Antoine Kelly

What happens if the club…

option him to the minors

Yes, 2 option years left. 3 of the five optional assignments for 2026 remain. A 2026 option year is already used (105 days), so further trips this season cost nothing extra. Once down he must stay 15 days unless he replaces an injured or traded player. An option does not trigger his Article XX-D right; only an outright would.

Option years and the 20-day rule · Five optional assignments per season · Minimum stay on option

designate him for assignment (or put him on outright waivers)

The club has 7 days to trade him, pass him through outright waivers, or release him; he is paid at the major-league rate and keeps accruing service in the meantime. On outright waivers any club can claim him for $50,000, worst record first, and the claiming club takes his contract. He was outrighted before (1x) give him the Article XX-D choice: elect free agency immediately (giving up the rest of his salary) or accept the assignment, keep getting paid, and elect free agency after the season unless he is added back to a 40-man first. Post-season: an outright after the September 1 cutoff ends his automatic eligibility. He could only return as an approved injury replacement, and only if he accepts the outright and stays on a minor-league reserve list in the organization without interruption; a release makes him ineligible for anyone this October.

Designated for assignment: 7 days · Outright waivers · Article XX-D: the right to walk

release him

Release waivers cost a claiming club $1 but the claimant assumes the whole contract, so expensive players clear. The club owes the full unpaid balance of this season's salary, offset by whatever another club pays him this year. A released player is not post-season eligible for any club this year.

Release waivers and termination pay · Which rate a split contract pays at release

trade himBLOCKED

Not now: players on major-league contracts cannot be traded after the Aug 3 deadline until the day after the World Series.

Trade deadline · 10-and-5 rights · June 15 no-trade for free-agent signees

renew him for next year

Pre-arbitration: the club sets his 2027 salary near the minimum ($780,000 floor) and he has no leverage beyond a non-tender.

Minimum salaries · Tender deadline