Major League Baseball faces a precarious position as a potential lockout looms on Dec. 1 when the sport's collective bargaining agreement is set to expire.
Before that happens, some business still needs to be taken care of, as dozens of players have options on their 2027 contracts and will need to get those situations squared away for whenever the union and the owners decide that next season can be salvaged.
Teams face big decisions, and players must decide where they want to play the 2027 season by Nov. 2. Those include team, player and mutual options, as well as opt-outs for players who want to test the market and become free agents.
Some players who want to maximize their contracts can also accept a team's qualifying offer, which can be extended
starting Nov. 2. The value of a 2027 one-year qualifying offer is $23.15 million, and free agents who decline a qualifying offer and sign with a new team will do so, as their old team will receive draft pick compensation as a result of their departure.
Here are the contract options that have been exercised and declined for the 2027 season:
MLB contract options exercised for 2027
- Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves — Atlanta exercised $17M club option.
- Ozzie Albies, Braves — Atlanta exercised $7M club option.
- Sandy Alcantara, Marlins -- Miami exercised $21M club option.
- Bo Bichette, Mets — Opted into his 2027 contract; has two years remaining on his three-year, $126M deal and can opt out again after 2027.
- Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks — Opted into his 2027 contract, leaving four years on his six-year, $210M deal.
- Tony Gonsolin, Royals — Kansas City exercised his $2.5M club option.
- Ryan Helsley, Orioles — Opted into his $14M player option with Baltimore.
- Andres Munoz, Mariners — Seattle exercised his $9M club option.
MLB contract options declined for 2027
- Carlos Estevez, Royals — Kansas City declined his $13M club option, paying a $2M buyout.
- Michael King, Padres — Declined his $28M player option for 2027. He also had a $30M player option for 2028. By opting out, he receives a $5 million buyout and walks away from the two remaining years of his deal.
- Nick Martinez, Rays — Declined his $20M player option with Tampa Bay.
- Dustin May, Brewers — Milwaukee's $20M mutual option was declined, with a $500K buyout.
- Victor Robles, Mariners — Seattle declined his $9M club option, with a $500K buyout.
When is the MLB contract option deadline?
MLB teams and players must make their contract option decisions by Monday, Nov. 2, five days after the conclusion of the World Series. That includes decisions on club, player and mutual options, as well as eligible opt-outs.
Players whose options are declined or who exercise an opt-out can become free agents, while exercising an option keeps the player under contract for the 2027 season.
Qualifying offers are separate. Teams also have until Nov. 2 to extend them, but players who receive a qualifying offer have until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB option tracker: Players, teams exercising and declining 2027 options
