week and hit .283/.328/.401 with 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 2023. Merrifield, 34, has been one of the most consistent performers in the league over the past few seasons.
Corey Kluber, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Kluber declined his $18 million player option for 2024, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 37-year-old right-hander made just 10 starts for the Rays in 2023 due to injury, posting a 4.71 ERA in 42 innings. Kluber is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and will now test the free-agent market.
Yasmani Grandal, C, Chicago White Sox
Grandal has declined his $18.25 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 34-year-old catcher hit .230/.372/.437 with 20 home runs in 2023. Grandal is considered one of the best catchers in the game and should draw significant interest on the open market.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, New York Yankees
Rizzo has declined his $14 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 33-year-old first baseman hit .248/.335/.448 with 25 home runs in 2023. Rizzo was acquired by the Yankees at the trade deadline and is expected to receive a multi-year contract in free agency.
Carlos Carrasco, RHP, New York Yankees
Carrasco has declined his $14 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 35-year-old right-hander made just six starts for the Yankees in 2023 due to injury, posting a 4.85 ERA in 26 innings. Carrasco is a former All-Star and will now look for a new team in free agency.
Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jansen has declined his $20 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 34-year-old closer had a strong season in 2023, recording a 2.22 ERA with 38 saves. Jansen is one of the most accomplished closers in MLB history and should generate significant interest on the open market.
Chris Taylor, UTIL, Los Angeles Dodgers
Taylor has declined his $17.5 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 31-year-old utility player hit .254/.342/.438 with 20 home runs in 2023. Taylor is known for his versatility and should be in high demand as a free agent.
Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets
Conforto has declined his $18.5 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 29-year-old outfielder hit .232/.344/.414 with 19 home runs in 2023. Conforto is a former All-Star and will now test the free-agent market.
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Rodon has declined his $18 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 30-year-old left-hander had a breakout season in 2023, recording a 2.37 ERA with 231 strikeouts in 191 innings. Rodon is expected to receive a significant contract in free agency.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
Freeman has declined his $22 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 32-year-old first baseman hit .300/.393/.503 with 28 home runs in 2023. Freeman is the reigning National League MVP and will now look for a new contract in free agency.
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw has declined his $20 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 35-year-old left-hander made just 10 starts for the Dodgers in 2023 due to injury, posting a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings. Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and will now test the free-agent market.
Max Scherzer, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Scherzer has declined his $43.3 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 38-year-old right-hander had a dominant season in 2023, recording a 2.46 ERA with 243 strikeouts in 179 innings. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and will now look for a new contract in free agency.
Justin Verlander, RHP, Houston Astros
Verlander has declined his $25 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 39-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Verlander is a former Cy Young Award winner and will now look for a new team in free agency.
Robbie Ray, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Ray has declined his $18 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 30-year-old left-hander had a stellar season in 2023, recording a 2.84 ERA with 248 strikeouts in 193 innings. Ray is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner and will now test the free-agent market.
Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros
Correa has declined his $22.5 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 28-year-old shortstop hit .279/.365/.491 with 27 home runs in 2023. Correa is one of the top free agents available and is expected to receive a lucrative contract this offseason.
Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies
Story has declined his $17.5 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 29-year-old shortstop hit .251/.328/.471 with 28 home runs in 2023. Story is a two-time All-Star and will now test the free-agent market.
Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers
Seager has declined his $20 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 29-year-old shortstop hit .306/.371/.519 with 23 home runs in 2023. Seager is a former World Series MVP and will now look for a new team in free agency.
Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, San Francisco Giants
Bryant has declined his $22 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 30-year-old utility player hit .267/.358/.503 with 31 home runs in 2023. Bryant is a former National League MVP and will now test the free-agent market.
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Rendon has declined his $38 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 32-year-old third baseman hit .267/.355/.459 with 20 home runs in 2023. Rendon is a former World Series champion and will now look for a new contract in free agency.
George Springer, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Springer has declined his $22.5 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 33-year-old outfielder hit .258/.346/.468 with 25 home runs in 2023. Springer is a former World Series MVP and will now test the free-agent market.
Michael Brantley, OF, Houston Astros
Brantley has declined his $16 million player option for 2024, according to Jon Heyman. The 35Major League Baseball’s free-agent market is set to open on Monday, but teams and players are already making decisions on contractual options. Here are some of the most intriguing calls that have been made so far.
Opt-outs:
Eduardo Rodriguez, left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, has opted out of his contract with three years and $49 million remaining. Rodriguez had a strong season in 2023, posting a 3.30 ERA and a 2.98 K/BB ratio. He will now become a free agent and seek a new deal.
Marcus Stroman, right-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, has exercised his opt-out with one year and $21 million left on his contract. Stroman, a two-time All-Star, had a solid 2023 season with a 3.95 ERA and a 2.29 K/BB ratio. He will now be available to all teams in free agency.
Exercised options:
Josh Bell, first baseman for the Miami Marlins, has exercised his $16.5 million option for the 2024 season. Bell, who was acquired from Cleveland last season, hit .270/.338/.480 with 22 home runs in 2022.
Max Kepler, outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, will return to the team after the Twins exercised his $10 million club option. Kepler had a strong 2023 season, hitting 24 home runs and posting the second-best OPS+ of his career.
Jorge Polanco, second baseman for the Minnesota Twins, had his $10.5 million club option exercised by the team. Polanco has been productive when healthy, despite missing time due to injury in recent seasons.
Andrew Heaney, left-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, has exercised his $13 million player option for the 2024 season. Heaney posted a 4.15 ERA and a 2.52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34 appearances with the Rangers.
José Leclerc, right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, will remain with the team after they exercised his $6.25 million club option. Leclerc had a strong 2023 season, posting a 2.68 ERA and a 2.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Ross Stripling, right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, will use his player option to return to the team in 2024. Stripling struggled in 2023 with a 5.36 ERA in 89 innings.
Declined options:
Michael Wacha, right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, had his $32 million club option declined by the team. Wacha is expected to decline his $6.5 million player option as well, making him a free agent. Wacha had a solid season with a 3.22 ERA and a 2.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Joey Votto, first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, will not return to the team after they declined his $20 million option. Votto, a franchise legend, had a down year in 2023 with a .202 batting average and 14 home runs.
Cody Bellinger, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, declined his half of a $25 million option. He will receive a $5 million buyout and become a free agent. Bellinger had a strong season in 2023, hitting .307/.356/.525.
Tim Anderson, shortstop for the Chicago White Sox, had his $14 million option declined by the team. Anderson had a tough season in 2023, batting just .245 with one home run.
Justin Turner, designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, declined his $13.4 million player option. Turner will receive a $6.7 million buyout and become a free agent. Turner had a solid season in 2023 and should have no trouble finding a new deal.
Liam Hendriks, right-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, had his $15 million club option declined by the team. Hendriks will receive a $15 million buyout, which will be paid out in annual installments from 2024-2035. Hendriks is likely to miss the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.
Mike Clevinger, right-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, declined his half of a $12 million mutual option. He will receive a $4 million buyout and become a free agent. Clevinger had a solid 2023 season with a 3.77 ERA in 131 1/3 innings.
Nick Martinez, right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, and the team declined their respective options. Martinez made nine starts and 54 relief appearances in 2023, posting a 3.43 ERA.
Hector Neris, right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros, declined his $8.5 million player option. Neris had an excellent season in 2023 with a 1.71 ERA in 68 1/3 innings.
Seth Lugo, right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, declined his $7.5 million player option. Lugo had a solid season in 2023 with a 3.57 ERA and a 3.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Lance Lynn, right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had his $18 million option declined by the team. Lynn will receive a $1 million buyout. Lynn struggled in 2023 with a 5.73 ERA.
Whit Merrifield, second baseman/left fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the team declined their portions of an $18 million mutual option. Merrifield made his third All-Star Game in