MLB Player News

Atlanta exercised Albies' $7 million club option for the 2027 season Thursday.

Albies finished the regular season with a career-low .237 batting average but still contributed 22 homers, 73 RBI and 85 runs while playing in every game for Atlanta. Unwilling to part with his reliability, the team will retain its longtime second baseman for his age-30 season, and he will likely remain in an everyday role while batting near the middle of the order.

The Red Sox announced Thursday that Durbin (finger) underwent a successful partial excision of the fifth metatarsal base with tendon repair, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

It's the second surgery that Durbin has undergone in the last three weeks -- this time to address a toe injury that he'd picked up on his right foot. He'll have an entire offseason to recover from his procedures, giving him a strong chance to be fully healthy by the time spring training begins.

The Orioles are expected to decline Robert's $20 million club option for the 2027 season, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Robert slashed .221/.300/.407 with 11 homers, 26 RBI and 26 runs scored across 230 plate appearances between the Mets and Orioles this season. His .707 OPS is an improvement over the .661 mark he posted in 2025 with the White Sox, but it is still far from the heights he reached during his breakout 2023 campaign. The Orioles will pay the 29-year-old a $2 million buyout, and he will enter free agency with the freedom to revive his career with whichever team he chooses.

The Royals declined Estevez's (shoulder) $13 million club option for 2027 on Thursday.

Estevez landed on the injured list in April due to a foot contusion and ended up missing the rest of the season after suffering a right rotator cuff strain during a rehab game in May. He underwent surgery on his shoulder in September, and although it's unknown how long he'll be sidelined, the Royals will opt to pay him a $2 million buyout to get him off their books rather than the $13 million he would've been owed. Now a free agent, Estevez could attract attention from MLB clubs once he's closer to being fully healthy.

The Royals exercised Gonsolin's $2.5 million club option for 2027 on Thursday.

Gonsolin missed almost all of the regular season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but he made it back in time to make one start for the big club in late September, during which he allowed five earned runs on four hits and three walks while fanning five batters in 2.2 innings. Despite struggling in his lone MLB outing, the Royals liked what they saw enough to pay $2.5 million to bring the 32-year-old righty back for 2027 and have him compete for a rotation spot.

Foley cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sacramento, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Foley delivered his least-effective season in the majors after returning from shoulder surgery in mid-July, finishing the year with a 4.15 ERA and 1.50 WHIP alongside a 15:11 K:BB over 26 innings. He'll depart the 40-man roster to begin the offseason, but he figures to have a chance to compete for a bullpen spot during training and could benefit from having an entire offseason to fully recover.

The Giants outrighted Basabe to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Basabe appeared in 46 games for the Giants this season, finishing with a .609 OPS and five long balls. The 26-year-old is now off the Giants' 40-man roster.

The Mariners claimed McCray off waivers from the Giants on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

McCray logged just 11 hits in 77 MLB at-bats this season, but the Mariners will take a flier on him and add him to their 40-man roster to begin the offseason. The 25-year-old outfielder posted a .708 OPS in 244 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2026 and will likely spend most of next season in the minors as well.

The Giants activated Gage (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday and outrighted him to Triple-A Sacramento.

Gage posted a 5.60 ERA and 22:17 K:BB over 27.1 innings with the Giants this season. He missed the second half with elbow trouble but was given a clean bill of health heading into the winter.

The Nationals designated Kent for assignment Thursday.

The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Braxton Roxby. Kent has bounced around via waivers himself over the past year, allowing 13 runs (10 earned) over 16.1 innings during his time in the majors between the Twins and Nationals.