MLB Player News

Varsho signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Varsho will take a cool $2.55 million raise for 2026 after slashing .238/.284/.548 with 20 homers, 55 RBI and 43 runs scored in the regular season over 271 plate appearances. The 29-year-old outfielder is due to enter free agency next winter.

Vest agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The right-hander will more than double his salary from 2025, during which he posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 75:22 K:BB over 68.2 regular-season innings while converting 23 of 30 save chances. Vest should see some save opportunities in 2026, but he could be used more often as a setup man given that Detroit signed Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen this winter.

Greene agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Greene receives a nice raise for 2026 in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The outfielder set career highs with 36 home runs, 111 RBI and 84 runs in 157 regular-season games in 2025, though he also had a career-worst 30.7 percent strikeout rate.

Kwan signed a one-year, $7.725 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Kwan's .704 OPS during the 2025 regular season marked a new career low for him, though he was still fairly productive at the plate while batting .272 and driving in a career-high 56 RBI. He'll bring in a $3.55 million raise for the 2026 campaign and figures to continue playing in left field every day for the Guardians.

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.

Torkelson signed a one-year, $4.075 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Torkelson will bring in a $3.2893 million raise during his first year of arbitration eligibility after enjoying his best year at the plate in 2025, during which he slashed .240/.333/.456 with 31 homers, 78 RBI and 82 runs scored across 649 regular-season plate appearances. He's a safe bet to continue operating as Detroit's everyday first baseman in 2026 while batting near the middle of the order.

Mountcastle agreed to a one-year, $6.787 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. The deal includes a $7.5 million club option for 2027.

The 28-year-old's standing on Baltimore's roster is a bit murky following the offseason acquisitions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, but Mountcastle still received a modest raise for 2026, plus the club option. The first baseman doesn't have a clear path to playing time after recording a career-low .653 OPS with just seven home runs in 89 games last season, so his name is likely to continue coming up in trade rumors.

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.

Henderson agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's a massive raise for Henderson in his first year of arbitration eligibility, which is hardly a surprise given that he's been one of the most productive shortstops in baseball since debuting in 2022. The 24-year-old's production dropped a bit in 2025, however, but he still finished with 17 homers, 30 steals, 68 RBI, 85 runs and a .787 OPS in 154 contests.