Outfielder Juan Soto, pitchers Corbin Burnes, Walker Buehler, and Max Fried, along with first baseman Pete Alonso, were among 136 players who became free agents on Thursday morning.
Third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Anthony Santander, and shortstop Willy Adames also joined them as free agents.
There are 64 more players who might become free agents by Monday, which is the fifth day after the World Series.
Teams and players can start talking about contract terms at 5:01 p.m. EST on Monday, after the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers of $21.05 million to eligible free agents.
Pitcher Justin Verlander became a free agent because he did not pitch 140 innings this year, which would have allowed him to use a $35 million conditional player option.
If he had used that option, the New York Mets would have had to pay an extra $17.5 million to Houston as part of last year’s trade that sent the three-time Cy Young Award winner back to the Astros.
The St. Louis Cardinals decided not to keep options on three right-handed pitchers: Kyle Gibson ($12 million), Lance Lynn ($10 million), and Keynan Middleton ($6 million). Each will receive a $1 million buyout.
In related news, Boston pitcher Lucas Giolito chose to keep his $19 million player option instead of taking a $1 million buyout to become a free agent.
Milwaukee announced that it has declined a $12 million mutual option on pitcher Wade Miley, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery he had last May.
Among those who still have pending club options are Atlanta’s designated hitter Marcell Ozuna ($16 million), Yankees third baseman Anthony Rizzo ($17 million), and reliever Luke Weaver ($2.5 million).
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has the choice to opt out of his contract, but the team can cancel this option by adding a $36 million salary for 2029.
Players with options include pitchers Blake Snell of San Francisco ($30 million, with $15 million deferred), Nick Martinez of Cincinnati ($12 million), Sean Manaea of the New York Mets ($13.5 million), Jordan Montgomery of Arizona ($22.5 million), Nathan Eovaldi of Texas ($20 million), and Michael Wacha of Kansas City ($16 million). Chicago Cubs first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger also has an option worth $27.5 million.
Snell and Jack Flaherty cannot receive qualifying offers. A free agent can only be given a qualifying offer if they have been with the same team since opening day and have never received one before.
Qualifying offers started after the 2012 season, and only 13 out of 131 offers have been accepted.
