Five more players who saw MLB action this season have filed for minor‑league free agency, per MiLB.com’s transaction tracker. All were removed from 40‑man rosters after seven‑plus years in the minors, making their elections largely procedural.
Vidal Bruján (Mets)
The Mets picked up Bruján from Minnesota in a cash deal during the offseason. The infielder, out of options, cleared waivers on Opening Day and didn’t make the roster. New York called him up in early May when Francisco Lindor was hurt, but he appeared in only six weeks, starting three games and going 1‑for‑11 in 13 plate appearances. In Triple‑A Syracuse he posted a .278/.385/.421 line over 258 at‑bats.
Miles Mastrobuoni (Mariners)
Mastrobuoni missed the first two months with a right calf strain, then the Mariners waived him in June, gave him a brief July call‑up, and waived him again. He hit .192 in 13 big‑league games and posted a .245/.338/.375 slash line over 222 Triple‑A plate appearances. The Mariners’ handling of Mastrobuoni feels short‑sighted.
Luis Vázquez (Orioles)
The 27‑year‑old shortstop spent almost the entire campaign in Triple‑A Norfolk, compiling a modest .226/.271/.371 line in 52 games despite a few injuries. He earned a two‑day promotion to Baltimore in late August, entered as a pinch‑runner and scored the winning run against the Cardinals.
Tyler Freeman (Rockies)
Freeman logged nearly half of Colorado’s games, batting .247/.317/.314 with three homers in 288 plate appearances. Initially an infielder, he was shifted mostly to right field where his defensive metrics lagged. He possesses elite contact ability and a strong arm, yet his low walk rate and ground‑ball tendency cap his upside. The Rockies waived him in early September.
MJ Melendez (Mets)
The Mets signed Melendez, a former Kansas City prospect, to a split contract just before spring training. He broke out in mid‑April, delivering a walk‑off homer to defeat the Marlins on May 29, but his chronic strikeout problem persisted, leaving him at .192/.315/.350 over 144 plate appearances. New York designated him for assignment around the trade deadline.
Melendez exploded in Triple‑A, belting 22 homers in half a season while posting a .264/.361/.604 line in 75 games. He could attract interest from KBO or NPB clubs rather than settle for another minor‑league deal.