MLB Player News
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Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Collects $5.71 million for 2026
Brown agreed to a one-year, $5.71 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander will receive a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brown positioned himself as Houston's ace in 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206:57 K:BB across 185.1 innings.
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Tyler Wells SP | BAL
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Nets $2.45 million for 2026
Wells agreed to a one-year, $2.45 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
The right-hander made his season debut for the Orioles late in 2025 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the injury limited his earning potential while heading into his third year of arbitration eligibility. Wells posted a 2.91 ERA over four starts in September and had a 3.64 ERA across 118.2 innings during his last full season in 2023. He's expected to enter spring training as a starter but isn't guaranteed to crack the rotation with the Orioles trading for Shane Baz and signing Zach Eflin (back) this winter. Even if Wells does earn a starting spot, he'll likely have some workload limitations in 2026 while coming off two mostly lost seasons.
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Casey Mize SP | DET
Tigers' Casey Mize: Avoids arbitration
Mize agreed to a one-year, $6.15 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The right-hander was a reliable rotation piece for Detroit in 2025, making 28 regular-season starts with a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 139:36 K:BB across 149 innings. He doubled his previous career high with 14 wins and should be a key starter for the Tigers again in 2026.
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Daniel Lynch SP | KC
Royals' Daniel Lynch: Gets $1.025 million from Royals
Lynch agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lynch finished the 2025 campaign with a 3.06 ERA across 67.2 innings, although his 4.75 FIP indicates he may have been fortunate to get those results. He'll pick up a slight raise for 2026 and figures to continue working in a multi-inning relief role for the Royals.
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George Kirby SP | SEA
Mariners' George Kirby: Avoids arbitration with M's
Kirby signed a one-year, $6.55 million contract with the Mariners on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Kirby turned in the worst statistical season of his four-year MLB career in 2025, logging a 4.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 126 regular-season innings, although his 9.8 K/9 marked a new personal best for the 27-year-old righty. He'll receive a $2.25 million raise entering the 2026 campaign and still has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining.
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Dean Kremer SP | BAL
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Settles at $5.75 million
Kremer signed a one-year, $5.75 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Kremer made 31 appearances (29 starts) for the O's in 2025, during which he turned in a 4.19 ERA and 1.21 WHIP to go with a 142:45 K:BB across 171.2 innings. He'll be granted a $2.8 million raise during his second year of arbitration eligibility, and he's a safe bet to open the 2026 campaign in the back end of Baltimore's rotation.
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Bailey Ober SP | MIN
Twins' Bailey Ober: Settles at $5.2 million
Ober signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with the Twins on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Ober endured his worst season in the big leagues in 2025, turning in a 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 146.1 innings with Minnesota. His second year of arbitration eligibility will grant him a $1.65 million raise, however, and his spot in the Twins' rotation appears to be safe.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Settles with Red Sox
Houck (elbow) avoided arbitration with the Red Sox by signing a one-year, $4.15 million contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Houck never found his footing on the mound in 2025, putting up an 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP over 43.2 innings before elbow trouble ended his season in May. He underwent hybrid UCL repair surgery in mid-August to address the issue and is aiming to return around the end of the 2026 season, though he may have to wait until 2027 to rejoin Boston's rotation.
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Johan Oviedo SP | BOS
Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Gets $1.55 million from Boston
Oviedo signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
A lat strain prevented Oviedo from making his first appearance of 2025 until August, at which point he turned in a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 40.1 innings in nine starts with the Pirates. After being traded to Boston in December, the 27-year-old will take in a $700,000 raise from his new club and look to win a spot in the Sox's rotation during spring training.
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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Avoids arbitration with Red Sox
The Red Sox and Crawford (wrist) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Crawford will receive the same salary in 2026 after he missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury and then right wrist surgery. The hurler is expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, though it's possible he's slow-played at the beginning of spring training. Assuming health, Crawford is set to compete for a spot in Boston's rotation.