Big arbitration offers made
MLB notebook
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NEW YORK -- New York Yankees closer David Bednar, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena were among eight players who received $23.15 million qualifying offers from their teams Monday.
Milwaukee first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers and Baltimore left-hander Trevor Rogers also received the offers along with Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe and San Diego left-hander Adrian Morejon.
Players have until Nov. 17 to accept.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 18 of 157 prior offers have been accepted. The figure is determined by the average of the top 125 major league contracts this year.
A free agent can be made a qualifying offer only if he has been with the same team continuously since opening day and has never received a qualifying offer before.
If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the next amateur draft, his former club receives draft pick compensation at the end of the first round or at the end of competitive balance round B. The placement depends on the amount of the new contract and the revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player.
Among those not receiving an offer was Philadelphia third baseman Alex Bohm.
Twenty-eight more players became free agents, raising the total to 183. Players could start negotiating terms with all teamsas of now.
Major League Baseball is expected to impose a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, likely creating a signing frenzy in the run-up.
Option and opt-out decisions
Baltimore declined a $7.5 million option on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, limited to eight games this year by a broken left foot sustained when he stumbled while on the basepaths on April 8. The Orioles turned down a $3.5 million option on catcher Dietrich Enns, which called for a $125,000 buyout.
Corbin Burnes decided not to opt out of the final four seasons of his $210 million, six-year contract with Arizona. The deal calls for $35 million annual salaries, including $11 million deferred each year. The 32-year-old right-hander returned to the major leagues on Sept. 8 after a 15-month recovery from Tommy John surgery, made three starts and went back on the injured list because of shoulder inflammation.
Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios decided not to opt out of the final two seasons of his $131 million, seven-year contract, which call for salaries of $24 million per season. The 32-year-old did not pitch this year and is recovering from Tommy John surgery on May 20.
Athletics right-hander Luis Severino exercised a $22 million player option for 2027, the last season of a $67 million, three-year contract agreed to in December 2025.
Baltimore reliever Ryan Helsley did not opt out of his $14 million salary next season, part of a $28 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old right-hander was 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA and eight saves in 17 relief appearances. He didn't pitch for the Orioles between April 28 and June 17 because of right elbow inflammation, returned for five outings and then went back on the IL with elbow discomfort. He did not pitch again this season.
Chicago Cubs right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey and Colin Rea became free agents along with left-hander Caleb Thielbar after their 2027 options were declined, while righty Jacob Webb agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.
World Series champion Milwaukee declined an $8.5 million mutual option on catcher Gary Sanchez, who gets a $250,000 buyout as part of a one-year contract guaranteeing $1.75 million. The Brewers also turned down a $14 million option on right-hander Antonio Senzatela, part of a $50.5 million, five-year contract he agreed to with Colorado.
Detroit declined a $12 million option on reliever Kenley Jansen. The 39-year-old right-hander, third on the career list with 498 saves, gets a $2 million buyout as part of an $11 million, one-year contract.
Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz's option vested at $13 million after the Rays deemed him healthy for 2027. Diaz reached the 500 plate appearances needed for the option to become guaranteed and had to meet the second provision.
Arbitration-eligible players
Among players who would have been eligible for arbitration if their options had been declined, Milwaukee exercised catcher William Contreras, the World Series MVP, at $14.5 million; Tampa Bay exercised Gold Glove shortstop Taylor Walls at $3.1 million; and Houston exercised infielder Isaac Paredes at $13.35 million.
Elsewhere:
— The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Akil Baddoo off waivers from Milwaukee on Monday. The 28-year-old Baddoo hit a combined .252 (58-for-230) with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and an .818 OPS in 66 minor league games split between two Minor League teams this past season. Baddoo was originally selected by Minnesota in the Competitive Balance-B round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Additionally, Pittsburgh reinstated both right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller and catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez from the 60-day injured list. The Pirates' 40-man roster is at 38 players.
— The trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz is underway in New York on charges that they colluded with gamblers who made hundreds of thousands of dollars betting on individual pitches. Their careers and possibly their freedom are at stake in the jury trial that began Monday with jury selection in in Brooklyn federal court. Several professional baseball players, including catchers and baseball executives, are among witnesses likely to testify. Clase is the Guardians' former closer while Ortiz was a starter when they were charged in November 2025. Both have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay.
n Jerry Koosman, an All-Star left-hander who got the final out of the Miracle Mets' shocking 1969 World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles, died Sunday. He was 83. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Koosman had been sick for about a year and died of multiple illnesses in Osceola, Wisconsin, surrounded by his children.
Koosman jumping onto catcher Jerry Grote as they hugged on the Shea Stadium mound after the final out of the World Series remains an iconic image in baseball history. The Mets had never finished with a winning record before 1969. Koosman went 222-209 with a 3.36 ERA over 19 major league seasons, throwing 140 complete games that included 33 shutouts and becoming a two-time 20-game winner.
Relying primarily on fastballs and curves, he was 140-137 with a 3.09 ERA for the Mets from 1967-78, then pitched for Minnesota (1979-81), the Chicago White Sox (1981-83) and Philadelphia (1984-85).
An expansion franchise that launched in 1962, the Mets lost 100 games in five of their first seven seasons and had not come come close to a winning record.
Then in 1969, they surged into first place on Sept. 10 during a 10-game winning streak, winning 38 of their last 49 games and finishing atop the new National League East with a 100-62 record. New York's No. 2 starter behind future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Koosman went 17-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts in 1969.