Woodruff, Lewis among 63 new free agents as 19 players reach deals and teams make flurry of trades

NEW YORK — Milwaukee released starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff and former AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis was let go by Arizona, along with 63 other players who became free agents on Friday night after their teams opted out of offering 2024 contracts.

Cincinnati dropped Nick Senzel, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 amateur draft, and Miami let go of Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings.

Other notable names to hit free agency include designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach from the New York Mets, outfielder Austin Meadows from Detroit, and veteran pitchers Dakota Hudson from St. Louis and Matt Bush from Texas.

This deadline represented the last opportunity for teams to release arbitration-eligible players without committing to at least 30 days of termination pay if the player is let go.

Two more arbitration-eligible players were traded from Atlanta to Kansas City, with the Braves sending right-handers Kyle Wright and Nick Anderson to the Royals in different deals. Atlanta received right-hander Jackson Kowar in the Wright deal, and Anderson was traded for $100,000.

In another move, Atlanta traded previous All-Star pitcher Mike Soroka and infielder Nicky Lopez to the Chicago White Sox, along with pitchers Jared Shuster and Riley Gowens and infielder Braden Shewmake, for left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer.

The 28-year-old Wright is expected to miss the 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in October to repair a torn capsule.

Cleveland made several transactions, acquiring right-hander Scott Barlow from San Diego for Enyel De Los Santos in a swap of relievers, and sending designated-for-assignment starter Cal Quantrill to Colorado for minor league catcher Kody Huff. The Guardians also agreed to a $5.15 million, one-year contract with outfielder Ramón Laureano.

Miami’s new president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix, completed a trade with his former team by acquiring utilityman Vidal Bruján and right-hander Calvin Faucher from the Tampa Bay Rays. In exchange, Miami sent minor league prospects Erick Lara and Andrew Lindsey to Tampa Bay, along with a player to be named.

Seattle obtained infielder Luis Urías from Boston for right-handed pitcher Isaiah Campbell.

Woodruff, a 30-year-old right-hander and two-time All-Star, is expected to miss most or all of the 2024 season after surgery last month to repair the anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder.

“I still think there’s a chance he could be part of our team in the future, but yeah, it’s certainly a tough day any time you have to deliver news to somebody that means that much to you and your franchise,” said Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold.

Laureano was among 19 players who agreed to contracts by the deadline.

San Francisco, Baltimore, Oakland, Philadelphia, and other teams also reached deals for various players.