MLB Player News

The Nationals and Gore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.6 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Gore concluded the 2025 campaign with a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 185:64 K:BB over 159.2 innings covering 30 starts. The left-hander's name has come up often in trade rumors this offseason, and he will be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time next winter.

Atlanta claimed Waldichuk off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.

Waldichuk was sidelined for a year-and-a-half following Tommy John surgery and posted an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025 after returning. The lefty boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors and has minor-league options remaining, so it's not a surprise he didn't pass through waivers. Waldichuk will likely begin 2026 in the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation.

The Cubs and Steele (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.775 million contract Thursday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Steele gets a modest raise after he missed nearly all of the 2025 season following UCL revision surgery. The left-hander's rehab has come along well, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least the first month or so of the 2026 campaign.

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.

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.

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.

The Mets and Peterson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.1 million contract Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

It's a nice bump in pay for Peterson, who had been eligible for arbitration for the final time. The lefty faded down the stretch for the Mets in 2025 but still finished with a solid 4.22 ERA and 150:65 K:BB over 168.2 innings covering 30 starts.

The Rockies and Feltner (shoulder) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.45 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Feltner finished the 2025 season on the minor-league injured list with right shoulder inflammation, and he had also previously missed time with back trouble. It's unclear whether he will have any limitation when reporting to spring training next month. Feltner had been eligible for arbitration for the second time.

The Mets and Megill (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Megill pitched well when healthy in 2025, posting a 3.95 ERA and 89:33 K:BB over 68.1 innings, but he was limited to only 14 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery. The righty will miss the entire 2026 season but is under team control for 2027.

The Phillies and Luzardo avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $11 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Luzardo will nearly double his salary from 2025 after posting a 3.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 216:57 K:BB over 183.2 regular-season innings covering 32 starts in 2025 in his first season with the Phillies. The left-hander is slated to reach free agency next offseason.