MLB Player News
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Brennan Bernardino RP | COL
Rockies' Brennan Bernardino: Reaches deal with Colorado
The Rockies and Bernardino (lat) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.
The financials are unknown, but Bernardino will get a raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility as a Super 2 qualifier. The southpaw was acquired via trade from the Red Sox earlier in the offseason after posting a 3.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 43:26 K:BB over 51.2 regular-season innings during 2025. Bernardino's season ended prematurely due to a lat strain, but he should be recovered in time for the start of spring training.
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Bryan Baker RP | TB
Rays' Bryan Baker: Agrees to one-year deal
Baker agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Baker didn't live up to the expectations the Rays had for him when they traded for him in July, as he put up a 4.75 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 30.1 innings while working as a setup man. He'll get another chance to redeem himself in 2026, as the Rays are expected to open the campaign with Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta working as a closer committee.
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Brock Stewart RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brock Stewart: Reaches deal with Dodgers
The Dodgers and Stewart (shoulder) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.3 million contract Thursday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Stewart was acquired at the trade deadline but made just four appearances before requiring a debridement procedure on his right shoulder. He will not be ready for Opening Day but could be available out of the Dodgers' bullpen sometime before the All-Star break.
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Adrian Morejon RP | SD
Padres' Adrian Morejon: Settles with San Diego
The Padres and Morejon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Morejon, who is slated to become a free agent next offseason. The left-hander has posted a 2.42 ERA and 141:38 K:BB over 137.1 regular-season innings as a full-time reliever since the start of the 2024 campaign. He'll again serve in a high-leverage role in 2026.
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Kevin Kelly RP | TB
Rays' Kevin Kelly: Reaches deal with TB
Kelly agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kelly missed more than a month toward the start of the 2025 season due to a glute strain and struggled to be effective on the mound after returning, finishing the year with a 5.90 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 39.2 frames. He'll take just a $149,000 pay raise as a result and will likely be limited to middle-relief duty until he recaptures his previous form.
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Ryan Pepiot RP | TB
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Avoids arbitration with Rays
Pepiot agreed to a one-year, $3.025 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Pepiot made a career-high 31 starts for the Rays in 2025 but finished the season with a career-worst 3.86 ERA over 167.2 innings, largely due to his allowing 26 homers. The 28-year-old righty will receive a $2.25 million raise from Tampa Bay during his first year of arbitration eligibility and projects to be one of the top starters in the Rays' rotation in 2026.
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Camilo Doval RP | NYY
Yankees' Camilo Doval: Reaches deal with Yankees
Doval agreed to a one-year, $6.1 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Doval bounced back over 69 regular-season appearances between the Giants and Yankees last year, finishing with a 3.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 72:35 K:BB in 65.1 innings while recording 16 saves and 10 holds. The right-hander is likely to open 2026 as New York's top setup man ahead of closer David Bednar.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Settles with Philadelphia
The Phillies and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.5 million contract Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Duran notched a career-high 32 saves in 2025, posting a 2.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 80:19 K:BB over 70 regular-season innings between the Twins and Phillies. The hard-throwing reliever should be one of the top closers in fantasy baseball again in 2026.
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Steven Wilson RP | TB
Rays' Steven Wilson: Receives $1.52 million from TB
Wilson signed a one-year, $1.52 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wilson joined the Rays in November via trade and will now receive a $570,000 raise from his new club after posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 55.1 innings with the White Sox in 2025. Although he made several appearances in high-leverage situations with Chicago, the 31-year-old righty will likely be relegated to a middle-relief role in the Rays' bullpen this upcoming season.
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JoJo Romero RP | STL
Cardinals' JoJo Romero: Settles with Cardinals
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.