Astros acquire Evan Reifert from Rays for cash

Stanek’s 4.02 ERA in 70 appearances last season was his low mark since he came in at 1.15 for the 2022 Astros. The Cardinals, though, are going to buy him out for $1 million instead of paying him $6 million for 2027.

The Padres obviously weren’t picking up their half of Andujar’s $8 million option, and he was getting a $2.5 million buyout either way. Initially the Padres’ top option at DH, Andujar wound up missing most of the final 3 1/2 months with a hamstring strain and then a wrist fracture. He did return for the postseason, going 0-for-3 with a walk off the bench. He hit .259/.303/.423 in 74 games while healthy. It’s possible he’ll get a major league deal as a platoon starter against lefties.

A late addition as he tried to overcome his late-season elbow issue with the Red Sox in 2025, Giolito signed one-year, $3 million deal with an $8 million mutual option in late April. With his velocity down 2-3 mph, he pitched a total of seven times for Padres in the first half, amassing a 5.16 ERA and an ugly 18/23 K/BB in 29 2/3 innings. He then went on the IL with elbow inflammation and never returned, leaving his future very uncertain.

Canning gets a $1.5 million buyout of the $5 million option. He had a 5.68 ERA in 11 starts and 19 relief appearances for the Padres after returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon he suffered with the Mets in 2025.

Pache was the only one who had been announced as being waived, as he was bumped from the roster to make room for Kyren Paris. Still, there are no surprises here. Wagaman, who hit .191/.269/.319 in 26 games for the Mets last season, and Pache will become free agents, while Abner and Weston will remain in the organization since this is their first time clearing waivers and they don’t qualify for minor league free agency.

Today is the first day players can be posted, and those players can start negotiating with teams on Monday. As expected, right-handers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh from Japan and Korean third baseman Si Hwan Roh were also posted today. The players from Japan have a 45-day window to agree to contracts, as opposed to 30 days for Roh, but the impending lockout makes that extra time moot.

There had been some rumblings that the Red Sox could be working on a long-term extension with the 30-year-old right-hander, but there were never any doubts that he would return to be a major part of the Red Sox’ bullpen in 2027. Whitlock was outstanding over 54 appearances in 2026, registering a 1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 59/9 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings while notching seven victories and four saves.

Groshans, a first-round pick (12th overall) from the 2018 draft class (Blue Jays), had a nice season in the minor leagues in 2026 — slashing .276/.339/.576 with 33 homers, 88 RBI and a 91/42 K/BB ratio over 495 plate appearances between Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s likely to open the 2027 season at the Triple-A level.

It’s an interesting decision as Matsui is only set to make $6.5 million in 2027 after a remarkable season in which he posted a 1.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 68/36 K/BB ratio over 64 innings in 54 appearances out of the Padres’ bullpen. He’ll once again function as part of the Padres’ setup corps in front of dominant closer Mason Miller.

The 33-year-old hurler made 46 appearances for the Padres during the 2026 campaign, compiling a 4.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 59/26 K/BB ratio over 64 innings of work. He’s likely to once again operate in a swingman role for the Padres in 2027 at a very affordable rate.