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News and Notes: Former Blue Jay Robbie Ray didn’t opt out of his contract with the Giants
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Photo credit: © D. Ross Cameron - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Nov 3, 2024, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 3, 2024, 05:06 EST
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A former Blue Jay is staying put.
On Saturday afternoon, Jeff Passan reported that Robbie Ray didn’t opt out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants, meaning he has two years remaining on his deal and is owed $50 million.
The Blue Jays acquired Robbie Ray before the 2020 trade deadline for Travis Bergen. Although he was a free agent heading into the 2021 season, Ray re-signed with Toronto and had a career year with the Jays.
That season, the left-handed pitcher finished the season with a 2.84 ERA and a 3.69 FIP in 193.1 innings pitched, along with a 32.1 K% and a 6.7 BB%, winning his first and only Cy Young Award.
Ray turned that into a five-year, $115 million deal with an opt-out after the 2024 season with the Seattle Mariners. The lefty was solid in his first season with the Mariners, posting a 3.71 ERA and a 4.17 FIP in 189 innings pitched, but after just 3.1 innings pitched in 2023, he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Last off-season, Ray was traded to the Giants before the 2024 season, and had a 4.70 ERA and a 4.96 FIP in 30.2 innings pitched, along with a 33.3 K% and an 11.6 BB% after returning from the Injured List.

Gerrit Cole declines his player option

On Saturday, New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole opted out of his deal with the team. However, the Yankees can add an extra season (the 2029 season) to his contract in which Cole would make $36 million.
Cole has been among the league’s best pitchers since breaking onto the scene in 2013. After playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros, Cole signed a massive nine-year, $324 million deal with the option for the 10th year.
The 33-year-old righty pitched well in 2020, 2021, and 2022, but he finally won his first Cy Young in 2023, as he had a 2.63 ERA and a 3.16 FIP in 209 innings pitched, with a 27 K% and a 5.8 BB%. Starting the 2024 season on the Injured List, Cole finished the season with a 3.41 ERA and a 3.69 FIP in 95 innings pitched. Moreover, Cole struck out 25.4% of batters while walking 7.4% of batters.
As you may recall, the Yankees reached the World Series, falling in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the postseason, Cole had a 2.17 ERA and a 3.13 FIP in 29 innings pitched, with a 17.7 K% and an 8.1 BB%.
It’s unclear what the Yankees will do in response, but the fact that Juan Soto wants a mega deal may lead them to opt out of their ace’s contract.

Cody Bellinger remains a Cub

On Saturday, it was reported by Kiley McDaniel that Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Cody Bellinger opted into his player option, meaning he’ll remain a Cub in 2025.
At one point in his career, Cody Bellinger was one of the best players, if not the best, in the league. However, a shoulder injury and two poor seasons in 2021 and 2022 saw him depart the Los Angeles Dodgers for the Chicago Cubs.
That was a revival for the outfielder, as he slashed .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs in 556 plate appearances for a 136 wRC+ and a 4.4. Bellinger ended up re-signing with the Cubs after the 2023 season for a three-year deal worth $80 million, with player options after 2024 and 2025.
Bellinger’s 2024 season wasn’t nearly as good as the season prior, as the 29-year-old slashed .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs in 569 plate appearances for a 109 wRC+ and a 2.2 fWAR. He’ll make $27.5 million in 2025 and has another player option for the 2026 season.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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