Padres Release Pivetta, Orioles Drop Robert, KBO Star Roh Enters MLB Market

San Diego Padres fans face a new rotation lineup after the team declined a $14 million club option on pitcher Nick Pivetta on Sunday. This move leaves Michael King and Pivetta as the top two free agents from San Diego's starting staff. The decision came two days after King exercised his own opt-out clause to enter the free agent market.

The Padres had a chance to secure Pivetta for 2027. If they had picked up the option, the 34-year-old pitcher would have held an $18 million player option for the 2028 season. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, that future financial commitment likely influenced the team's choice to let him go. Pivetta suffered a flexor strain this past season that kept him out for roughly five months.

Despite the injury, Pivetta returned late in the year to pitch in six starts spanning September and the postseason. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Padres still have concerns regarding his elbow. The team may look to re-sign him later with a lower salary or a contract that does not include a player option. The original deal, signed in February 2025, was worth $23 million over two years but included injury clauses that shifted terms.

In Baltimore, the Orioles declined their $20 million club option for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. on Sunday. ESPN confirmed the move, noting the team will pay Robert a $2 million buyout. This made the effective decision an $18 million choice. Robert played only three games for the Orioles after being claimed off waivers from the New York Mets in late September.

The 29-year-old outfielder struggled with health throughout the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons. He was limited to 271 of 489 possible regular-season games during that span. When healthy, Robert continued to perform well against left-handed pitching and provided solid defense in the center field. His age and potential performance remain factors for other teams considering a signing.

A different type of market shift occurred in international baseball. The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization will post third baseman Si-Hwan Roh to Major League Baseball teams this offseason. Yonhap News Agency reported the news. Roh signed the richest contract in KBO history in February, a 11-year deal worth $23 million. Part of that agreement required the Eagles to post him this year.

Roh, 26, has been one of the best players in the KBO for several years. In 2026, he hit .283 with an on-base percentage of .360 and a slugging percentage of .505. He also hit 29 home runs. Since 2023, he has averaged 35 home runs per 162 games. He is considered a reliable defender at third base and has experience at first base. Once officially posted, MLB teams have a 30-day window to negotiate with him.

If Roh does not sign with an MLB team within that 30-day period, he will return to the Hanwha Eagles. The right-handed hitter could potentially earn more than his $23 million guarantee in Korea with just a few years in the Major Leagues. His performance metrics suggest he will draw substantial interest from American clubs.

A minor transaction also took place on Sunday. The Houston Astros acquired right-handed reliever Evan Reifert from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash. The Tampa Bay Times reported the deal. Houston is expected to add Reifert to its 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. The Rays lacked the roster space to do so, so they opted for cash to avoid losing the player for nothing.

Reifert, 27, recorded 81 strikeouts in 58 innings of Triple-A play in 2026. He relies on an effective slider to generate those strikeouts. He is expected to spend time in the Houston bullpen next season.