MLB Player News
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Settles with Arizona
The Diamondbacks and Moreno avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.55 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
It's a nice raise for Moreno, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The catcher was limited to 83 games due to injury in 2025 but had his best offensive season, slashing .285/.353/.433 with nine home runs. Moreno -- who turns 26 in February -- has breakout potential in 2026 if he can stay healthy.
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Nolan Gorman 2B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Avoids arbitration with Cardinals
The Cardinals and Gorman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.655 million contract Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
It was Gorman's first year of arbitration eligibility. The 25-year-old has regressed at the dish over the last two seasons, finishing 2025 with a .666 OPS, 14 home runs and a 33.8 percent strikeout rate in 111 games. The left-handed-hitting Gorman could get another opportunity for regular at-bats versus right-handed pitching in 2026, though his playing time outlook would diminish if the Cardinals are unable to trade Nolan Arenado.
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Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Settles with Cardinals
The Cardinals and Liberatore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.26 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Liberatore was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The left-hander had a solid first full season in the Cardinals' rotation, finishing 2025 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 122:40 K:BB in 151.2 innings over 29 starts. Liberatore will be counted on as a key member of the St. Louis rotation again in 2026.
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Jake Irvin SP | WAS
Nationals' Jake Irvin: Avoids arbitration
The Nationals and Irvin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Irvin finished the 2025 campaign with a 5.70 ERA while serving up a major-league high 38 home runs. The right-hander's durability has been his biggest asset to this point, as he's made 33 starts in consecutive seasons. Irvin does not appear locked into a rotation spot in 2026, though his chances of nabbing one would increase if the Nationals trade MacKenzie Gore.
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Alec Burleson LF | STL
Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Reaches deal with St. Louis
The Cardinals and Burleson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million contract Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Burleson receives a well-earned raise in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 27-year-old has made a steady progression offensively for the Cardinals, finishing the 2025 campaign with a .290/.343/.459 batting line and 18 home runs. Burleson is slated to take over as the everyday first baseman in 2026 after spending most of his first four seasons playing the outfield.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Settles with Philadelphia
The Phillies and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.5 million contract Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Duran notched a career-high 32 saves in 2025, posting a 2.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 80:19 K:BB over 70 regular-season innings between the Twins and Phillies. The hard-throwing reliever should be one of the top closers in fantasy baseball again in 2026.
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Nets $10.2 million from Phillies
The Phillies and Bohm avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $10.2 million contract Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
It's a nice raise for Bohm, who had been eligible for salary arbitration for a final time. The 29-year-old slashed .287/.331/.409 and thumped 11 homers over 120 regular-season contests for the Phillies in 2025. Bohm is slated to hit the free-agent market next winter.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Avoids arbitration with Mets
The Mets and Alvarez (thumb) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Alvarez had been arbitration-eligible for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier following a season that saw him put up a .787 OPS with 11 home runs over 76 tilts. The 24-year-old was scheduled to have surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb shortly after the season, but he's expected to be ready to go for spring training.
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Will Benson RF | CIN
Reds' Will Benson: Settles with Reds
The Reds and Benson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.725 million contract Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Benson had been arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 27-year-old slashed .226/.273/.435 with 12 long balls over 90 contests for the Reds in 2025. He could open the 2026 season as the Reds' left fielder against right-handed pitching, though he will have competition for playing time.
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TJ Friedl CF | CIN
Reds' TJ Friedl: Gets $3.8 million from Reds
The Reds and Friedl avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.8 million contract Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Friedl receives a nice pay bump in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 30-year-old slashed .261/.364/.378 with 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 2025 and is slated again to open up the 2026 campaign as the Reds' primary center fielder.