Snake Bytes: 11/07 - Opt Outs or “links to MLB Trade Rumors”

Diamondbacks News

Diamondbacks Decline Zach Davies’ Mutual Option

The value of the mutual option wasn’t known, though mutual options are almost never exercised by both parties. It’s probably safe to assume that it wasn’t an exorbitant sum, yet despite Davies’ solid bottom-line numbers, his advanced metrics provide some reason why the D’Backs might be okay with moving onto other rotation candidates.

Diamondbacks’ Mike Hazen committed to ‘make it work’ as general manager after family tragedy

Hazen said he first asked his boys if they wanted to remain in Phoenix, where they have lived after moving from Boston in the fall of 2016. They said they did. He then asked what they wanted him to do professionally.

“What do you guys think? Do you want me to stay doing this?” Hazen said. “They were like, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s going to be challenging with how we work everything out. And they were like, ‘OK.’ I didn’t go into specifics on it, because I don’t have a lot of specifics yet. It was a fairly simple.”

Justin Martinez is Feeling Strong in the Arizona Fall League

“I’m not sure what the team has planned for me, but I think I’m going to start at AAA and continue to work hard and then move up from there.”

D-backs RHP prospect Justin Martinez stands out in Fall Stars Game

Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Justin Martinez pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit in Sunday’s Fall Stars Game, the All-Star Game equivalent for the Arizona Fall League.

Diamondbacks Top Prospects #18: Infielder Blaze Alexander

Alexander will likely be added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, given the team’s need for right-handed bats on the infield.

Around The MLB

Xander Bogaerts Opt Out Of Red Sox Contract

Bogaerts will leave the final three years and $60MM of his deal with Boston to look for a larger contract on the open market.

Carlos Correa Opts Out Of Twins Contract

From the moment Carlos Correa signed a short-term, opt-out-laden deal with the Twins back in March, it’s felt like a foregone conclusion that he’d take the first opt-out provision in that contract and return to free agency this winter.

Jurickson Profar, Robert Suarez Opt Out Of Contracts With Padres

The two players have now officially become free agents. Both players will take a $1MM buyout, with Profar opting for free agency over a $7.5MM salary for 2023, and Suarez leaving a $5MM salary for 2023 on the table.

Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker Opt Out Of Mets Contracts

As expected, deGrom opted out of the final guaranteed year of his contract, while Walker took a $3MM buyout rather than exercise a $7.5MM player option for the 2023 season.

Carlos Rodon Opts Out Of Contract

Giants starter Carlos Rodon has opted out of his contract and entered free agency. Rodon had a player option for $22.5MM in 2023, but given his exceptional performance this year, it’s no surprise he’s chosen to enter the open market.

Chris Bassitt To Decline Mutual Option

Mets’ starter Chris Bassitt is expected to decline his $19MM mutual option. Bassitt will receive a $150K buyout and head to free agency for the first time in his career.

Mets To Re-Sign Edwin Diaz

The Mets have kicked off the off-season in spectacular fashion, inking superstar closer Edwin Diaz to a record-breaking five-year, $102MM deal. The deal comes with a $12MM signing bonus, full no-trade clause and has a team option for a sixth year which could take the total value of the deal to $122MM. Diaz will also have the ability to opt out of the contract after the third season, when he’ll be approaching his age-32 season. $26.5MM of Diaz’s salary is deferred.

Braves trade for Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard in first move of MLB offseason

The Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies agreed to the first trade of Major League Baseball’s offseason on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the completion of the World Series. The Braves announced on Twitter that they had obtained outfielder Sam Hilliard in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dylan “the rain in” Spain.

MLB offseason key dates 2022-23: Free agency, Winter Meetings, World Baseball Classic, Opening Day 2023, more

Here are all the important dates you need to know for the 2022-23 MLB offseason.

Why Dusty Baker’s World Series win means more

He’s the third Black manager to win a World Series. Let that sink in. For a sport that’s as old as dirt in America, sometimes all we have to celebrate are relics of the pasts, chasing ghosts from a different era to remind ourselves of greatness. The opportunities to celebrate Black achievements in baseball are few and far between, that even just one feels like a crowning victory.