MLB Player News
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Yu Darvish SP | SD
Padres' Yu Darvish: Out for 2026 after UCL surgery
Darvish will miss the 2026 season following a right elbow UCL repair with an internal brace and flexor tendon surgery on Oct. 29.
Darvish has missed time each of the last three seasons with elbow issues, having been limited to 72 regular-season innings in 2025. It's unclear how long he's been pitching with UCL damage, but the decision was finally made to have surgery on the elbow. It's the second UCL repair for Darvish, who had Tommy John surgery in March 2015. Darvish turned 39 in August, but he intends to rehab and return to the Padres for the 2027 season.
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Randy Dobnak RP | DET
Randy Dobnak: Option declined
The Tigers declined Dobnak's $6 million option for 2026, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
He'll be given a $1 million buyout instead. Dobnak's inclusion in the deadline trade that also sent Chris Paddack from the Twins to the Tigers was a way for Minnesota to offload additional salary. The 30-year-old is now a free agent after spending nearly all of 2025 at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 5.84 ERA over 18 starts and eight relief appearances.
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Kyle Farmer 2B | COL
Kyle Farmer: Becomes free agent
The Rockies declined Farmer's $4 million mutual option for 2026 on Tuesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The club will pay him a $750,000 buyout instead. Farmer slashed just .227/.280/.365 with eight home runs over 97 contests for the Rockies this season. The utility infielder is now a free agent.
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Brandon Waddell RP | NYM
Mets' Brandon Waddell: Back with Mets
The Mets re-signed Waddell to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Waddell held a 3.45 ERA and 22:11 K:BB over 31.1 innings for the Mets in 2025. He was used primarily as a starter this season at Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a 5.02 ERA and 63:25 K:BB in 75.1 innings. Waddell does not have minor-league options remaining, so he would have to be passed through waivers in order to be sent to the minors if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | CHC
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Traded back to Orioles
The Orioles acquired Kittredge from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Kittredge was dealt from the Orioles to the Cubs at the trade deadline and is now headed back to Baltimore. The Orioles have a $9 million option on Kittredge for 2026, which they will now presumably exercise. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. Baltimore has an opening at closer for 2026 and Kittredge could be the current favorite to fill it, though the team is likely to add additional relievers this offseason.
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Nathan Wiles RP | ATL
Nathan Wiles: Released by Atlanta
Atlanta released Wiles on Tuesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Wiles was knocked around in his lone appearance with Atlanta in 2025, allowing three runs over one inning of work in his major-league debut. The 27-year-old pitched well at Triple-A Gwinnett, collecting a 3.04 ERA and 105:34 K:BB across 112.2 frames. Wiles has experience as a starter and as a reliever.
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Jarren Duran LF | BOS
Red Sox's Jarren Duran: Avoids arbitration with Red Sox
The Red Sox and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.7 million contract Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The team had an $8 million option on Duran, but it will give him a $100,000 buyout instead and bring him back at a slightly lower salary than what the option would have paid him. Duran will remain under club control through the end of the 2028 season. The 29-year-old outfielder slashed .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 157 regular-season contests for Boston in 2025.
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Rhys Hoskins 1B | MIL
Rhys Hoskins: Mutual option declined
Hoskins became a free agent Tuesday after his $18 million mutual option for 2026 was declined, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
The Brewers will pay Hoskins a $4 million buyout instead. Hoskins slashed .223/.314/.418 with 38 home runs over 845 plate appearances during his two seasons in Milwaukee. With Andrew Vaughn's emergence at first base in 2025 and Christian Yelich serving as the primary designated hitter, there was no room for Hoskins on the roster in 2026. Hoskins will turn 33 in March and is a poor defensive first baseman, so he might face a fairly limited free-agent market this offseason.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Club option for 2026 exercised
The Mariners exercised Munoz's $6 million option for 2026, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Munoz saved 38 regular-season games while posting a 1.73 ERA and 83:28 K:BB over 62.1 innings, so the Mariners made the easy decision to retain him at a bargain rate in 2026. The club also has an $8 million option for 2027 and $10 million option for 2028 on Munoz. The hard-throwing reliever should be one of the best closers in baseball again next season.
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Ivan Herrera DH | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Will not be full-time catcher
Herrera (elbow) will return to catcher next season but is not expected to do so in a full-time capacity, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Herrera was the Cardinals' everyday designated hitter during the second half, but the plan is for him to return to catcher next season. However, while catcher is slated to be his primary position, it sounds like Herrera will still see lots of playing time in the DH slot. Jimmy Crooks is the favorite to pick up starts at catcher on days Herrera serves as the DH. Herrera underwent surgery last month to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, but he is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.