The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays have exercised their $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen. Tampa Bay picked up its 2027 club option rather than pay Rasmussen a $500,000 buyout. The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after next season. Rasmussen earned a $5.5 million salary this year. The option price for 2027 increased from $8 million to $20 million because he remained healthy throughout the 2026 season and made at least 28 starts. The 31-year-old Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season, helping the Rays to an AL East title. He was 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five postseason starts as Tampa Bay won its third pennant before losing to Milwaukee in the World Series.

The Houston Astros have hired St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores as their general manager. Flores replaces Dana Brown, who was let go in August with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. The Astros also need to hire a manager this offseason — Joe Espada’s contract was not renewed after the AL West champions were swept by the Chicago White Sox in their Wild Card Series. The 51-year-old Flores becomes the 15th general manager in franchise history. He had been serving as St. Louis’ assistant general manager of amateur and pro acquisition. The former major league pitcher joined the Cardinals’ front office as director of scouting in 2015 and spent eight seasons as an assistant GM with the club.

Sandy Alcantara was blocked from becoming a free agent by the Miami Marlins, while Michael King went on the market and Bo Bichette decided to keep his contract with the New York Mets. Starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Nick Martinez also will become free agents after their teams declined mutual options. Miami exercised its $21 million option on Alcantara rather than pay a $2 million buyout, a decision that guarantees the pitcher $75 million over six years as part of the deal he agreed to in November 2021.

Tens of thousands of exuberant Brewers fans flooded the streets, watched from parking garages and cheered from office building windows in downtown Milwaukee to celebrate the franchise’s first World Series title. The small-market Brewers gave their long-suffering fans the championship they had been waiting for with a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, clinching the Series in five games. It was their first time playing in the Fall Classic in 44 years. Players on buses chugged cans of Miller Lite beer, walked the parade route high-fiving fans and hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy as the cheers echoed through the streets.