MLB Player News

Mears and the Brewers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $963,000 contract Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Mears began the 2024 regular season with the Rockies but was traded to the Brewers in late July in exchange for Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera. Mears made 11 appearances out of the bullpen for Milwaukee before going on the 15-day injured list in late August due to right forearm inflammation. He returned for the end of the regular season and appeared in Games 1 and 3 of the National League Wild-Card round against the Mets, during which he struck out three batters across 2.1 scoreless innings.

Lawrence to a one-year, $975,000 contract with the Rockies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence struggled mightily in 2024, finishing with a 6.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over 59.2 innings out of the bullpen. Playing his home games at Coors Field could be partially to blame for his poor performance, but fantasy managers would likely be better off staying away from Lawrence until he proves his solid 2023 campaign (during which he had a 3.72 ERA with 11 saves) wasn't simply an outlier.

The Dodgers and Phillips avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million contract Thursday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Phillips' ERA rose to 3.62 this season for the Dodgers, but he still boasted a 63:17 K:BB across 54.2 regular-season innings. The right-handed reliever was left off the team's World Series roster due to arm fatigue but is expected to be fine for spring training.

Banda agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The left-hander inked a minor-league deal with the Guardians last winter and was dealt to the Dodgers in May, and he proved to be an effective bullpen piece for Los Angeles with a 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB over 49.2 regular-season innings. Banda tallied two saves and eight holds while also starting two games as an opener, and he could fill a similarly versatile role in 2025.

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.