MLB Player News

The Red Sox and Crawford avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Crawford reached Super 2 status, so he will receive a substantial pay bump. The right-hander made 33 starts for the Red Sox in 2024, finishing with a 4.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 175:51 K:BB across 183.2 frames. Crawford should open the season in Boston's rotation, though he could be the odd man out depending how the rest of the offseason and spring training unfold.

Taveras agreed to a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 26-year-old played in a career-high 151 games last season but had an underwhelming .229/.289/.352 slash line with 12 home runs and 23 stolen bases. Taveras is likely to begin 2025 as Texas' No. 4 outfielder, assuming Evan Carter (back), Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia (knee) can stay healthy.

The Astros and Meyers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

It's a substantial pay bump for Meyers, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time. The outfielder slashed .219/.286/.360 with 13 homers and 11 steals over 148 regular-season games for Houston in 2024 and should operate as its primary center fielder again to open 2025.

Isbel agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Isbel will receive a $1 million raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility after slashing .229/.287/.367 with 42 RBI and 11 stolen bases across 136 regular-season games last year. While he is expected to start regularly in the outfield again in 2025, the 27-year-old's career-long lack of offensive production means he can be safely left off fantasy managers' radar.

The Astros and Abreu avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million contract Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He was arbitration-eligible for a second time this winter. Abreu's ERA rose to 3.10 ERA during the 2024 regular season, but he notched 100 strikeouts in relief for the second year in a row and will again be a primary setup man ahead of closer Josh Hader in the Houston bullpen in 2025.

Manoah (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Following a delayed start to the season, Manoah was able to turn in a 3.70 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 24.1 innings before a sprained UCL ended his campaign early in late May. The 27-year-old underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to address the issue in June and is targeting August for his return to a big-league mound in 2025.

The Rays and Rortvedt avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Rortvedt led Rays catchers with 328 plate appearances in 2024 but is slated to take a back seat to Danny Jansen in 2025.

The White Sox and Murfee (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $780,000 contract Thursday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Murfee was a waiver claim of the White Sox earlier this offseason after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. He had to be pulled off a rehab assignment with elbow soreness in August but was throwing again by the end of the season, so the hope is he enters spring training healthy.

Vaughn signed a one-year, $5.85 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Vaughn had a career-worst .699 OPS over 149 games in 2024 but will still receive a sizable raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The 26-year-old should open 2025 as Chicago's primary first baseman, but his opportunities could shrink if he continues to regress.

Houck agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

After logging a 5.01 ERA in 2023, Houck bounced back with a 3.12 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season while also posting a 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames. His improvement will earn him a $3.18 million raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and the 28-year-old righty is expected to follow new acquisition Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox's rotation.