NEW YORK — Detroit pitcher Jack Flaherty and Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber exercised their player options for 2026 rather than become eligible for free agency, and Philadelphia exercised its option on reliever José Alvarado.

San Diego pitcher Wandy Peralta also exercised his option, while Arizona outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Baltimore outfielder Tyler O’Neill and Texas outfielder Joc Pederson decided not to opt out of their contracts.

Nine more players became free agents, raising the total to 162. Teams must decide whether to make $22,025,000 qualifying offers to their eligible former players who went free.

About 20 more players potentially could go free. That group includes pitcher Andrew Kittredge, reacquired by Baltimore from the Chicago Cubs. The 35-year-old right-hander and the O

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