MLB Player News

The Royals and Schreiber avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Schreiber had been arbitration-eligible for a second time. The right-handed reliever saw his strikeout rate dip to 20.5 percent in 2024 in his first year in Kansas City but remained useful with a 3.66 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He'll be used in middle relief in 2025.

The Royals and Hernandez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.16 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It was the second year of arbitration eligibility for Hernandez, who posted a 3.30 ERA and 27:16 K:BB across 30 regular-season innings during 2024. The righty has teased with his big fastball but has shown no indication to this point that he can be consistently relied upon.

The Royals and Harvey avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Harvey dealt with back problems last season, which limited him to just six appearances after the Royals acquired him via trade. He enters spring training healthy and should be a key setup man if he can stay off the injured list.

The Mariners and Thornton avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Thornton has turned into a quality reliever for the Mariners, collecting a 3.20 ERA and 98:24 K:BB over 98.1 frames since being acquired from the Blue Jays in 2023. The right-hander is slated for a middle relief role again in 2025.

Anderson agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract with the White Sox on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Anderson returned to the majors for the first time in five years last season, finishing 2024 with a 4.39 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 53.1 frames. While his numbers don't exactly jump off the stat sheet, the right-hander's experience could allow him to be one of the White Sox's go-to options in high-leverage situations, as Chicago projects to have a very young and thin bullpen.

The Astros and Abreu avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million contract Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He was arbitration-eligible for a second time this winter. Abreu's ERA rose to 3.10 ERA during the 2024 regular season, but he notched 100 strikeouts in relief for the second year in a row and will again be a primary setup man ahead of closer Josh Hader in the Houston bullpen in 2025.

The White Sox and Murfee (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $780,000 contract Thursday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Murfee was a waiver claim of the White Sox earlier this offseason after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. He had to be pulled off a rehab assignment with elbow soreness in August but was throwing again by the end of the season, so the hope is he enters spring training healthy.

The Red Sox and Crochet avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.8 million contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

There appears to be mutual interest between the Red Sox and Crochet in working out a long-term contract extension, but for now the two sides will settle for avoiding an arbitration hearing. Crochet put up a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209:33 K:BB over 146 innings in 2024 with the White Sox in his first year as a full-time starter.

Foley agreed to a one-year, $3.15 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The right-hander receives a significant raise in his first season of arbitration eligibility after recording 28 saves with a 3.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB across 60 innings during the regular season last year. Foley is the early favorite to close games in 2025, but he's not guaranteed the full-time job due to his shaky control and could end up in a high-leverage committee.

The Blue Jays and Sandlin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.63 million contract Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.

Acquired from the Guardians via trade in December, Sandlin was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He held a 3.75 ERA and 68:27 K:BB across 57.2 innings with Cleveland in 2024.