144 Players Hit Free Agency as MLB's Offseason Market Opens

The MLB offseason market officially opened on Thursday as 144 players became free agents, setting up a winter of high-stakes decisions against the backdrop of looming labour uncertainty. The MLB Players Association confirmed the class, which includes veterans, former All-Stars and role players all suddenly free to negotiate with any club. Among them are four Cleveland Guardians: pitcher Foster Griffin, first basemen Rhys Hoskins and Nathaniel Lowe, and veteran catcher Austin Hedges, the clubhouse pulse of a side that fell short of the World Series. Elsewhere, the option decisions kept coming: Atlanta exercised options on Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, Bo Bichette exercised a $42 million option with the Mets, and San Diego starter Michael King declined his $28 million option to test the market. With the current collective bargaining agreement expiring on December 1 and owners widely expected to lock players out if no deal is reached, the early weeks of free agency carry unusual urgency. Teams must weigh big spending against the risk of a frozen market, making this one of the most closely watched offseasons in recent memory.