MLB Player News

Romero agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday to avoid arbitration.

Romero ended the season on the injured list with a forearm issue but resumed throwing early in the offseason and should be healthy for the start of spring training. The left-hander racked up 30 holds and one save with a 3.36 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB across 59 innings last year.

The Rangers traded Festa to the Cubs on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.

The 31-year-old righty was pushed off the Rangers' 40-man roster Monday to make room for new acquisition Chris Martin but will reclaim a 40-man spot upon moving to Chicago. Festa finished 2024 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 23.2 total innings between the Mets and Rangers, and he'll now attempt to make the Cubs' bullpen as a low-leverage arm during spring training. Miles Mastrobuoni was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Soto agreed to a one-year, $5.35 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

After being sent to Baltimore from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, Soto turned in a 5.09 ERA and 1.53 WHIP alongside a 21:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings before covering a scoreless two-thirds of an innings during his lone playoff appearance. His poor performance will net him just a $350,000 raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility, and he appears destined to work in middle relief next season.

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.

Graterol (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Injuries plagued Graterol's 2024 campaign, as shoulder inflammation prevented him from making his season debut until August, during which he suffered a Grade 3 hamstring strain. He was able to make six more appearances before the end of the regular season, finishing with two earned runs allowed over 7.1 innings. The 26-year-old is now recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery and isn't expected back until after the All-Star break.

Moll (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $1.001 million contract with the Reds on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The left-hander landed on the injured list late last season due to a shoulder impingement but should be ready for the start of spring training. Moll made 48 appearances for the Reds last year and had a 3.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB over 37.2 innings.

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.

King agreed to a one-year, $1.605 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

King's first full season in St. Louis marked the best of his five-year career, finishing with a 2.85 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 60 innings out of the bullpen. He won't be a candidate for saves as long as Ryan Helsley is on the active roster, but the 30-year-old King seems to have developed into a reliable middle reliever.

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.