The Miami Marlins announced on Friday that they exercised right-hander Sandy Alcantara's $21 million 2027 club option. It was a no-brainer move for the Fish after Alcantara looked more like the pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022 before needing Tommy John surgery and missing all of the 2024 campaign. The two-time All-Star struggled to an ERA over 5.00 in 174 2/3 innings across 31 starts last year, but he rebounded in 2026 by going 13-11 with a 3.87 ERA (4.08 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, and 153:59 K:BB in a league-high 214 innings over 36 appearances (a league-high 33 starts). Alcantara also led the league in hits allowed (204) and batters faced (894) in his ninth season in the majors (all but one with Miami). It was nice to see Alcantara bounce back in 2026, but his 17.1% strikeout rate left a lot to be desired in fantasy, and his strikeout rate has been in decline since his 2022 Cy Young season. The 31-year-old will be looking for another strong season in 2027 before he reaches free agency the following winter, and he should be considered a strong No. 2 starter next year.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd has declined his player option and will become a free agent this offseason, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports. Boyd was 10-5 this season with a 3.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 96 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings pitched. Boyd joins teammate Clay Holmes in declining his option and becomes a free agent with fellow Cubs starting pitchers Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson. The Cubs could look to revamp their starting rotation this offseason depending on how many of their free agents they bring back for next season.

The Boston Red Sox have traded infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations. Cheng had 39 at-bats for the Red Sox last season with no homers and five RBI while hitting .256 with seven runs scored. Cheng is from Taiwan and played in 94 games with Triple-A Worcester last season, hitting .241 with eight homers and 30 RBI with 52 runs scored.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes declined his player options and has become a free agent, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Holmes joins Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, and David Peterson as free agents as the Cubs look for a rebuild of their pitching staff this offseason. Rogers guesses that one or two of the five names listed could possibly return to the Cubs this offseason. The pitching rotation will likely have a new look for the Cubs whenever baseball does return. Holmes was 6-8 combined between the Mets and Cubs this year with a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, while Boyd went 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.