135.2 innings this year.

Bummer signed a two-year, $13 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday.

Bummer's original deal included two club options over the next two years, worth $7.25 million and $7.5 million, respectively. However, his latest contract will void those two option years while saving the team a bit of cash, as the left-hander is now due to make $3.5 million in 2025. The 31-year-old finished with a 3.58 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 55.1 innings during his first season in Atlanta.

The Brewers traded Miller to the Rockies on Saturday in exchange for cash, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miller spent the majority of 2024 with Triple-A Nashville, where he slashed .274/.353/.382 with 36 RBI across 385 plate appearances. He'll have a better chance of getting back to the majors as part of the Rockies organization, though he will first need to be added to the 40-man roster.

The Brewers placed Rea on waivers Saturday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Rea has a $5.5 million club option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. It appears the Brewers are willing to move on from the 34-year-old righty, but they will first make him available to the other 29 clubs via waivers before paying the $1 million that would send him to free agency. Rea finished the 2024 season with a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but he surrendered 20 earned runs over 21.2 frames during his six starts in September.

Flores (knee) exercised his $3.5 million player option for 2025 on Saturday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Flores slashed just .206/.277/.318 with 26 RBI across 242 plate appearances in 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in late July. Given his poor performance and injured knee, he was unlikely to receive more than $3.5 million on the open market, making it easy to see why he chose to opt in for 2025. It's unknown if he'll be ready for the start of spring training.

The Brewers exercised Peralta's $8 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Peralta became the ace of the Brewers' staff in 2024 following the departure of Corbin Burnes to Baltimore and Brandon Woodruff's season-ending shoulder surgery. Given the lack of reliable arms in Milwaukee's rotation, it's unsurprising to see the team bring back Peralta, who under-performed by his own standards with a 3.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 173.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks exercised Kelly's $7 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

After missing a four-month chunk of the season due to a shoulder injury, Kelly finished 2024 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 73.2 innings over 13 starts. Hopeful for a bounce-back campaign in 2025, the D-backs will keep the 36-year-old righty around to bolster a pitching staff that ranked 27th in the majors with a 4.62 ERA.

Peralta exercised his $4.25 million player option for 2025 on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Peralta turned in a 3.99 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 38.1 frames in 2024, and he'll now receive a $900,000 raise by accepting the first of three player options in his deal with the Padres. He will presumably continue to be used in mid-to-high-leverage situations.

Bellinger exercised his $27.5 million player option for 2025 on Saturday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Bellinger was unlikely to receive an offer close to $27.5 million on the open market after posting a .751 OPS alongside 78 RBI across 569 plate appearances in 2024, so it's unsurprising to see him decide to stick around in Chicago. The 29-year-old figures to remain in an everyday role in the Cubs' outfield next season.