MLB Player News

The Cubs agreed to terms on a one-year, $5 million contract with Rea on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The deal also includes a club option for 2026. The Brewers declined Rea's $5.5 million club option for 2025 back in November, but between his $1 million buyout and new deal with the Cubs, he'll wind up with a little more than had the option been picked up. Rea posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 32 regular-season appearances (27 starts), but he had a 3.70 ERA through the end of August before a rough September. The Cubs already have at least five starters that are probably better than Rea, so he might pitch in long relief initially.

McCullers (forearm/elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound and is hoping to return early in the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.

McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. After progressing to mound work in May last year, he had his throwing program halted and was ultimately shut down due to soreness in his pitching arm. Testing didn't reveal any structural damage and he's back to throwing off the bump again, although it sounds like it's no given he'll be ready for Opening Day. McCullers last pitched in a major-league game during the 2022 World Series.

Schmidt agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Schmidt will get a $1.57 million raise after he produced a career-best 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 93 strikeouts over 85.1 innings in 16 regular-season starts with New York in 2024. The right-hander also garnered a start in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Dodgers, allowing three earned runs over 2.2 innings. Schmidt will likely enter the 2025 campaign as a back-end starter behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Wells (elbow) and the Orioles avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million contract Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's a slight increase from the $1.96 million that Wells made in his first year of arbitration eligibility last year. He started just three games during 2024 before undergoing a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. It's a procedure that needs at least 12 months of rehab, so Wells will be sidelined until the midseason of 2025, at minimum.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Valdez is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and will earn nearly $6 million more than he did in 2024. He's emerged as one of the more reliable pitchers around the league in recent seasons, posting no worse than a 3.45 ERA in any season since 2021. Valdez has also completed at least 176 innings in each of the last three campaigns.

Feltner agreed to a one-year, $2.275 million contract with the Rockies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It was the first year of arbitration eligibility for Feltner, who set career highs in 2024 with 30 starts and 162.1 innings. The right-hander had a 4.49 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 138:52 K:BB and should begin 2025 as a back-end starter for the Rockies.

The Mets and Peterson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.

Peterson will be able to skip a hearing in what was his second year of arbitration eligibility. The southpaw's strikeout rate dipped to 19.8 percent in 2024, but he finished with a 2.90 ERA over 21 regular-season starts and will open 2025 in the Mets' rotation.

The Mets and Megill avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.

He had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. Megill put up a 27 percent strikeout rate in 16 appearances (15 starts) with the Mets in 2024 but might have to settle for a bullpen job to open 2025.

The Mets and Blackburn (back) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.

Blackburn was eligible for arbitration for the third and final time. The veteran right-hander is recovering from back surgery but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. However, it appears unlikely at this juncture that there will be room for him in the Mets' rotation.

The Royals and Bubic avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic thrived in relief in 2024 in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, holding a 2.67 ERA and 39:5 K:BB over 30.1 regular-season frames. The lefty will be stretched out in spring training as the Royals consider him for their rotation.