MLB Player News
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Justin Lawrence RP | PIT
Pirates' Justin Lawrence: Settles with Pittsburgh
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.
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Ryan Thompson RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Inks $3.95 million deal
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.
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Dennis Santana RP | PIT
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Reaches deal with Pirates
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.
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Andre Pallante RP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Settles with Cardinals
The Cardinals and Pallante avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Pallante is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, having collected a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 111:62 K:BB over 162.2 innings covering 31 starts. He will nevertheless receive a substantial raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Pallante will have to compete for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation in 2026.
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Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Avoids arbitration with Dodgers
Graterol (shoulder) signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Graterol sat out the entirety of the 2025 season after undergoing labrum surgery in November 2024, but he is expected to be fully healthy by the time spring training begins. The 27-year-old emerged as a dominant high-leverage option during his last full season in 2023, during which he posted a 1.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 67.1 regular-season innings. However, the Dodgers may wait to see how he performs in his first several appearances post-surgery before moving him back into a setup role.
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Ryan Rolison RP | CHC
Cubs' Ryan Rolison: Claimed by Cubs
The Cubs claimed Rolison off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
It's the fourth organization since November for Rolison, who posted a 7.02 ERA and 25:20 K:BB over 42.1 innings with the Rockies in 2025. The left-hander will compete for a spot in the Cubs' bullpen, but he does have minor-league options remaining.
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Keegan Thompson RP | COL
Rockies' Keegan Thompson: Scooped by Colorado
The Rockies claimed Thompson off waivers from the Reds on Wednesday.
Thompson signed a one-year, $1.3 million split contract with the Reds in November, but he was booted off their 40-man roster in December and is now headed to Colorado. He's been used almost exclusively in relief over the past three seasons, but Thompson does have past starting experience, so the Rockies could consider him in a swingman role.
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Justin Bruihl RP | STL
Cardinals' Justin Bruihl: Dealt to St. Louis
The Cardinals acquired Bruihl from the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Bruihl has bounced around from the Blue Jays to the Guardians and now to the Cardinals since mid-December. The left-handed reliever holds a career 4.72 ERA and 69:32 K:BB over 89.2 frames covering parts of five major-league seasons. Bruihl does not have minor-league options remaining, so he's a good bet to make the Opening Day roster if he's still with St. Louis in spring training.
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Genesis Cabrera RP | PHI
Phillies' Genesis Cabrera: Nabs NRI deal with Phillies
The Phillies signed Cabrera to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mike Rodriguez reports.
Cabrera pitched for four different teams at the big-league level in 2025, collecting a 6.54 ERA and 35:18 K:BB over 42.2 innings. The southpaw reliever held left-handed batters to a .197/.295/.394line, but righties hit a robust .333/.394/.646 off him. With fellow lefties Jose Alvarado (forearm) and Tanner Banks locks for the bullpen and Kyle Backhus also around, Cabrera is a long shot to make the Opening Day roster.
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Hunter Harvey RP | CHC
Cubs' Hunter Harvey: Signs with Cubs
Harvey (groin) signed a one-year contract with the Cubs on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Shoulder and adductor injuries limited Harvey to just 12 appearances with the Royals this past season, during which he struck out 11 batters and walked one over 10.2 shutout innings. The 31-year-old righty boasts a 3.11 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across his big-league career and will likely see action in high-leverage spots with the Cubs, though he doesn't project to take many save chances away from Daniel Palencia.