MLB Player News

Gonzalez agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

After enjoying a breakout season in his first year with the Red Sox in 2024, Gonzalez continued to improve in '25 and finished the regular season with a .305/.343/.483 slash line alongside nine homers, 53 RBI, 47 runs scored and six steals across 341 plate appearances. He'll receive an $826,000 raise as a reward for his continued progression and enters 2026 as the frontrunner for regular reps at second base for Boston.

Sanchez agreed to a one-year, $6.8 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old outfielder is entering his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility after being traded from Miami to Houston at last summer's deadline. Sanchez posted a .740 OPS for the Marlins in 2025 but scuffled to a .611 OPS after being dealt to the Astros.

Casas (knee) agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Casas' 2025 campaign was disappointing, to say the least, as he slashed just .182/.277/.303 across 112 plate appearances before suffering a season-ending knee injury in May. His path to regular playing time at first base has seemingly disappeared as well, following the Red Sox's acquisition of Willson Contreras (shoulder) from St. Louis in December. It's worth noting that Casas has minor-league options remaining, so the team may decide to send him back to Triple-A Worcester if his struggles continue into spring training.

Baker agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Baker didn't live up to the expectations the Rays had for him when they traded for him in July, as he put up a 4.75 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 30.1 innings while working as a setup man. He'll get another chance to redeem himself in 2026, as the Rays are expected to open the campaign with Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta working as a closer committee.

Falter (biceps) agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Falter failed to make a positive first impression with the Royals after being traded from Pittsburgh at the deadline, as he allowed 15 earned runs over just 12 innings before spending the final month of the season on the injured list due to a biceps contusion. He's likely to be fully recovered by the time spring training starts, at which point he'll compete for a spot in Kansas City's rotation.

Isbel (hamstring) agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Isbel batted .255 over 135 games last year but otherwise failed to improve at the plate, finishing the season with a .654 OPS alongside four home runs, 33 RBI and 42 runs scored -- all decreases from 2024. With the Royals bringing in Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins during the offseason, Isbel is likely to receive some competition for playing time in the outfield in 2026.

Brown agreed to a one-year, $5.71 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander will receive a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brown positioned himself as Houston's ace in 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206:57 K:BB across 185.1 innings.

Kelly agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kelly missed more than a month toward the start of the 2025 season due to a glute strain and struggled to be effective on the mound after returning, finishing the year with a 5.90 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 39.2 frames. He'll take just a $149,000 pay raise as a result and will likely be limited to middle-relief duty until he recaptures his previous form.

Lowe agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe failed to live up to his breakout 2023 campaign again in 2025, ending the season with a .220/.283/.366 slash line alongside 11 homers, 40 RBI and 56 runs scored over 435 plate appearances. He still provides some value as a base-stealing threat, but even his 18 steals this past season marked a three-year low. The 27-year-old has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining.

Pepiot agreed to a one-year, $3.025 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pepiot made a career-high 31 starts for the Rays in 2025 but finished the season with a career-worst 3.86 ERA over 167.2 innings, largely due to his allowing 26 homers. The 28-year-old righty will receive a $2.25 million raise from Tampa Bay during his first year of arbitration eligibility and projects to be one of the top starters in the Rays' rotation in 2026.