Veteran starter declines Diamondbacks option, hits free agent market

Right-hander Michael Soroka declined his end of a $10 million mutual option for 2027, making him a free agent, a source said.Soroka, 29, enjoyed a strong season with the Diamondbacks, posting a 3.41 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 116 innings.The Diamondbacks signed him to a deal last December that included a $6.5 million base salary. Soroka wound up earning another $1.35 million in bonuses. The deal included the mutual option for 2027 with a $1 million buyout. All told, he wound up making $8.85 million from the Diamondbacks.The Diamondbacks are expected to express interest in bringing Soroka back but probably will wind up getting priced out.The club already has more than $170 million forecast for 2027 and is expected to reduce payroll from last year’s $200 million-plus figure. The team also has five established starters set to return for next year's rotation: Corbin Burnes, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Veteran starter declines Diamondbacks option, hits free agent market