Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Pete
Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Cody Bellinger become free agents
[November 05, 2025]
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston third baseman Alex Bregman and
right-hander Lucas Giolito, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso
and closer Edwin Díaz and New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman
Cody Bellinger were among the players who turned down player options
or exercised opt outs and become free agents Tuesday.
San Diego pitcher Robert Suarez also turned down his option and went
free on the third day of the five-day free agent window.
A total of 153 players have become free agents following the end of
the World Series and several dozen more potentially can go free
through Thursday, depending on whether team, player and mutual
options are exercised.
Bregman and the Red Sox agreed to a $120 million, three-year
contract in February and he gave up $80 million for 2026 and ’27, of
which half each year would have been deferred and payable through
2036. He gets $40 million for his one year with Boston, of which he
received $20 million this year. He also gets a $5 million signing
bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2028, and $20 million payable in annual $2
million installments each June 15 starting in 2035.
He hit .273 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games. A 31-year-old
three-time All-Star third baseman, Bregman was sidelined between May
23 and July 11 by a strained right quadriceps.
Giolito, a right-hander, declined a $19 million mutual option with a
$1.5 million buyout, ending a contract that paid him $38.5 million
for two seasons. The 31-year-old returned on April 30 from elbow
surgery in March 2024 and was 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts and
145 innings.
Alonso received $30 million for one season under his $54 million,
two-year deal and declined a $24 million salary for 2026. The
five-time All-Star first baseman, who turns 31 next month, batted
.272 with 38 homers, 41 doubles and 126 RBIs.
Díaz earned $64 million for three seasons in the $102 million,
five-year contract he agreed to in November 2022, including $7.35
million in deferred payments due through 2039. The three-time
All-Star gave up salaries of $18.5 million in both 2026 and 2027
that were in his player option. If he had exercised his option, the
Mets would have had a $17.25 million team option for 2028 with a $1
million buyout.
A 31-year-old right-hander, Díaz had 28 saves in 31 chances and was
6-3 with a 1.63 ERA. He missed the 2023 season after tearing his
right patellar tendon while celebrating a Puerto Rico win at the
World Baseball Classic.
New York exercised a $4.75 million option on left-hander Brooks
Raley rather than pay a $350,000 buyout, declined a $2 million
option on right-hander Drew Smith and said right-hander Frankie
Montas and left-hander A.J. Minter had exercised player options.
Montas has a $17 million salary for next season as part of a $34
million, two-year deal and Minter an $11 million salary as part of a
$22 million, two-year contract.
Montas, 32, was 3-2 with a 6.28 ERA in seven starts and two relief
appearances, limited by a right lat strain that delayed his season
debut until June 24 and then cut short by a torn elbow ligament that
led to Tommy John surgery on Sept. 9. Minter, 32, had a 1.64 ERA in
11 relief appearances, the last April 26 before a left lat strain
ended his season.
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito delivers in the first
inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Sept. 17, 2025, in
Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Bellinger, acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago
Cubs last December, earned $57.5 million from the $80 million,
three-year contract he reached in February 2024. He declined a $25
million option for 2026 and instead will receive a $5 million buyout
payable in equal installments on Jan. 15 in 2026 and 2027. A
30-year-old outfielder and first baseman, he batted .272 with 29
homers and 98 RBIs — including .302 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs at
Yankee Stadium.
Suarez gave up $16 million from his $46 million, five-year contract,
declining $8 million player options for 2026 and 2027. The
34-year-old right-hander, a two-time All-Star, was 4-6 with a 2.97
ERA and an NL-high 40 saves in 45 chances.
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr.'s $20 million option was exercised by the
Chicago White Sox, who said left-hander Martín Pérez declined his
$10 million mutual option in a favor of a $1.5 million buyout.
Robert agreed to a $50 million, six-year contract before the 2020
season, a deal that also includes a $20 million club option for 2027
with a $2 million buyout. Pérez was guaranteed $5 million in his
one-year agreement.
Milwaukee declined an $18 million mutual option on first baseman
Rhys Hoskins, who gets a $4 million buyout, and a $15 million mutual
option on left-hander Jose Quintana, who receives a $2 million
buyout.
Colorado turned down a $4 million mutual option for infielder Kyle
Farmer, who gets a $750,000 buyout as part of a one-year deal that
guaranteed $3.25 million.
Atlanta infielder Ha-Seong Kim declined a $16 million player option
from the $29 million, two-year contract he agreed to in February
with Tampa Bay, a deal that paid him $13 million. The 30-year-old
batted .234 with five homers and 17 RBIs for the Rays and Braves,
who claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1. Kim didn’t make his season
debut until July 4 because of right shoulder surgery in late 2024.
Seattle exercised a $6 million option on closer Andrés Muñoz, part
of a contract that guaranteed the 26-year-old right-hander $7.5
million from 2022-25. The Mariners hold options at $8 million for
2027 and $10 million for 2028. Muñoz had a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in
45 chances this season.
Arizona declined a $1.35 million option on right-hander Elvin
Rodríguez, who was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Sept. 5.
Rodríguez started the season with Milwaukee, then was claimed by the
Orioles on July 16. He was 0-2 with a 9.15 ERA over seven games in
the major leagues this year.
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