MLB Player News

Littell and the Rays avoided arbitration Thursday, agreeing to a one-year, $5.72 million contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Littell will receive a raise of just under $4 million in his second year of arbitration, coming off a solid showing in his first season as a full-time starter in the big leagues. He tossed 156.1 innings across his 29 outings with Tampa Bay in 2024, pitching to a 3.63 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 141:31 K:BB. Littell's lack of premium stuff will likely limit his strikeout upside once again in 2025, but his ability to keep walks in check while using of a variety of off-speed offerings to keep hitters off balance may allow him to find continued success as a back-end arm in the Tampa Bay rotation.

The Orioles and Rogers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.6 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Rogers managed a disappointing 4.92 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 97:56 K:BB across 124.1 innings in 2024 between the Marlins and Orioles. The left-hander finished the season in the minors and would appear to currently be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot in Baltimore.

Falter and the Pirates avoided arbitration by agreeing Thursday to a one-year, $2.22 million contract, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Falter was arbitration-eligible for the first time, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he covered a career-high 142.1 innings over 28 starts for the Pirates. The southpaw was decent enough as a back-end rotation arm with a 4.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, but a career-worst 16.5 percent strikeout rate doesn't inspire much confidence in his ability to take any sort of major step forward. Even though he should be in good shape to retain a rotation spot heading into 2025, Falter's fantasy utility will likely be limited to deeper mixed leagues or NL-only leagues.

Mize and the Tigers avoided arbitration after agreeing to a one-year, $2.34 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers declined Mize's $3.1 million club option for 2025 earlier in the offseason, but the 27-year-old right-hander will stick around in Detroit at a more team-friendly price. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft has struggled to bounce back from his June 2022 Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2023 season. He broke camp last season as a member of Detroit's rotation but proceeded to turn in middling ratios (4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 10.8 K-BB%) over his 102.1 innings with the big club spanning 22 appearances (20 starts), and the Tigers ultimately moved him to the bullpen down the stretch. Mize will likely have to compete for a back-end spot in Detroit's rotation once again this spring.

Garcia (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.875 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Garcia's salary won't change much from the $1.88 million he received last season, which makes sense considering he hasn't appeared in a big-league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. However, the 28-year-old righty has been throwing live BP since September, so he figures to have a good chance at being ready for the start of spring training.

Garrett will miss the 2025 season after undergoing UCL revision surgery with an internal brace in December, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Garrett made just seven starts for the Marlins during the 2024 season due to forearm and elbow problems and his UCL finally gave out. The left-hander had Tommy John surgery previously, so while the December operation was less invasive, it will still be a very lengthy rehab. If all goes well, it's possible Garrett is ready for the start of the 2026 season.

The White Sox signed Perez to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The deal includes a $10 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026, so Perez is guaranteed at least $5 million. Perez split his 2024 season between the Pirates and Padres, collecting a 4.53 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 107:49 K:BB across 135 innings covering 26 starts. The 33-year-old left-hander should open the season in Chicago's rotation but will have limited fantasy appeal.

The Nationals designated Adon (biceps) for assignment Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Amed Rosario. Adon holds a career 6.66 ERA over 35 appearances (26 starts) at the major-league level. He ended the 2024 season on the injured list with a biceps strain and it's unclear what his current health situation is.

Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Giants on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Verlander battled shoulder and neck injuries in 2024, the latter of which he's hinted at returning too soon from and could have played a factor in him finishing the year with a 5.48 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 90.1 innings -- easily the worst line of his illustrious career. Set to turn 42 in February, he's unlikely to approach numbers similar to his 2022 AL Cy Young campaign, though a full offseason of recovery could enable the veteran righty to return to form as a quality starter in 2025.

The Rays and Rasmussen avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract extension, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal also includes an $8 million club option for 2027, which could escalate to as high as $20 million if Rasmussen reaches all of his health and innings pitched incentives. There's a $500,000 buyout attached to the option, so the right-hander is guaranteed a total of $8.5 million with the extension. Rasmussen looked sharp in 2024 in his return from an internal brace procedure, holding a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He is expected to return to the rotation full time in 2025, though he will have significant workload restrictions in place after totaling just 80.2 frames since the start of the 2023 season.