"The White Sox announced that left-hander Martín Pérez has declined his end of a $10MM mutual option for 2026. He will take a $1.5MM buyout and return to free agency. The Sox also announced that they triggered their club option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., a decision that was previously reported. Pérez, 35 in April, is coming off a mostly lost season."
"He signed with the Sox in January, a $5MM guarantee in the form of a $3.5MM salary for 2025 plus the aforementioned buyout on the mutual option. He made just four starts before elbow inflammation put him on the injured list. He was diagnosed with a flexor strain and didn't return to the club until August. He finished the year with a 3.54 earned run average in 56 innings."
"Given that he's now one year older and is coming off a less impressive walk year, he should have less earning power compared to last offseason. That makes it somewhat surprising that he is turning down his end of the option. Perhaps he figured the club was going to turn him down anyway, so he proactively walked away and therefore avoided the awkward situation in which he would trigger his end but then be rejected by the team."
Martín Pérez declined his 2026 $10 million mutual option, will accept a $1.5 million buyout, and return to free agency. The White Sox exercised their club option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr. Pérez signed a January deal guaranteeing $5 million, including a $3.5 million 2025 salary plus the buyout. He made four starts before elbow inflammation led to a flexor strain and an injured-list stint, returning in August. Pérez finished with a 3.54 ERA in 56 innings. Declining the option is surprising given his age and the lost season, and he may have anticipated the club declining him.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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