In the past two days, MLBTR has taken a look at how players with contractual options could impact the upcoming free agent class. We looked at players with vesting provisions on Tuesday before turning our attention to American League players under control via team options yesterday. Today, we’ll check in on their National League counterparts.
Braves
- Charlie Morton, SP ($20MM option, no buyout)
It has been strange year for Morton, who starred on last year’s World Series winner. He re-signed on a $20MM deal with a matching option for next season. Through 22 starts and 122 2/3 innings, the two-time All-Star has a slightly underwhelming 4.26 ERA. That’s largely attributable to a dreadful first couple months, however. He has an ERA of 3.55 or below in each of the past three months, carrying a cumulative 3.44 mark while holding opponents to a .198/.276/.369 line since June 1. Morton is still sitting in the mid-90’s with his fastball, striking batters out at a quality 27.3% clip and has ironed out his control after some uncharacteristic wildness through his first few starts. At first glance, a $20MM salary seems pricey for a pitcher entering his age-39 season with Morton’s overall numbers, but he’s not shown any signs of physical decline and has looked great lately. If he keeps at this pace for another two months, the Braves will probably welcome him back. That, of course, assumes Morton wants to continue playing. He’s hinted at retirement in years past and set fairly strict geographic limitations on his market during his latest trips to free agency.
Mets
- Daniel Vogelbach, 1B/DH ($1.5MM option, arbitration-eligible through 2024)
The Mets acquired Vogelbach from the Pirates to add a left-handed platoon bat to what had been an underwhelming designated hitter mix. He’d hit .228/.338/.430 through 75 games in Pittsburgh and has raked at a .341/.473/.568 clip over his first couple weeks in Queens. For a negligible $1.5MM salary, keeping Vogelbach around feels like an easy call. He’s technically arbitration-eligible through 2024 regardless of whether the Mets exercise his option. The option price should be more affordable than whatever he’d receive through arbitration next offseason, so if the Mets surprisingly declined the option, they’d likely non-tender him entirely.
- John Curtiss, RP ($775K option, arbitration-eligible through 2025)
There’s nothing new to report on Curtiss. He signed a big league deal just before Opening Day with the knowledge that he’d likely miss all of this season recovering from last August’s Tommy John surgery. He was immediately placed on the injured list. Next year’s option is valued at barely above the league minimum salary, so it’s just a matter of whether the Mets plan to devote him a roster spot all offseason. Curtiss is controllable through 2025 if the Mets keep him around.
Phillies
- Jean Segura, 2B ($17MM option, $1MM buyout)
Segura has been the Phils’ primary second baseman for the past four seasons. He’s generally hit at a slightly above-average level, relying on excellent bat-to-ball skills to prop up an aggressive offensive approach. He’s paired that with above-average defensive ratings at the keystone. He’s lost most of this season after fracturing his finger on a bunt attempt, but he’s healthy now and performing at his typical level. Across 195 plate appearances, he owns a .284/.324/.421 line with seven home runs. Segura is a good player, but a $16MM call will probably be too much for a Philadelphia club that already has five players on the books for more than $20MM next season (and will add a sixth notable salary — more on that shortly). The market also hasn’t been particularly robust for second base-only players in recent years. Segura will be headed into his age-33 season.
- Aaron Nola, SP ($16MM option, $4.25MM buyout)
This one’s a no-brainer for the Phillies to exercise. Nola is one of the sport’s top pitchers, a picture of durability and consistently above-average numbers (aside from a blip in his 2021 ERA that didn’t align with still excellent peripherals). One can argue whether Nola’s a true ace, but he’s at least a high-end #2 caliber arm. He’s given the Phils 144 2/3 innings of 3.17 ERA ball this season, striking out 27.9% of batters faced against a minuscule 3.6% walk rate. Even on a $16MM salary, he’s a bargain.
Reds
- Justin Wilson, RP ($1.22MM option, no buyout)
Wilson signed a complex free agent deal with the Yankees during the 2020-21 offseason. A one-year guarantee, the deal contained player and team options for 2022. Wilson and the Yankees agreed that if he triggered his $2.3MM player option for 2022, the team would get a 2023 option valued at $500K above that year’s league minimum salary. That provision carried over to the Reds when Wilson was dealt to Cincinnati at the 2021 trade deadline, and he indeed exercised the player option last winter. Next year’s league minimum is set at $720K, so Wilson’s option price will come in at $1.22MM.
It’s certainly affordable, but it still seems likely the Reds will let him go. The 34-year-old (35 next week) southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery in June, meaning he won’t return until late in the ’23 season at the earliest. He made just five appearances this season and posted a 5.29 ERA over 34 innings last year.
Brewers
- Kolten Wong, 2B ($10MM option, $2MM buyout)
Wong presents a tricky case for a Milwaukee club that typically runs slightly below-average player payrolls. He’s hitting .255/.336/.425, offense that checks in around 11 percentage points above league average according to wRC+. It’s among the better showings of his career. He doesn’t have huge power, but Wong’s an effective baserunner with plus bat-to-ball skills and good strike zone awareness. He’s a good but certainly not elite offensive player, one who’s performed about as well as Milwaukee could’ve reasonably hoped when signing him over the 2020-21 offseason.
What seems likely to determine whether the Brewers bring him back is how they evaluate his defense. A two-time Gold Glove award winner, Wong has rated as one of the sport’s best defensive second basemen for the majority of his career. Public metrics have unanimously panned his work this year, though, with Statcast’s Outs Above Average pegging him as the worst defensive second baseman in 2022. Wong’s speed has also taken a step back, and perhaps the Brewers think he’s just past his physical prime as he nears his 32nd birthday. If that’s the case, they probably buy him out, since Wong’s value has been so heavily concentrated in his glove. If they feel this year’s downturn is just a blip and expect he’ll return to his old ways on defense, then keeping him around makes sense. Like Segura, Wong could be affected by the market’s recent devaluation of second basemen. It’s also worth noting that Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Milwaukee was open to trade offers on Wong before this summer’s deadline. They didn’t move him, but it’s perhaps an indication the front office is leaning towards a buyout.
- Brad Boxberger, RP ($3MM option, $750K buyout)
Boxberger has spent the past couple seasons on low-cost contracts in Milwaukee and generally performed well. He carries a 2.51 ERA through 43 innings this season, albeit with slightly worse than average strikeout and walk rates. Boxberger has a career-worst 8.4% swinging strike rate, and the front office could view his strong run prevention mark as little more than a mirage. The financial cost is modest enough they could nevertheless keep him around, particularly since manager Craig Counsell has trusted Boxberger enough to give him plenty of high-leverage opportunities (largely with good results).
Rockies
- Scott Oberg, RP ($8MM option, no buyout)
Oberg is technically controllable for another season via club option, but the Rockies will obviously decline it. He earned a three-year extension after the 2019 season on the heels of two consecutive sub-3.00 ERA campaigns, no small feat for a reliever calling Coors Field home. Unfortunately, Oberg has dealt with persistent blood clotting issues that prevented him throwing from a single major league pitch throughout the course of the contract. The 32-year-old hasn’t officially announced his retirement, but he admitted in May he’s no longer actively pursuing a return to the field. He’s taken on a role in the Colorado scouting department to stay involved with the organization.
Dodgers
- Max Muncy, INF ($13MM option, $1.5MM buyout)
One of the game’s best hitters from 2018-21, Muncy has had a disappointing season thus far. Seemingly nagged by health issues tied to a ligament tear he suffered in his elbow late last season, he’s had a huge downturn in his offensive production. Muncy still boasts elite strike zone awareness, but his results on contact are way down. Overall, he carries a meager .180/.317/.360 line across 366 trips to the plate.
Still, given what Muncy’s shown himself capable of in the past, it seems unlikely the Dodgers let him go to save $11.5MM. This is an organization that annually runs one of the league’s highest payrolls, and they’ve shown a willingness to place one-year bets on players with upside but risk (e.g. tendering a $17MM arbitration contract to Cody Bellinger on the heels of a .165/.240/.302 season disrupted by injuries). They’ll probably do the same with Muncy and hoping he rediscovers his prior form with another offseason to rehab his elbow.
- Danny Duffy, RP ($7MM option, no buyout)
The Dodgers signed Duffy to a one-year guarantee this spring knowing he wasn’t likely to factor into the plans until midseason. He’d been shooting for a June return but has still yet to make his Dodgers debut, although he’s reportedly throwing at the team’s Arizona complex. It’s unlikely the Dodgers bring him back for $7MM given his recent health woes, but he could change those plans if he makes it back to the mound late in the season and looks like a potential impact arm, as he did at times with the Royals.
- Daniel Hudson, RP ($6.5MM option, $1MM buyout)
Hudson signed a one-year guarantee over the offseason and quickly emerged as a key high-leverage option for manager Dave Roberts. He dominated over 24 1/3 innings, pitching to a 2.22 ERA with an excellent 30.9% strikeout rate while averaging north of 97 MPH on his fastball. The veteran righty looked like one of the sport’s best relievers for two months, but he unfortunately blew out his knee trying to field a ground-ball. He tore his left ACL and is done for the year. The Dodgers could still roll the dice given how well he’d pitched before the injury, but that’s no longer a foregone conclusion. A $5.5MM decision isn’t onerous — particularly for L.A. — but there’s plenty of risk in Hudson’s profile given the injury and the fact that he’ll be headed into his age-36 season.
- Hanser Alberto, INF ($2MM option, $250K buyout)
The Dodgers added the veteran Alberto on a fairly surprising big league deal. He’s been a below-average offensive player for three years running, with his solid contact skills not quite compensating for a lack of power and one of the game’s most aggressive approaches. He’s played a limited utility role, serving as a right-handed bench bat capable of splitting his time between second and third base. Next year’s option price is very affordable, but the Dodgers can probably find a hitter with a bit more punch to play the role Alberto has assumed.
- Jimmy Nelson, RP ($1.1MM option, no buyout)
Nelson underwent Tommy John surgery last August, but the Dodgers brought him back for the league minimum salary to get a cheap option on his services for next year. He’s been on the injured list for all of 2022, as expected. Whether the Dodgers keep him will depend on how he looks at the start of the offseason, but $1.1MM for a 33-year-old who posted a 1.86 ERA and punched out 37.9% of his opponents in 29 innings when last healthy is beyond reasonable.
Padres
- Wil Myers, RF ($20MM option, $1MM buyout)
The Padres have spent the past few years trying to get out from under the money they owe Myers. The extension to which they signed him in January 2017 never worked out, as he’d been a roughly average hitter aside from a monster showing in the shortened 2020 campaign up until this season. The 2022 season has been a disaster, as Myers owns a .233/.277/.295 showing through 159 plate appearances and has lost two months to a right knee injury. He’s healthy now but relegated to fourth outfield duty. Myers will probably find a big league opportunity somewhere this offseason, but it’ll come with a new team and with a substantial pay cut.
Giants
- Evan Longoria, 3B ($13MM option, $5MM buyout)
Longoria is nearing the end of an extension he first signed with the Rays a decade ago. His production dipped late in his stint with Tampa Bay, and Longoria slogged through a trio of mediocre seasons through his first four years in San Francisco. He’s had an offensive resurgence over the past two years, carrying a .254/.340/.468 line in 470 plate appearances going back to the start of 2021. Longoria’s still a good hitter and capable defender at the hot corner, but he’s dealt with plenty of injury concerns as he’s gotten into his late 30s. He’s gone on the injured list five times in the last two seasons, including long-term absences for a shoulder sprain and hand surgery. The hefty buyout means it’d only be an extra $8MM for San Francisco to keep him around, but it seems likely they’ll look to get younger at the hot corner. It’s possible the three-time All-Star takes the decision out of their hands entirely, as he told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle in June that he’s not ruling out retiring after this season.
DarkSide830
This will be a huge offseason for the Phillies. Need to make a decision to Segura and Eflin, add another SP regardless, and work on extentions for Nola and Wheeler. Very curious to see what comes to pass.
Brixton
Theres no reason to talk about a Wheeler extension yet
Captain Dunsel
No to both Segura and Eflin. Move Stott back to second and sign Turner. Bullpen actually looking good. Thor may be worth resigning if he progresses after TJ surgery.
TradeAcuna
I would love to bring back Morton if both the Braves and himself decide on a much cheaper contract. The guy is one of the most likeable, team-first guys in the sport. If he wants to still pitch, I’m sure they can work out a contract. With that being said, the Braves should make it the priority to acquire a top of the order guy – whether its deGrom, Verlander, Bieber, or a trade for Ohtani. I’m most hesitant with the latter given that if he is injured, it hurts the Braves on both ends of the game.
Louholtz22
Verlander accepted his option and staying in Houston. Do the Braves have the money DeGrom will want? Doubtful. It’s also extremely risky with his health issues. Going to have to empty the farm for Ohtani. Bieber isn’t a F/A.
redsfan20191
Verlander hasn’t made a decision on his player option yet.
Sadface
Verlander likely ops out and,immediately agrees to a 2 year deal at like 35 million a year. I don’t think he wants to leave Houston.
acmeants
I want Swanson back to keep that infield together.
TradeAcuna
Likewise, but if Grissom keeps playing well, the Braves will probably have to part with him. Of course, they may always consider LF, but that is stretch given he is an infielder first. Personally, I’d resign Swanson and trade Albies, but that will not be done.
Jean Matrac
I don’t think the Braves will want to match what another team is willing to sign Swanson for. I’ll bet he’s in a different uni in 2023.
redsfan20191
Hey Anthony you guys should do some more of these types of articles in the next month or so maybe some previewing Potential Non-Tender Candidates, Trade Candidates. Also maybe articles exploring player and mutual options.
Anthony Franco
We’re prioritizing more of this kind of stuff and expect we’ll eventually do posts on most of what you suggested here. Almost all mutual options get bought out by somebody, but I’m planning to take a look at the player options/opt-outs within the next couple weeks.
redsfan20191
Thanks! I appreciate all the work the MLBTR staff does in putting these articles together!
You Can Put It In The Books
Time for Morton to hang ’em up!
CNichols
Why wouldn’t Longoria just wait to see if he will be bought out before retiring?
If they buy him out he’s $5M richer and if he doesn’t like any of the other offers at that point he can retire then
Louholtz22
Longoria might and should feel guilty for stealing all that money. Can’t see any contender wanting him next year. I’m sure he doesn’t want to play for a bad team.
CNichols
He’s not stealing any money, he bargained for that $5M as a buyout when he signed this contract. He earned that money with his performance and it was promised to him.
That’s like saying when a player is pre-arb and performing well that the team is stealing money from them and should feel guilty because they don’t have to pay the player millions.
Jean Matrac
SF is a very wealthy team and don’t normally lowball any of their long time players. I can’t remember when they last took a player to arbitration, but I’d bet it’s been close to 2 decades. I think they’ll regard the buyout as earned, and gladly give Longo his $5M even if they think he’s going to retire anyway.
Pete'sView
Regardless, SF is not bringing Longo back. He’s on the shelf too often. Their whole infield needs a youth injection. Estrada will be the only returning guy, unless they re-sign Flores.
Datashark
They will resign Flores.
Peter S.
I think you forgot Justin Turner
Anthony Franco
Turner’s is technically a vesting option (albeit one that won’t vest). Covered him on the Tuesday post that’s linked in the intro nevertheless.
truthlemonade
I am a Padres fan and I wonder if Wil Myers will be able to find an MLB contract this offseason.
He might be happy that Bob Melvin has given him a few starts at 1b and even CF since returning from injury.
Myers as a backup at all 3 OF spots, DH, and 1b is more appealing than just RF. If he is willing to play for a low salary just to prove himself, he might get a deal. Less than one more season vests his 10 year pension, I think a lot of players are motivated to lock down 10 years in the bigs, more out of pride than for the pension.
CNichols
He’ll get a major league deal somewhere. If you look at his stats while he’s been a Padre, his slash line of .252/.328/.448 is decent. That’s a problem when you’re making $20M+ a year though. He’s not as bad as people think, it’s really more his contract that’s terrible.
I think he’ll perform well on a small deal with less pressure on a rebuilding club. Just my take, but I also think SD moving him all over the place didn’t do him any favors. He was great at 1B in 2016 before they moved him off it for Hosmer. Stability might help him get back on track
Big whiffa
Cincinnati be a great place for Myers to rebound his career. He’s had some big seasons and came into the league w a ton of hype. He could be a castellanos type player for reds
Pete'sView
I doubt he’ll be a “Castellanos-type player,” but someone will pick him up. The early hype really didn’t help him. He’s serviceable, not much more.
mrkinsm
If you look at what is going to be available via FA as far as outfielders go, and keep in mind the reduction in offense league-wide this season Myers shouldn’t have any problem finding a guaranteed contract this winter. He’ll only be 32 and had a good offensive season just 12 months ago. I think many will be surprised by just how much he makes too on a one year pillow deal.
Armaments216
I think the Reds may have a team option on Mike Minor. Assuming it conveyed from the Royals.
Anthony Franco
Minor’s is a mutual option now. It started as a team option in his deal with the Royals but would conditionally convert to a mutual option in the event Kansas City traded him anywhere. It’ll be a pretty easy call for the Reds to decline their end regardless.
mrkinsm
Minor’s option is a mutual option, but they do have a team option on Justin Wilson.
Anthony Franco
Sure do, great catch on your part. Updated the post, thanks for the heads up!
BlueSkies_LA
Muncy has looked far more like his old self over the last few weeks, so his option decision isn’t really about a .180 hitter. The Dodgers will have several more weeks to determine if this is a blip, but I think it’s safe bet that it isn’t. He really seems to be shaking off the injury, finally.
Alberto is also an easier call than it made to seem here. He’s filled the role the Dodgers hired him to fill defensively, and he’s practically turned into the team mascot.
jonbluvin
He seems to be hitting the ball harder which is one of his earlier issues. It may be due to a recent change in his stance or maybe his injury has healed more. He’s having a great August. Small sample size of course.
BlueSkies_LA
That was a pretty wicked injury he sustained last year. I think he’s just getting over it physically, as well as the mental burden of that terrible first half. Now he’s dealing with hand bruise. Hope it isn’t another setback.
tstats
Alberto is the new Hernandez
BlueSkies_LA
Ha, kinda. But Alberto is a better dancer.
Datashark
Muncy is out, Dodgers will move to Busch he has better pop than Muncy
Shrutefarm
Are you sure about that? Muncy’s got some serious pop.
Datashark
Dodgers are NOT going to keep Muncy, they have to still resign Turner and they have Busch looking ready for next seaon
Cam
I don’t know if Justin Turner coming back is a lock, or even a priority. At this point he probably needs to be shifted to 1B/DH for his own health.
Shrutefarm
I agree. Turner is probably better suited for part time player. The Dodgers need to begin the transition of replacing him anyway. Father Time is undefeated. Don’t forget, they’ve got Rios to think about in this equation too. Where does he fit in?
Cam
Agreed. If they’re going to give Rios a real go, next season has to be it. Before Freeman was signed, I could see the Dodgers transitioning JT to 1B, but…Freeman is an everyday guy now, there’s no real value in a minor platoon there. JT can’t be relied on as an everyday 3B, so really..if he’s coming back, he’s surely only coming back as a 1B/3B/DH part-timer, and with that, at a part-timers salary.
Miguel Vargas could be the real wildcard here. If he gets a shot, that’s even less space for JT.
Shrutefarm
Good point about Vargas. He has very good bat-to-ball skills. I can definitely see him taking the bull by the horn next Spring. I’m excited to see him again in September.
BlueSkies_LA
I believe they’ll find a way to bring JT back, mainly as a bench bat and DH, but I don’t see any signs that he can’t still play a position when needed.
Datashark
when I said TURNER, I was referring to TREA.
Dodgers have Rios and/or Vargas to take 3B, but JT has been doing some DH lately – I don’t see him back with LA
BlueSkies_LA
As a bench bat, DH, and occasional position player, any team could do a whole lot worse than Justin Turner.
dodgerfan83
Dodgers have too many young bats to sign JT to a bench role. 13 offense spots Betts, Freeman, taylor, Lux Bellinger, Smith, Barnes, Rios, Thompson leaves us with 4 spots to resign Trea, bring up outman, Busch and Vargas. That’s precluding any other offensive signings. I don’t think JT is hitting better than any of those bench spots.
BlueSkies_LA
And precluding any offseason trades opening up spots, which we can safely assume will happen. On JT coming back, I’d take the over. For sure the decision will come down to more than just hitting. And as much as I’d like to see T. Turner signed, we have to know it’s less than a lock. They’re also not going to bring up the rookies to ride the bench.
Pete'sView
And I doubt LA brings Bellinger back.
BlueSkies_LA
They’re going to non-tender him? Oh, sure.
TheOpener
Zero chance, I repeat Zero chance that Longoria leaves that money on the table. Anything for publicity/attention.
Jean Matrac
I agree, he’s not leaving that money on the table, but what’s publicity/attention have to do with it? Wait…I know…absolutely nothing.
Longo signed a guaranteed contract, and taking the buyout is the lesser sum of what it could be. But a contract is contract, he was guaranteed that money when he signed it, and not only is Longo not leaving that money on the table, neither would you, or I, or anyone else.
TheOpener
Pretending that he might retire and leave the money on the table is the publicity/attention grab. Such a transparent lie.
Pete'sView
Either way, he’s gone. It’s only a shame he stated to produce for the Giants after years of being terrible, now along with so many injuries.
Jean Matrac
Since he’s approaching the end of a very long deal, Longo was asked about his future. Given his struggle with injuries over the last two seasons, him admitting that he’s considering retirement was an honest answer, the farthest thing from a lie.
His considering retirement now could not be more normal in his current situation. If he had pretended to want to continue playing to ensure getting the buyout, that is what would have been untruthful and devious.
This is just a baseless slur.
bravesfan
Curious what happens if the Braves exercise the option and he still ends up retiring. I’m sure enough conversations would be had so that you hope that wouldn’t happen, but does he forfeit that money or are the Braves still on the hook
put it in the books
Vogelbach is an easy one to exercise
Bill M
He could probably use a little exercise