MLB Player News
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Reed Garrett RP | NYM
Mets' Reed Garrett: Settles at $1.3 million
Garrett (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Mets on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Garrett isn't expected to pitch at all in 2026 after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery in October. However, he will still receive a $350,000 raise after posting a 3.90 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 55.1 innings in 2025 and tallying a career-high 20 holds.
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Bennett Sousa RP | HOU
Astros' Bennett Sousa: Avoids arbitration
Sousa (elbow) signed a one-year, $910,000 contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Sousa emerged as a key contributor in the Astros' bullpen in 2025, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 50.2 innings before elbow inflammation put an early end to his season. The lefty's performance will earn him a $150,000 raise during his first year of arbitration eligibility, and he figures to reprise his role as a setup man for closer Josh Hader in 2026.
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Justin Lawrence RP | PIT
Pirates' Justin Lawrence: Settles with Pittsburgh
The Pirates and Lawrence avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.225 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Lawrence had been arbitration-eligible for the second time. The righty was limited to only 17 appearances in 2025 due to injury, but he was highly effective when on the bump, yielding just one run with a 23:8 K:BB over 17.2 frames. Lawrence should operate in a middle-relief role in 2026.
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Ryan Thompson RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Inks $3.95 million deal
The Diamondbacks and Thompson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.95 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Thompson had been arbitration-eligible for a final time, and he will be entering his walk year. The veteran reliever has been a quality performer in manager Torey Lovullo's bullpen, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 97:29 K:BB across 120.2 regular-season frames during his time in Arizona. Thompson will be in the late-inning mix as part of an unsettled Diamondbacks bullpen in 2026.
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Dennis Santana RP | PIT
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Reaches deal with Pirates
The Pirates and Santana avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Santana finished the 2025 season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 60:17 K:BB over 70.1 innings, picking up 16 saves along the way. The 29-year-old reliever is the favorite to open the 2026 season in the Pirates' closer role.
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Garrett Cleavinger RP | TB
Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Avoids arbitration with TB
Cleavinger agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The left-hander will double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility after tallying two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 81:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings last season. Cleavinger is expected to begin 2026 as part of Tampa Bay's closer committee, with Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta also in the mix.
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Andre Pallante RP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Settles with Cardinals
The Cardinals and Pallante avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Pallante is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, having collected a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 111:62 K:BB over 162.2 innings covering 31 starts. He will nevertheless receive a substantial raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Pallante will have to compete for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation in 2026.
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Steven Okert RP | HOU
Astros' Steven Okert: Reaches deal for 2026
Okert agreed to a one-year, $2.325 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander had a successful first year in Houston during 2025, recording one save and 11 holds with a 3.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 84:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings. Okert should operate as part of the setup mix for the Astros again in 2026.
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Hayden Wesneski RP | HOU
Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Avoids arbitration
Wesneski (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $975,000 deal with the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The two sides avoid arbitration, as Wesneski continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2025. He'll likely be sidelined until around midseason, but could provide rotation depth and bullpen help in the second half. The 28-year-old righty logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB in six starts (32 innings) for the Astros in 2025 before the injury.
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Brian Van Belle RP | TB
Rays' Brian Van Belle: Back with Rays on minors deal
Van Belle (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays let go of Van Belle earlier in the offseason following surgery to repair his UCL, but he will now rejoin the organization while he rehabs the injury. The 29-year-old righty isn't expected to pitch at all in 2026, but he may be an option for the Rays' 2027 staff after turning in a 3.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 105 Triple-A innings during 2025.