MLB Player News

Pivetta signed a one-year, $5.35 million contract with the Red Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Pivetta recorded a 4.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 2022, though he was still able to strike batters out at an effective rate and made 33 starts for Boston. He has almost never battled injury over the last two seasons, making him a solid rotation piece to have, although consistent production may be harder to ask of him.

Lopez agreed to a one-year, $3.525 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Lopez had a 1.68 ERA with 19 saves for the Orioles last year before being dealt to the Twins at the trade deadline, but he labored after the trade with a 4.37 ERA. The 29-year-old still received a nice raise for his second season of arbitration eligibility in 2023, but his role is a bit in flux entering spring training after he failed to make a strong first impression with his new team, and he's likely behind Jhoan Duran in the pecking order for saves.

Lopez signed a one-year contract with the White Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lopez found his groove as a full-time reliever in 2022, holding a 2.76 ERA and 63:11 K:BB over 65.1 innings. He was one of the team's most trusted relievers by the end of the season and could be in the mix for saves in 2023 while Liam Hendriks (cancer) recovers.

Barlow agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Barlow has worked as Kansas City's closer for the past season and a half, and he was effective in 2022 with a 2.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 77:22 K:BB over 74.1 innings. He went 24-for-28 in save chances and should enter 2023 with a firm grip on the closer role, though it's possible new manager Matt Quatraro opts for a more committee-oriented approach.

Soto agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Phillies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Soto, and he'll receive a significant raise after he posted a 3.34 ERA with 48 saves while working as Detroit's closer for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Phillies last weekend and is likely to see his save opportunities drop as a member of a closer committee that also features Craig Kimbrel and and Seranthony Dominguez.

Sewald (elbow/heel) agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract with the Mariners on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Sewald led Seattle's closing committee last season with 20 saves and a 2.67 ERA across 64 innings, and he'll receive a well-deserved raise from his $1.74 million salary in 2022. The 32-year-old underwent clean-up procedures on his elbow and heel in early December but is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training.

Kittredge (elbow) and the Rays agreed on a one-year, $2.075 million contract Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Kittredge and the team will avoid arbitration after coming together on a deal Friday. The reliever appeared in 17 games with Tampa Bay in 2022, compiling a 3.15 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and five saves over 20 innings. Kittredge could return to being a top late-inning option for the Rays in 2023 once he recovers from Tommy John surgery, likely in the summer.

Hader agreed to a one-year, $14.1 million contract with the Padres on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It's the biggest salary an arbitration-eligible reliever has ever received, and it comes in the left-hander's final year before being eligible for free agency. Hader had an ugly and uncharacteristic 5.22 ERA between the Brewers and Padres in 2022, though that figure was heavily inflated by five outings in which he gave up three runs or more. He still went 36-for-40 in save chances, and he should be once of the top closers in baseball again in 2023.

Thornton and the Blue Jays agreed on a one-year, $1 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The right-hander compiled a 4.11 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and three holds over 46 innings in 32 appearances with Toronto in 2022. Thornton will provide bullpen depth for the Jays again in 2023.

Martin (shoulder) and the Rangers agreed on a one-year, $1.275 million contract Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Martin and the team were able to avoid dealing with the arbitration process. The left-hander ended the 2022 season on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder injury, and he recently suffered a setback that will affect his availability for most of the 2023 campaign. Martin will require surgery and should be considered out indefinitely until the team releases a recovery timeline.