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# The Options: October 31st
- URL: https://www.mlbdatawarehouse.com/the-options-october-31st/
- Published: 2026-10-31T11:47:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-31T11:47:26.000Z
- Author: Jon Anderson
- Tags: News

We've got ***OPTIONS*** news! We're getting more and more names into the free agent pool and getting clarity on some guys returning to their teams. It's been mostly declined options so far. **Sandy Alcantara** will get $21 million after the Marlins picked up their option. That was the only one on the positive side. 

**Joc Pederson** declined his side of an $18.5 million *mutual* option. Which sounds silly, since Joc isn't going to do any better than that, but a *mutual* option means both sides have to accept it, and it was obvious that the Rangers weren't going to accept it, so I guess Pederson just wanted to break up with them before they break up with him. 

**Sonny Gray** was paid $10 million to kick rocks. He's a new SP in the free agent pool at 37 years old. But he had a great season and it will be highly sought after on a short deal to help somebody's rotation.

---

Full report here:

**Exercised**

- **Sandy Alcantara, Marlins:** Miami picked up his $21M club option instead of paying the $2M buyout. [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-exercise-sandy-alcantara-team-option?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com) *Blurb:* The Marlins are keeping their ace. Sandy Alcantara's $21M option is picked up, so he stays at the top of a rotation with Eury Pérez and Max Meyer.

**Declined**

- **Sonny Gray, Red Sox:** His $30M mutual option was declined, and he gets a $10M buyout. [USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2026/10/30/mlb-contract-options-2027-player-team-decisions/92513182007/?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com) *Blurb:* Sonny Gray, 37, hits the market with a $10M buyout after a 3.4 fWAR season.
- **Joc Pederson, Rangers:** He declined his side of an $18.5M mutual option. [MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/joc-pederson-declines-mutual-option-with-rangers.html?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com) *Blurb:* Joc Pederson is a free agent again after a 26-homer bounce-back season.
- **Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis, Rangers:** Texas bought out Higashioka's $7M option for $1M and Junis's $5M option for $1.25M. [MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/transactions?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Josh Bell, Twins:** Minnesota declined his $10M mutual option and pays a $1.25M buyout. [MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/twins-josh-bell-decline-mutual-option.html?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com) *Blurb:* Josh Bell is a free agent after a 21-homer, 106 wRC+ season.
- **Joe Ryan, Twins:** Minnesota declined his $13M mutual option and pays a $100K buyout. He's still under team control through arbitration. [MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/twins-josh-bell-decline-mutual-option.html?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com) *Blurb:* Don't panic, Twins fans. Ryan is still under team control for 2027.
- **Nick Martinez, Rays:** His $20M mutual option was declined, with a $4M buyout. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Cedric Mullins, Rays:** Tampa Bay declined his $10M mutual option and pays a $500K buyout. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Shawn Armstrong and Trevor Stephan, Guardians:** Cleveland declined Armstrong's $8M mutual option ($1.5M buyout) and Stephan's $7.25M club option ($1.25M buyout). [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-decline-shawn-armstrong-2027-mutual-option-trevor-stephan-club-option?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Jeff McNeil, Athletics:** The A's declined his $15.75M club option, and the Mets pay the $2M buyout. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Jeffrey Springs, Athletics:** The A's declined his $15M club option and pay a $750K buyout. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Zach Eflin, Orioles:** Baltimore declined his $25M mutual option. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Carson Kelly, Cubs:** He declined his $7.5M mutual option, with a $1.5M buyout. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Michael Soroka, D-backs:** He declined his $10M mutual option after a 2.7 fWAR season. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)
- **Robert Stephenson, Angels:** The Angels declined his $2.5M club option. [theScore](https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3635182/mlb-transaction-tracker?ref=mlbdatawarehouse.com)