MLB Player News

Soroka (forearm) agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the White Sox on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Soroka was traded from Atlanta to Chicago this offseason, which is a downgrade in overall team context but gives him a much better chance of being a regular member of a big-league rotation. Soroka dealt with forearm inflammation at the end of last season but it was reported in November that he had resumed throwing and felt great.

Blackburn agreed to a one-year, $3.45 million contract with Oakland on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Blackburn will remain Oakland's highest-paid pitcher. The 30-year-old righty has made 20-plus starts in back-to-back seasons and is useable in deeper leagues as a home streamer against teams like the Angels. He had a 3.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 53 innings at home last season.

The Astros and Garcia (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.875 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

It was the right-hander's first year of arbitration eligibility. Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery in May and will be on the shelf until at least around midseason.

Singer (back) agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

He finished last season on the shelf with a back strain after logging a 5.52 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 159.2 innings. Singer's 2022 season looks like an outlier at this point, and he should be locked into a rotation role for Kansas City again in 2024.

Wright (shoulder) agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Wright, who will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, was traded from Atlanta to Kansas City earlier this offseason for Jackson Kowar. If he can make a full recovery, Wright could pitch near the top of the Royals' rotation in 2025.

The Angels and Canning avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.6 million contract Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Canning managed to stay relatively healthy in 2023 and contributed a 4.32 ERA and 139:36 K:BB across 127 innings of work. He'll look to build upon that this season.

The Angels and Sandoval avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.025 million contract Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's a sizable raise for Sandoval, who was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander experienced a breakout in 2022 but regressed to a 4.11 ERA and 128:74 K:BB over 144.2 frames in 2023. He'll be seeking more consistency in 2024.

Weaver signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Weaver bounced around between the Reds, Mariners and Yankees last season with limited overall success. However, he logged a 3.38 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 13.1 innings with New York, so the Yankees will bring Weaver back as a potential option at the back end of the rotation.

Cease signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Cease followed up his impressive 2022 campaign with a disappointing 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 214:79 K:BB through 177 innings. Despite his decline, Cease remains a likely candidate to be traded for prospects prior to or during the season as the White Sox continue their rebuild.

The Astros and Urquidy avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.75 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Urquidy was eligible for arbitration for the second time. The right-hander had a down 2023 campaign that was sabotaged by injury, as he finished with a 5.29 ERA over 63 innings. He wouldn't seem to be guaranteed a rotation spot heading into 2024.