Would the MLBPA allow him to waive that guaranteed money? I'm not certain on that, but didn't Sosa do that when he went to Baltimore? I believe you can't reduce the value of your current contract in total dollars, i.e. simply take a paycut, but if you agree to not have an option vest it's viewed differently. (It won't happen, but one could argue he feels he can make more money as a free agent than he would from the option) I don't know, was Sosa's a player option? The Cubs still paid his salary for the first year. With Aramis it is a team option that kicks in automatically if traded. And if he voids it he doesn't get the buyout.