Ivan Johnson optioned out again

The former top prospect has never been able to put it all together at the MLB level and is probably better suited as a utility player, which the Braves have plenty of use for. Bruján appeared in just nine games for the Mets in 2026, going 1-for-11 (.091) with one RBI in his 13 plate appearances. He spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A Syracuse where he slashed .278/.385/.421 with five homers, 34 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 258 plate appearances. He’ll add quality depth for the Braves.

As anticipated, the 28-year-old southpaw has chosen to hit the open market rather than accepting his outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake. Peralta made 16 appearances at the MLB level between the Rockies and Angels, struggling to a 6.65 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and a 23/9 K/BB ratio over 23 innings. He’ll almost assuredly have to settle for a minor league deal this winter with an invitation to big league camp.

Dunn appeared in nine games with the Rays during the 2026 campaign, going 1-for-11 (.091) with one RBI and a 3/1 K/BB ratio in his 12 plate appearances. He’s now free to peddle his wares on the open market.

Astros’ new general manager Randy Flores wasted no time getting to work, acquiring the 27-year-old right-hander from the Rays. Reifert made 46 appearances at Triple-A Durham in 2026, registering a strong 2.48 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and an 81/34 K/BB ratio across 58 innings of work. He’ll get an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Astros’ bullpen during spring training.

It appears Randy Flores first deal since being named general manager will be to acquire Reifert. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the return will be cash considerations for the Rays. The right-hander was returned to Tampa Bay after the Nationals selected him in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2026 season, but Washington chose not to carry him on the 40-man roster. He forged a 2.46 ERA for Triple-A Durham, and will have a chance to win a bullpen spot with the Astros this spring in Florida.

The Padres and Peralta agreed to a four-year, $16.5 million deal in Jan. 2024, with the second, third and fourth years all being player options, and now Peralta has exercised all three of them. The kind of amazing thing about it is that he hasn’t been a liability in the process; if he’d opted for free agency in any year, he probably would have wound up signing for around the $4.25 million-$4.5 million his options were worth. The 35-year-old had a 3.61 ERA in a career-high 77 1/3 innings last season, though he was left off the Wild Card and NLDS rosters. He has a 3.51 ERA over his three years with the club. During that span, he’s recorded no saves and 19 holds, 11 of which came in 2024.

This is a stunner. Pivetta was limited to eight starts due to elbow issues last season, but he finished the season healthy, starting two postseason games for the Padres, and he was one of the NL’s best pitchers in 2025, going 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 31 starts. The Padres only had the club option because Pivetta missed so much time. Otherwise, it would have been a player option for the 33-year-old right-hander. The decision suggests the Padres are still very worried about his arm, or, if not, they’re doing him a favor by letting return to free agency.

Robert will get a $2 million buyout of the $20 million option. Even though he was limited to 61 games last season and hasn’t been all that productive since 2023, he’ll draw plenty of interest from teams as a potential one-year upside play this winter. He hit .221/.300/.407 in 230 plate appearances for the Mets and Orioles in 2026.

Suárez and Barrero declined the assignment and are now free agents. Heuer accepted his, though he’ll still be eligible for minor league free agency. Selby is also still with the organization for now. The 29-year-old missed all of last season with a shoulder injury that led to surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff at the end of July. He’s expected to be sidelined into 2027.

Brown was the Braves’ VP of scouting from 2019-22 before being hired as the Astros’ GM. Ronit Shah has since replaced him in that role in Atlanta and will keep the gig.