SAN ANTONIO — Veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder remained with the Boston Red Sox after the club exercised his $2.1 million option on Monday.
The 33-year-old Refsnyder is coming off his most productive big league season, batting .283 with a career-high 11 homers and 40 RBI. He’s been a valuable contributor for the Red Sox over the past three seasons.
The Red Sox opted to keep Refsnyder instead of paying a $150,000 buyout. He earned a $1.85 million base salary last season and made an extra $25,000 after reaching 300 plate appearances for the first time in his career.
Refsnyder will be playing in his 10th big league season. He broke into the big leagues with the Yankees in 2015 and has also played for Toronto, Tampa Bay, Texas and Minnesota.
YANKEES: Gerrit Cole will remain in New York rather than become a free agent.
New York had until 5 p.m. to add a $36 million salary for 2029 to his contract, which had four years and $144 million remaining. The sides were still working on a revised contract, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Cole’s $324 million, nine-year deal, agreed to before the 2020 season, gave him the right to opt out following the 2024 World Series but said the Yankees could void the opt out by adding the additional year.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
RANGERS: Two-time All-Star starter Nathan Eovaldi became a free agent Monday after declining a vested $20 million player option for next season with Texas.
Eovaldi earned that option by throwing more than 300 innings over his two years with the Rangers after signing with them in free agency. He was the winning pitcher in their World Series championship-clinching game at Arizona in 2023, when he was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was also part of Boston’s 2018 title.
• Texas promoted Ross Fenstermaker to general manager, hired Cole Figuerora as assistant GM and named Justin Viele their new hitting coach on Monday.
METS: Right-hander Phil Maton became a free agent Monday after New York declined his $7,775,000 option in favor of a $250,000 buyout.
The 31-year-old was 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his first season with New York, which acquired him from Tampa Bay on July 9.
New York also announced left-hander Sean Manaea declined his $13.5 million option to become a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. Manaea, 32, went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 184 and walking 63 in 181 2/3 innings.
GUARDIANS: All-Star and postseason star David Fry had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow and is expected to need at least sixth months of rehab and recovery before he can hit for the defending AL Central champions.
ORIOLES: Baltimore exercised $8 million options on first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and right-hander Seranthony Domínguez along with a $2.2 million option on left-hander Cionel Pérez.
Baltimore declined a $4 million option on left-hander Danny Coulombe, who became a free agent.
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