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NEW YORK – Boston third baseman Alex Bregman and right-hander Lucas Giolito, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz and New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger were among the players who declined player options or exercised opt-outs and became free agents Tuesday.
San Diego pitcher Robert Suarez also declined his option and was released on the third day of the five-day free agent window.
A total of 153 players became free agents following the conclusion of the World Series and several dozen more could potentially be free by Thursday, depending on whether team, player and joint options are exercised.
Bregman and the Red Sox agreed to a $120 million, three-year contract in February that includes $80 million for 2026 and 2027, half of which is deferred each year and is payable through 2026. He will receive $40 million for his one year with Boston, of which he received $20 million this year. He also receives a $5 million signing bonus on January 15, 2028, and $20 million paid in annual $2 million installments starting June 15, 2035.
He hit .273 with 18 homers and 62 RBI in 114 games. A 31-year-old three-time All-Star third baseman, Bregman was sidelined between May 23 and July 11 with a strained right quadriceps.
Giolito, a right-hander, declined a $1.5 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout, ending a contract that paid him $38.5 million over two seasons. The 31-year-old returned from elbow surgery in March 2024 on April 30 and was 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts and 145 innings.
Alonso received $30 million per season under his $54 million, two-year deal and $24 million in salary waivers for 2026. The five-time All-Star first baseman, who turns 31 next month, batted .272 with 38 homers, 41 doubles and 126 RBIs.
Diaz earned $64 million over the three-season, $102 million, five-year contract he accepted in November 2022, which includes $7.35 million in deferred payments through 2039. The three-time All-Star paid salaries of $18.5 million in both 2026 and 2027 that were in his player option. If he had exercised his option, the Mets would have had a $17.25 million team option for 2028 with a $1 million buyout.
A 31-year-old right-hander, Diaz had 31 saves in 28 chances and was 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA. He missed the 2023 season after tearing his right patellar tendon celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory in the World Baseball Classic.
Bellinger, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs last December, earned $57.5 million of the $80 million, three-year contract he had through February 2024. He declined a $25 million option for 2026 and will instead receive a $5 million buyout in equal installments on Jan. 15 and a $5 million buyout in equal installments at Fielder’s 2020-2020 outing. And first baseman, he batted .272 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs – including .302 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs at Yankee Stadium.
Suarez opted out of $16 million of his $46 million, five-year contract, declining $8 million in player options for 2026 and 2027. The 34-year-old right-hander, a two-time All-Star, was 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA and an NL-high 40 saves in 45 chances.
Atlanta infielder Ha-Seong Kim declined a $16 million player option on the $29 million, two-year contract he agreed to with Tampa Bay in February, a deal that would have paid him $13 million. The 30-year-old batted .234 with five homers and 17 RBIs for the Rays and Braves, who claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1. Kareem did not make his season opener until July 4 due to right shoulder surgery at the end of 2024.
