MLB Player News

Barlow signed a one-year, $6.7 million deal with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Guardians acquired Barlow from the Padres in mid-November, the second time in the calendar year he was dealt. It was a disappointing 2023 season for the reliever -- he posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 68 innings -- but he had been reliable for a few years prior. If Barlow can bounce back, he should occupy a high-leverage role in Cleveland's bullpen.

Karinchak signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Karinchak walked 28 batters across 39 innings in 2023, but he still managed a solid 3.23 ERA with 52 strikeouts. While Emmanuel Clase is almost certainly locked into the closer role in Cleveland, Karinchak could be a decent source of holds.

Okert signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Marlins on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Okert threw a career-high 58.2 innings in 2023 and maintained a 4.45 ERA to go along with a 1.26 WHIP. His 73:24 K:BB was more impressive, and he should shoulder a heavy workload in the Marlins' bullpen once again in 2024.

Holmes signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Holmes has served as the Yankees' primary closer each of the last two seasons, recording a combined 44 saves. He also managed a career-best 18.3 K-BB% across 63 frames in 2023 and should continue to rack up save chances in 2024.

Graterol signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol is in his second year of arbitration and doubled his salary from 2023. He posted a career-high 67.1 innings last season and maintained a 1.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with a 48:12 K:BB across 67.1 innings. Graterol could enter the closer picture in 2024, though Evan Phillips will open the year as the favorite for save chances.

Finnegan agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Finnegan served as the Nationals' primary closer in 2023, recording 28 saves. He had an uneven performance overall, however, posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to go along with a 63:24 K:BB across 69.1 innings. He'll likely begin the 2024 campaign in the ninth-inning role, but Hunter Harvey could overtake him fairly quickly.

Harvey agreed to a contract with the Nationals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The details of the deal were not disclosed. Harvey finished the 2023 season with 10 saves -- the first of his career -- and maintained a 2.82 ERA and 0.94 WHIP to go along with a 67:13 K:BB across 60.2 innings. That strong showing should keep him locked into a high-leverage role to begin 2024, potentially sharing saves with Kyle Finnegan.

Morejon signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Elbow and knee injuries limited Morejon to just eight big-league appearances last season. The 24-year-old southpaw surrendered seven earned runs over nine innings when healthy and will likely return to a middle-relief role to begin 2024.

De Los Santos signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration.

The Guardians sent De Los Santos to San Diego earlier in the offseason in exchange for Scott Barlow. De Los Santos emerged as a reliable bullpen arm, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across two seasons in Cleveland, and he figures to be used fairly often in high-leverage situations with his new club.

Gilbreath (elbow) signed a one-year contract with the Rockies on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Gilbreath missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, and his absence could extend into the early part of the 2024 campaign. The 27-year-old southpaw holds a 3.78 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through 85.2 career MLB innings.