MLB Player News
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Justin Anderson RP | CHW
White Sox's Justin Anderson: Avoids arbitration
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.
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Anthony Bender RP | MIA
Marlins' Anthony Bender: Avoids arbitration
The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The right-handed reliever posted a 4.08 ERA and 59:18 K:BB across 53 innings with one save and 15 holds out of the Marlins' bullpen in 2024.
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Bryan Abreu RP | HOU
Astros' Bryan Abreu: Avoids arbitration with Houston
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.
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Dylan Lee RP | ATL
Braves' Dylan Lee: Signs deal for 2025
Lee agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract with Atlanta on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
The left-hander had a couple short stints in the minors last year but pitched well in 52 appearances for Atlanta with a 2.11 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 76:17 K:BB across 59.2 innings during the 2024 regular season. Lee recorded nine holds and could work more consistently in a setup role in 2025 if he remains effective.
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Derek Law RP | ARI
Nationals' Derek Law: Receives $2.75 million
The Nationals and Law avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law was one of Washington's most reliable relievers in 2024, posting a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 76:24 K:BB over 90 innings. He could be in the mix for saves in 2025 as things stand right now, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Nationals bring in a closer from outside the organization.
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Tyler Rogers RP | TOR
Giants' Tyler Rogers: Avoids arbitration
The Giants and Rogers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.25 million contract Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Rogers had been arbitration-eligible for a final time this offseason. The side-arming reliever has been one of baseball's busiest bullpen arms over the last several seasons, most recently holding a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 51:6 K:BB over 70.1 innings in 2024.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Inks deal for 2025
Puk agreed to a one-year, $2.95 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The left-hander began 2024 in the rotation for Miami but suffered a shoulder injury and was shifted back to the bullpen before being traded to Arizona. Puk finished the campaign with a 3.15 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 88:28 K:BB over 71.1 innings and should be a factor in the late innings for Diamondbacks, though Justin Martinez is the favorite for saves to open 2025.
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Penn Murfee RP | CHW
White Sox's Penn Murfee: Avoids arbitration
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.
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Garrett Crochet RP | BOS
Red Sox's Garrett Crochet: Settles with new club at $3.8M
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.
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Joel Payamps RP | ATL
Brewers' Joel Payamps: Settles with Crew
Payamps agreed to a one-year, $2.995 million contract with the Brewers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Payamps gave up just three runs (two earned) in 21 innings over the final two months of the 2024 regular season, allowing him to finish the year with a 3.05 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. With Devin Williams now in the Bronx, Trevor Megill is likely the Brewers' new go-to option for saves, though Payamps may be asked to handle the ninth inning at times over the course of the season.