Five option calls from Halloween, from Drew Rasmussen's $20 million to Joc Pederson

Saturday was a busy day for contract options around Major League Baseball, two days ahead of Monday's deadline. Here are the five decisions that matter most, ranked by what they mean for next season.

1. The Rays keep Drew Rasmussen for $20 million. Tampa Bay exercised its 2027 club option on its ace rather than pay a $500,000 buyout, according to the Associated Press and MLB Trade Rumors. The price was originally $8 million, but it climbed to $20 million because Rasmussen stayed healthy and made at least 28 starts. He went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts and threw a career-high 172 innings for the American League champions. He can become a free agent after next season.

2. The Orioles let Luis Robert Jr. go. Baltimore declined Robert's $20 million club option, the AP reported. The Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Mets on Aug. 31, then watched him play only three games before a hamstring injury. He hit .221 with 11 homers in 61 games this year, a long way from his 2023 All-Star season.

3. Emilio Pagan walks away from $10 million. The Reds closer declined his player option to become a free agent. Pagan, 35, saved 25 games in 28 chances with a 3.38 ERA, and he has 90 career saves.

4. Cincinnati also passes on Eugenio Suarez. The Reds declined a $16 million mutual option on the 35-year-old third baseman, who hit 26 homers with 74 RBI but batted .212. They also declined an $8 million mutual option on reliever Pierce Johnson, who gets a $1 million buyout.

5. Joc Pederson declines $18 million in Texas. Pederson turned down his side of an $18 million mutual option with the Rangers, which had no buyout. The 34-year-old hit .235 with 26 homers before a fractured left wrist ended his season Sept. 12. Catcher Kyle Higashioka and reliever Jakob Junis also declined their options and became free agents.

The Rays also declined mutual options Friday on Nick Martinez and Cedric Mullins, so Tampa Bay chose to spend on Rasmussen while moving on from two other veterans.

What's next: Monday is the deadline for the remaining option decisions. Robert, Suarez and Pederson are the names to watch on the open market, because each brings real power with a health or batting-average question attached.