The Atlanta Braves are picking up future Hall of Fame left-hander Chris Sale's $18 million option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Even though Sale missed extended time once again in 2025 due to injury (a left rib-cage fracture), there was never any doubt that the Braves would bring him back for his 16th MLB season. The 36-year-old nine-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner looked good again when he was healthy, going 7-5 for Atlanta with a 2.58 ERA (2.67 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 32 walks in 125 2/3 innings over 21 outings (20 starts). Sale won the National League Cy Young in 2024 in his first year with the Braves, when he led the league with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA, and 225 punchouts. Injuries are an issue, but Sale's high-end strikeout upside makes him worth the risk in fantasy.

The New York Yankees declined to pick up right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga's (elbow) $5 million club option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, making him a free agent, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. It's not much of a surprise after Loaisiga had another injury-plagued season that limited him to just 30 relief appearances (29 2/3 innings pitched). He allowed 15 runs (14 runs) on 34 hits (seven homers) while walking 10 and striking out 25. The 31-year-old Nicaraguan picked up one save. A back injury and a flexor strain in his right elbow kept him out for the final two months of the season, and he eventually underwent surgery on his right elbow. The good news is that Loaisiga is expected to be ready for spring training, but it remains to be seen where he'll be pitching. Loasiga has become a full-time reliever since 2021 and won't have much fantasy appeal, if any, regardless of where he lands.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber will stay in Canada next year after exercising his $16 million player option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. After spending the first seven years of his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians, Bieber made his debut in Toronto in 2025, and it was a success. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star got a late start after recovering from Tommy John surgery, limiting him to just seven regular-season starts. In 40 1/3 innings pitched, Bieber went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, and only seven walks. In five postseason outings (four starts), he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 21 hits (three homers) while walking six and fanning 18 in 18 2/3 innings. Bieber may never recapture his pre-Tommy John form in Toronto in the tough AL East, but he's certainly worth gambling on in fantasy in 2026 as a mid-rotation starter.

The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a two-year contract extension with veteran catcher Salvador Perez through the 2027 season. The deal is worth $25 million. Before the extension, Perez had a $13.5 million team option for the 2026 campaign. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star showed his age by hitting .236 (141-for-597) in 2025, but he still managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career while driving in 100 runs for the third time in his career and in back-to-back seasons. The Venezuelan backstop is heading into his 15th MLB campaign, and while he still has plenty of fantasy value at a weak position because of his power and run-producing ability, injuries will be a concern, and fantasy managers will no longer be able to count on a high batting average.