MLB Player News

The Twins and Jeffers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.55 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Jeffers had been eligible for salary arbitration for a second time. The catcher took a step back offensively in 2024 with a .226/.300/.432 batting line but still cranked a career-high 21 home runs. He's currently slated to share catching duties with Christian Vazquez in 2025.

The Orioles and Rutschman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Rutschman receives a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The switch-hitting catcher trailed off in the second half of the 2024 regular season for the Orioles but still popped 19 home runs and drove in 79 runs.

Detmers agreed to a one-year, $1.825 million contract with the Angels on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The left-hander spent much of 2024 in the minors and finished with a 6.70 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 109:38 K:BB in 17 starts with the Angels. Detmers may need a strong showing during spring training in order to break camp with the big-league club in 2025.

The Angels and Adell avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.1 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It's a nice raise for Adell, who was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The former top prospect slashed .207/.280/.402in 2024 in his first year as a full-timer at the big-league level, popping 20 home runs and stealing 15 bases along the way.

Baz and the Rays avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.45 million deal, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Baz was limited to 14 starts with Tampa Bay in 2024 after spending the early part of the season completing his recovery from September 2022 Tommy John surgery as well as an oblique injury that cropped up during spring training. Once he joined the big-league rotation in early July, Baz struggled to regain his pre-surgery velocity but achieved strong results nonetheless, posting a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 79.1 innings. Though Baz needed a .229 BABIP and a 9.6 HR/FB% to achieve the shiny ERA, now that he's further removed from elbow surgery, there's reason to hope that the 25-year-old can improve upon his 21.6 K% to help stave off the ERA correction that might otherwise be headed his way in 2025.

The Twins and Castro avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.4 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It was the 27-year-old's final year of arbitration eligibility, as he's slated to hit the free-agent market next offseason. Castro slashed .247/.331/.385 with 12 homers and 14 steals in a super-utility role with the Twins and 2024 and should serve in a similar capacity in 2025.

The Athletics and Andujar (abdomen) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Andujar batted .285/.320/.377 with four home runs in 75 games for the Athletics in 2024 before his season ended in late August due to core muscle surgery. He should be ready for Opening Day and is in line for at least semi-regular at-bats.

Ward and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $7.825 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Ward clubbed a career-high 25 homers last season and will receive a raise of just over $3 million for 2025, which is his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility. He's been a popular name in trade rumors over the past year, but for now it appears he'll be back with the Angels for Opening Day.

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.