The World Series just ended on Wednesday night, and the hot stove season wasted no time in getting started with a busy Thursday.
MLB deals roundup: Justin Upton signs with Angels, Nationals decline option on Adam Lind
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
At 9 a.m. ET, 149 players became free agents, including Jake Arrieta, J.D. Martinez and the like.
Later in the day, first baseman/outfielder Adam Lind joined them, as his mutual option for 2018 was declined, the Washington Nationals announced. Lind’s option was worth $5 million had it been exercised, per Cot’s Contracts. Instead, Washington will pay him a $500,000 buyout.
Lind, who turned 34 in July, hit .303/.362/.513 with 14 home runs in 116 games for the Nationals in 2017. He was one of the top pinch hitters in baseball, hitting .356/.396/.644 in 48 plate appearances, tied for first in MLB with four pinch-hit home runs and second with 13 RBI.
Upton re-ups
Someone who could have joined the free agent ranks was outfielder Justin Upton, who had an opt-out clause in his contract. But before he could walk away from $88.5 million over four years to hit the open market, Upton signed a new deal with the Los Angeles Angels, worth $106 million over five years, taking him through the 2022 campaign.
Upton hit .273/.361/.540 in 2017 with career highs in home runs (35), RBI (109), slugging percentage and OPS (.901). He hit seven home runs in September for the Angels after he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the waiver trade deadline of Aug. 31.
Elsewhere
Andrew Romine, who played all nine positions in a game for Detroit in the season’s final week, was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.
The Marlins added left-handed pitcher Miguel Del Pozo to their 40-man roster.
Kevin Long joined the Nationals as hitting coach, the team announced.
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