MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.