The Boston Red Sox haven't informed Clay Buchholz whether or not they will exercise his option for the 2017 season.

The club holds a $13.5 million option on Buchholz, who they told prior to the end of the 2015 regular season that they would trigger his option for this season.

The Red Sox have until five days after the end of the World Series to make a formal decision.

The Seattle Mariners' offseason wishlist includes adding a left-handed power reliever.

Jerry Dipoto is looking for "a legit late-inning presence."

Adding a reliever would give the Mariners another option in the late innings and the chance to use a pitcher for more than an inning.

"In a way," Dipoto said, "this is a return to the way that it used to be. It wasn’t until the eighties that teams began to save their best reliever for the end of the game."

Yoenis Cespedes plans to opt out of his contract with the New York Mets, leaving two years and $47.5 million on the table, according to sources.

The Mets expect Cespedes to seek a five-year deal and are pessimistic about their chances of re-signing him.

New York does plan to make a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer to Cespedes after he opts out.

The Toronto Blue Jays expect to extend qualifying offers to potential free agents Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, but have yet to decide on Michael Saunders.

Ross Atkins said the decision to extend qualifying offers to the sluggers is "about as easy a decision as we'll make."

"Those guys have had very good careers, have always hit right-handed and left-handed pitchers, and have been a huge part of this organization's success, especially in the last couple of years," Atkins said.

The New York Mets have already decided to pick up the 2017 option on the contract of Jose Reyes.

Reyes agreed to a deal at midseason that included an option at the Major League minimum.

Edwin Encarnacion is headed for free agency and figures to be coveted after another productive season.

The Boston Red Sox seem like the most likely landing spot for Encarnacion with the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers as possibilities as well.

Encarnacion hit .263/.357/.529 with 42 home runs and and league-leading 127 RBI in 702 plate appearances.

Jose Bautista will be a free agent this winter and seems unlikely to receive the $150 million payday he once sought.

Jon Heyman writes "there is still little belief the Jays will outbid others to keep him."

Bautista, 36 on Wednesday, hit .234/.366/.452 with 22 home runs and 69 RBI in 517 plate appearances during the regular season.

The San Francisco Giants have informed Madison Bumgarner and his representatives that they are ready to begin discussions on a new contract.

Bumgarner previously signed a six-year, $35.56 million deal through 2017 that includes $12 million club options for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

"We want to make sure Madison is here for the long haul," Bobby Evans said. "We'll certainly be available when they're ready to talk. We continue to exchange volleys. We're ready when they're ready. I've even talked to Madison. We're very clear."

The Toronto Blue Jays only offered Edwin Encarnacion a two-year deal with a pair of options during the spring, but his strong 2016 campaign might push them to increase their offer.

Toronto "might consider" a four-year option, according to Jon Heyman.

However, the Blue Jays would prefer to keep Encarnacion on a three-year deal.

Encarnacion, who turns 34 in January, hit .263/.357/.529 with 42 home runs and 127 RBIs over 702 plate appearances this season.

Carlos Beltran plans to return in 2017, which would be his 20th Major League campaign and his age-40 season.

He will be a free agent, but said Tuesday that he would like to re-sign with the Texas Rangers, who acquired him from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline.

Beltran hit .280/.325/.451 in 206 plate appearances with the Rangers after a much-hotter 387 PAs (.304/.344/.546) with the Yankees to begin the season.