Over the next few days, MLBTR will look at options courses for the next offseason. Steve Adams will highlight players who can opt out of the current trade, while we will look at those who have teams or co-options in the contracts. Almost all common options will be purchased on one side. Typically, if a team is willing to retain players at the option price, the player will refuse to look for a better free agent deal.
Arizona Rattlesnake
Arizona signed veteran Righty, who missed the entire season last season after having a shoulder surgery in January 2024. Graveman was struggling this spring with back discomfort and started the year on a 15-day injury list. He held some bullpen meetings but had not yet begun his rehabilitation mission. In his most recent healthy season, Graveman reached a 3.12 ERA in 66 1/3 innings between the White Sox and the Astros.
Grichuk takes on the short role of the snake in 2024. Arizona brought him back to the 5mm free agent trade. He is only 2mm in salary and will be charged a 3mm acquisition at the end of the season. Grichuk hasn't played much yet, starting six of Arizona's 19 games (not a single game except for the designated batsman). He started well with a .240 ball, hitting 5 doubles in 28 sets.
Colorado Rockies
Farmers have been a rare highlight in Colorado’s lineup. The experienced private person has started 15 of 18 games. His game was mainly second base and hit .345 with 9 doubles, the second largest in Major League Baseball. Farmers won't get to that speed at this rate, but for a player who signed with Minnesota (.214/.293/.353), it's a good start.
Jinli signed a three-year extension in the 2022-23 offseason. The sliding angle expert had a great first half in 22 games, but elbow surgery shortened that in July. Since returning home, Jinli has not been the same pitcher. In 2022 and 23, he allowed more than six runs. He gave up five runs (4 gains) in 7 2/3 innings this season and walked six times in 7 2/3 innings. Since signing extension, Kingley has 6.03 ERA, and has taken over 88 frames of opponent hitters in 88 frames.
This option comes with a base value of $5mm. If Kinley completes 20, 25 and 30 games (probably 6.5mm), it will add $500,000 per game. He completed two games in the early stages. While the option is not particularly expensive, this tends to be acquisitions.
Stallings created the best offensive number of his career for ROX in 2024. He returned early in the offseason with a 2.5mm trade. Stall is the 1-B catcher behind Hunter Goodman. He started seven games and caught 59 innings. It was a slow start as he hit the .125 and struck out 12 times in 27 sets.
notes: Thairo Estrada The one-year deal contains “26 common options”, but he was excluded from this exercise because he would still be eligible for arbitration if the option was rejected.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This could end up being a border call. The Dodgers can keep Monsy in Los Angeles' ninth season at 10mm. It's not a high amount for the team with the highest baseball. Munchy is usually a great batsman in Dave Roberts' squad. He is a career batsman for Dodge Blue.230/.355/.482. He maintained a productive effect last season when he was healthy, releasing the .232/.358/.494 slash in 73 games. The pressure of tilt took him three months.
Munchy started this year much slower. He hasn't played home runs in 18 games yet. He hit .193 with 25 strikeouts in 68 sets (36.8%). Of course, it's still early, but he needs to pick up something. Monsie turns 35 in August. NPB Third Baseman Murakami Munataka It will be released to Major League Baseball teams in the next offseason. The Dodgers will likely be involved in the 25-year-old slugger, so they may want to keep that position early in the winter.
Taylor is in his final season in his four-year 60mm free agent trade. He stood out in the 2021 All-Star season when he hit .254/.344/.438 with 20 home runs. His offense has been trending throughout the contract process, especially in the past two years. Taylor fanned with nearly 31% of the clip last season, hitting the ball on 246 sets.202/.298/.300. He has only participated in the starting lineup three times this season.
The Dodgers kept Taylor's fight in the offensive struggle. They clearly see him as a clubhouse and appreciate the defensive versatility he offers on the bench. Still, it's hard to imagine they're paying an extra $8mm to exercise the option, as he's essentially the final post player on the roster. The option price will rise by 1mm if Taylor trades, or if it is unlikely to reach 525 set appearances and/or make an All-Star game.
notes: Alex Vesia The arbitration contract contains the '26 club option, but he is excluded from this exercise because if the option is rejected, he will be eligible for arbitration.
San Diego Priest
Díaz ended last season in San Diego after being released by the Rockies. When Padres catches Diaz with affordable veteran Martin Maldonado. He reached 0.206 in 13 games, despite having made seven walks in eight strikeouts.
- Kyle HartLHP ($5MM Club option, $500,000 acquisition)
Gentle left-handed Hart returns to professional after a brilliant year in Korea. He signed a 1.5mm guarantee, of which $26 of the '26 team salary is a base salary of 5mm. Option prices may be as high as 7.5 mm. If Hart starts to hit $18 this year, starts 22 times, starts at $750K at 26, he will jump to $250K if he starts 30 games.
San Diego gave Hart a turnaround position for the opening ceremony. He allowed seven runs in his first 11 2/3 innings. Hart walked five with eight strikeouts and an 8.3% swing percentage below average.
The king's choice is purely an accounting measure. He agreed to return the $7.75mm year 3.75mm guaranteed to the end of the season in the form of a buyout – with the possibility of buying flexibility for the playoff trade acquisition. Unless he suffers a major injury, he will refuse the end of his choice and will be one of the top pitchers in the class next year.
Wade agreed to the $1MM club option as part of the agreement to avoid holding a hearing in the final year of arbitration. During spring training, he was squeezed out of the roster. Wade cleared the immunity, accepted the mission from Triple-A, and then returned last week. He and Jackson Merrill Lynn and Brandon Rockridge On the injured list. Option prices are only above the league minimum, but Wade is in the roster and there is no guarantee of perseverance at the end of the season.
San Francisco Giant
San Francisco added Murphy to a two-year contract for the 2023-24 offseason. The veteran catcher has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and has been ongoing in San Francisco. Last year, he played in only 13 games due to a sprained knee. He started on the shelf this season, which would keep him out of the door at least two months. This looks like a buyout.
