The Marlins pick up Sandy Alcantara's $21 million option, and Michael King is a free agent again

The Miami Marlins kept Sandy Alcantara off the free-agent market Friday. They exercised his $21 million club option for 2027 instead of paying a $2 million buyout, according to the Associated Press, which locks in the six-year, $75 million deal he signed in November 2021.

Alcantara, 31, went 13-11 with a 3.87 ERA in 33 starts and three relief appearances this year, his second season back from Tommy John surgery. The 2027 season will be the last on his contract.

Michael King went the other way. The 31-year-old right-hander declined a $28 million player option and took a $5 million buyout, making him a free agent for the second straight offseason. He signed a deal in December that guaranteed $75 million over three years but let him leave after one year and $22 million. He went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 32 starts, which is a strong résumé to sell.

He has company. King was one of 14 new free agents Friday, bringing the total to 155 in the two days since the World Series ended, per the AP. About 40 more could hit the market before Monday's option deadline.

The Rays declined a $20 million mutual option on Nick Martinez, who is 36 and coming off a career-best 15-6 season with a 3.10 ERA and his first All-Star selection. He also started Game 1 of the World Series. Tampa Bay passed on Cedric Mullins' mutual option, too. Minnesota let first baseman Josh Bell go after he hit 21 homers with 96 RBI, and Baltimore declined Zach Eflin's option after he made one start and had Tommy John surgery in April.

The RANT take: Miami picking up Alcantara's option was the easy call at $21 million for one more year of a starter who made 33 starts. King is the bigger gamble. He walked away from $28 million guaranteed, betting that a 3.21 ERA over 32 starts gets him more years and more money on the open market.

What's next: Monday is the deadline for teams to decide on the remaining options. Watch where King's market settles, and whether Miami keeps Alcantara through the winter now that his 2027 salary is set.