MLB Player News

There isn’t a ton of clarity here as Stephan is seeking additional opinions to determine when he’ll be cleared to resume throwing after being shut down last month for three weeks due to a bone bruise in his right elbow. The 28-year-old high-leverage reliever will open the regular season on the injured list and remains without a timeline to return.

Contreras will receive $15.5 million, which is exactly what he made the last two years combined ($6.1 million and $9.4 million). He’ll be eligible for free agency for the first time next winter. That’s led to some speculation that the Brewers could trade him. Most, though, would probably prefer that they try to run it back.

The option, coming at the end of a five-year, $50.5 million deal he did with the Rockies after the 2021 season, was worth $14 million. He won’t come close to that in free agency, but he will draw ample interest after reinventing himself as a reliever.

Sánchez got a World Series ring after hitting .209/.349/.422 in 275 plate appearances as Willson Contreras’s backup and an occasional DH against lefties last season. The Brewers might have some interest in bringing him back, but they did acquire Bo Naylor at the trade deadline as a potential replacement.

There’s zero doubt that Suzuki, arguably the top position player on the free agent market this offseason, will decline Chicago’s qualifying offer. Only 18 of 157 players to receive a qualifying offer have accepted it since the system was first implemented back in 2012. The 32-year-old corner outfielder slashed a robust .270/.368/.473 with 96 runs scored, 26 homers, 86 RBI and three steals across 545 plate appearances. He’s been a consistent power source for fantasy purposes, topping 20 homers in four of five seasons since signing with the Cubs back in 2022. It’s notable that Chicago declined to extend qualifying offers to both Ian Happ and Matthew Boyd.

It’s notable that second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. did not receive a qualifying offer from New York. Bednar figures to have plenty of potential landing spots on the open market. However, a return to the Yankees on a long-term deal seems like the most logical solution for both sides. The 32-year-old stopper converted 35 of 39 saves along with a stellar 2.47 ERA across 69 1/3 innings this past season.

Arozarena is a virtual lock to decline the qualifying offer and head to the open market after the strongest season of his career at the plate, slashing .281/.381/.484 with 113 runs scored, 26 homers, 79 RBI and 26 steals across 670 plate appearances. He enters his age-32 campaign on the heels of his sixth consecutive 20-homer, 20-steal season. There are some question marks from a defensive standpoint, but he remains a consistent all-around fantasy contributor that will come off the board in the early rounds of drafts next year.

Morejon is one of the most compelling free agents to hit the open market this offseason after establishing himself as one of the premier high-leverage arms in the game. The odds that he accepts the qualifying offer are virtually nonexistent. The soon-to-be 28-year-old southpaw has posted a sparkling 2.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 248/66 K/BB ratio across 223 1/3 innings over the last three seasons. He could generate interest as a closing option for a contender, though the success of recent reliever-to-starter converts like Michael King, Clay Holmes, Seth Lugo and Griffin Jax figures to spark conversations around the league about his potential as a rotation option. His fantasy appeal will rise exponentially in either role, as a departure from San Diego should give him a legitimate opportunity in either direction.

It’s extremely rare to see a qualifying offer accepted, but Bauers could wind up deciding to take it. It’s only happened 18 times out of 157 players to receive one since the system was first implemented back in 2012. The 31-year-old was a key cog in Milwaukee’s incredible World Series title run, taking home NLCS MVP honors after hitting .413 with one homer and six RBI during a sweep of the defending champion Dodgers. He finished as a top-10 first baseman for fantasy purposes this past season, hitting .266/.389/.484 with 93 runs scored, a career-high 26 home runs, 86 RBI and 11 steals in 578 plate appearances. He’ll have plenty of potential destinations if he decides to take his talents elsewhere.

Rogers managed to turn things around, posting a pristine 2.90 ERA and a 119/21 K/BB over 121 innings across his final 20 starts following an abysmal start to last season. The 28-year-old southpaw’s wild fluctuations make him one of the more challenging fantasy starters to forecast, but there’s zero doubt that there will be clubs lining up to sign him this offseason. His fantasy value will likely be significantly tied to where he ultimately winds up.

Jeffers will probably try to cash in with a long-term deal on the open market, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him take the short-term payday and return for one final season in Minnesota. The 29-year-old backstop slashed a respectable .256/.353/.461 with 49 runs scored, 14 homers, 56 RBI and one steal in 368 plate appearances this past season. He’s a borderline mixed-league option for fantasy purposes at this stage of his career.