MLB Player News

Barnes agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract with Boston on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Barnes made 62 appearances out of the bullpen a season ago, posting a 3.65 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 96 punchouts over 61.2 frames. He figures to receive plenty of high-leverage opportunities in 2019 and could compete for the closer role if he carries his recent success into spring training.

Betances agreed to a one-year, $7.125 million deal with the Yankees, avoiding free agency, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.

The two sides have not always seen eye to eye this time of year, famously going to trial and exchanging a war of words back in 2017, but they came to terms for Betances final year under club control. He will look to once again be one of the top setup men in the game before likely heading elsewhere in free agency, potentially somewhere he can establish himself as one of the game's top closers.

Soto has been suspended 20 games without pay for conduct detrimental to baseball, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

A lefty with a big fastball who turns 24 in February, Soto logged a 4.45 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 113.1 innings at High-A last year. Per the CBA, "players may be disciplined for just cause for conduct that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of baseball, including, but not limited to, engaging in conduct in violation of federal, state or local law." He will begin serving the suspension at the start of the 2019 season.

Rogers agreed to a one-year, $1.525 million deal with the Twins, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Coming off a season in which he logged a 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and the first two MLB saves of his career, Rogers certainly deserved to finally crack the seven-figure threshold. The Twins have one of the more hazy ninth-inning situations at this time, with Trevor May, Blake Parker and Rogers all entering camp with a semi-realistic shot of getting saves at the outset of the season.

Norris reached a one-year, $1.275 million deal with the Tigers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Norris missed almost four months with a groin injury and finished the season with a 5.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB in only eight starts. The 25-year-old has struggled over the last couple years with injury issues and inconsistency, but should be in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation come spring training.

Colome signed a one-year deal with the White Sox worth $7.325 million Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Colome posted a 3.04 ERA in 68 innings for Tampa Bay and Seattle last season, transitioning to a setup role after a late-May move to the Mariners. Acquired in exchange for Omar Narvaez in November, he'll now be competing with Kelvin Herrera for a return to a closing role.

May signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Twins on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

May put together a great season after missing 2017 due to Tommy John surgery, with a 3.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 36:5 K:BB over 25.1 innings once healthy in July. The 29-year-old seems likely to battle the newly signed Blake Parker for Minnestoa's closer's role in 2019.

Manaea (shoulder) and the Athletics reached agreement on a one-year deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The lefty recorded a career-best 3.59 ERA in 27 starts last season before being shut down with a shoulder injury in August. He underwent surgery the following month and was initially expected to be out for all of 2019, though recent reports have suggested he could return after the All-Star break.

Pressly and the Astros settled on a one-year, $2.9 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pressly was picked up by the Astros at the trade deadline last season and was one of the best relievers in the league down the stretch, posting a 0.77 ERA and a 32:3 K:BB in 23.1 innings for his new team. Roberto Osuna appears to have the closing job locked down in Houston but Pressly may have the inside track as a replacement should Osuna stumble or get injured.

Giles agreed to a one-year, $6.3 million deal with the Blue Jays, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

While Giles wasn't lights-out for Toronto after getting traded there from Houston, he doesn't have much competition for saves to open the year. He is set for one more arbitration year in 2020 before hitting the open market.