Jansen, Mountcastle and Sanchez Hit Open Market as Free Agency Begins

Major League Baseball's free-agent market has begun to take shape after a wave of moves on November 2, with veteran closer Kenley Jansen among the notable names now available. The Detroit Tigers did not pick up the club option for Jansen, allowing him to become a free agent, while the Tigers did announce one piece of retention, re-signing pitcher Jacob Waguespack to a one-year major league deal worth 1.3 million dollars. Waguespack was traded to Detroit from Milwaukee in June and worked in 35 games, striking out 35 batters over 47 innings with a strong 2.49 earned run average out of the bullpen. Detroit also released Bailey Horn and Sawyer Gipson-Long. Elsewhere, Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles, Leody Taveras of the Orioles, Myles Straw of the Toronto Blue Jays, Antonio Senzatela of the Milwaukee Brewers and Gary Sanchez of the Brewers all went to free agency, while the San Francisco Giants released Tristan Beck. There was also movement on the waiver wire and the 40-man roster front: Tampa Bay traded relief pitcher Evan Reifert to Houston, the Astros added catcher Cesar Salazar and relief pitcher Roddery Munoz to their 40-man roster, the New York Yankees selected outfielder Marco Luciano for their 40-man roster, and the New York Mets designated Kyren Paris for assignment. The offseason is unfolding against a complicated backdrop, with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1 and a potential lockout predicted to extend beyond Opening Day next year, but for now teams and players are pressing ahead with the usual business of shaping their rosters for 2027.