Marlins Retain Alcantara; King and Gray Hit Free Agency
Miami kept its ace under contract while 155 players hit the open market in the two days following the World Series.
By Meera Fletcher ·
The Miami Marlins blocked Sandy Alcantara from reaching free agency by exercising a $21 million club option on Friday. The decision guarantees the 31-year-old pitcher $75 million over six years under a contract signed in November 2021. The Marlins would have owed a $2 million buyout had they declined the option.
Alcantara remains in Miami while other pitchers moved to the market. Michael King became a free agent after declining a $28 million player option in favor of a $5 million buyout. Sonny Gray and Nick Martinez will also hit the market after their teams declined mutual options. King went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 32 starts. Alcantara went 13-11 with a 3.87 ERA in 33 starts and three relief appearances, his second season back from Tommy John surgery.
King is a free agent for the second straight offseason. He agreed to a deal in December that guarantees $75 million over three seasons, with an out after one year and $17 million. Boston declined a $30 million option on Gray, who receives a $5 million buyout. Gray turns 37 next week. He tied for the major league lead with 18 wins and posted a 2.72 ERA, his best in a full season.
The total reached 155 free agents in the two days following the World Series, with 14 players joining the list Friday. About 40 more players could become free by Monday, the deadline for teams to exercise options.
Bo Bichette stayed with the New York Mets after agreeing in January to a $126 million, three-year contract. The deal includes a $40 million signing bonus, a $2 million salary for 2026, and $42 million player options for 2027 and 2028. A two-time All-Star shortstop in Toronto, Bichette shifted primarily to third base in New York. He hit .260 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs.
Tampa Bay declined mutual options on Martinez and Cedric Mullins. Martinez, 36, went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts and made his first All-Star team. He added a 2.81 ERA in four postseason appearances. Mullins, 32, hit .205 with 15 homers, 48 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. Milwaukee declined Dustin May's $20 million mutual option, and he took a $500,000 buyout. May started Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday.
Other players hitting free agency include Matt Boyd, Carson Kelly, Zach Eflin, Josh Bell, Jeff McNeil, Jeffrey Springs, Carlos Estévez, Ryan Weiss, and Robert Stephenson. Minnesota declined a $13 million option on Joe Ryan, who receives a $100,000 buyout but remains under club control for salary arbitration. Kansas City exercised a $2.5 million option on Tony Gonsolin.
Source: WRAZ
