The Cardinals and Romero avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.26 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Romero, who is slated to hit the free-agent market next winter. The lefty reliever held a 2.07 ERA and 55:29 K:BB over 61 innings in 2025, picking up eight saves. Romero could be in the mix for saves again if he's still with the Cardinals on Opening Day, but a trade to a contender -- where he'd likely fill in a middle-relief role -- is likelier.

The Mets and Brazoban avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.05 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

The 36-year-old was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brazoban collected a 3.57 ERA and 57:27 K:BB over 63 frames for the Mets in 2025 and is slated for a middle-relief role again in 2026.

The Brewers and Zerpa avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.095 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Zerpa was acquired via trade from the Royals earlier in the offseason and had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The lefty held a 4.18 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 64.2 innings in 2025 and could be stretched out as a starting pitcher in his first spring training with the Brewers.

The Brewers and Megill avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.7 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

It's a nice raise for Megill, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the second time. The 32-year-old notched a career-high 30 saves in 2025, collecting a 2.49 ERA and 60:17 K:BB over 47 regular-season innings. Megill should open the 2026 campaign as the Brewers' closer, but Abner Uribe could also be in the mix to save games.

The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.81 million contract Thursday, Craig Mish of FanDuel Sports Network Florida reports.

Bender finished with a 2.16 ERA in 2025, though his strikeout rate dropped to 20.6 percent and walk rate ballooned to 10.3 percent. The veteran reliever is in line to serve in a setup role for the Marlins in 2026 ahead of closer Pete Fairbanks.

The Phillies and Banks avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Banks' first full season in Philadelphia was a dandy, as he finished with a 3.07 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 61:12 K:BB over 67.1 regular-season innings. He will help set up from the left side again for the Phillies in 2026.

Garrett (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Mets on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Garrett isn't expected to pitch at all in 2026 after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery in October. However, he will still receive a $350,000 raise after posting a 3.90 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 55.1 innings in 2025 and tallying a career-high 20 holds.

The Pirates and Lawrence avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.225 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence had been arbitration-eligible for the second time. The righty was limited to only 17 appearances in 2025 due to injury, but he was highly effective when on the bump, yielding just one run with a 23:8 K:BB over 17.2 frames. Lawrence should operate in a middle-relief role in 2026.

The Diamondbacks and Thompson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.95 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Thompson had been arbitration-eligible for a final time, and he will be entering his walk year. The veteran reliever has been a quality performer in manager Torey Lovullo's bullpen, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 97:29 K:BB across 120.2 regular-season frames during his time in Arizona. Thompson will be in the late-inning mix as part of an unsettled Diamondbacks bullpen in 2026.

The Pirates and Santana avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Santana finished the 2025 season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 60:17 K:BB over 70.1 innings, picking up 16 saves along the way. The 29-year-old reliever is the favorite to open the 2026 season in the Pirates' closer role.