New York – Gerrit Cole exercised his opt out from his New York Yankees contract, giving the team two days to void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
Three days after the Yankees lost the World Series, New York said Saturday it declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option in favor of a $6 million buyout, making the first baseman a free agent.
Cole’s decision, which was expected, was conveyed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because it was not publicly announced. Cole would give up $144 million in the four remaining seasons of his $324 million, nine-year contract. The Yankees have until midnight EST Sunday to make their decision.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
A three-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Rizzo hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs over 92 games in an injury-interrupted season.
Rizzo missed 62 games with a fractured right forearm after colliding with Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino on June 16. He batted .380 (8 for 21) after returning from the injured list on Sept. 1, then fractured the fourth and fifth fingers when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28.
He returned for the AL Championship Series and World Series and batted .267 with no RBIs.
Bellinger picks up player option
Cody Bellinger picked up his $27.5 million player option with the Chicago Cubs, answering a major offseason question for the team.
Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year. He was on the injured list from April 24 to May 7 with a right rib fracture.
He drove in 33 runs in his last 39 games of the season, but Chicago finished with an 83-79 record and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
The Cubs declined Drew Smyly’s $10 million mutual option in favor of a $2.5 million buyout, making the left-hander a free agent. Smyly, a former Tiger, went 4-8 with a 3.84 ERA in 50 appearances this year.
Manaea a free agent again
Left-hander Sean Manaea declined his $13.5 million option for 2025 with the New York Mets on Saturday to become a free agent for the third consecutive offseason.
Manaea agreed to a contract in January that included a $14.5 million salary for 2024 and the 32-year-old went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 184 and walking 63 in 181 2/3 innings.
After dropping his arm slot in midseason, he became the Mets most effective starting pitcher and went 6-2 with a 3.09 ERA in his final 12 starts. Manaea was 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four postseason starts.
Brewers decline option on Sanchez
Gary Sánchez’s $11 million mutual option for 2025 was declined by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, making the catcher a free agent.
Sánchez, who turns 32 on Dec. 2, receives a $4 million buyout to go along with his $3 million salary for 2024.
Milwaukee also traded utilityman Owen Miller to the Colorado Rockies for cash.
Sánchez hit .220 with a .307 on-base percentage, .392 slugging percentage, 11 homers and 37 RBIs in 89 games this season.
Jimenez headed to free agency
The Orioles declined a $16.5 million option on outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jiménez, who becomes a free agent.
Jiménez receives a $3 million buyout, completing a $43 million, six-year contract he agreed to with the Chicago White Sox.
Baltimore acquired Jiménez from Chicago on July 30 for left-hander Trey McGough. Jiménez hit .232 with one homer and seven RBIs in 100 plate appearances for the Orioles, leaving his season average at .238 with six homers and 23 RBIs.
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