The Cardinals and Donovan avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.8 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan finished the 2025 season with a .287/.353/.422 batting line, 10 home runs and 32 doubles over 118 contests. He's a strong candidate to be traded before Opening Day, but if that doesn't happen, Donovan will open 2026 as the Cardinals' primary second baseman. He underwent abdominal surgery in October but is fully recovered.

The Nationals and Gore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.6 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Gore concluded the 2025 campaign with a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 185:64 K:BB over 159.2 innings covering 30 starts. The left-hander's name has come up often in trade rumors this offseason, and he will be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time next winter.

Atlanta designated Brujan for assignment Thursday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Ken Waldichuk, who was claimed off waivers. Brujan has a lackluster .199/.267/.276 career batting line across parts of five big-league seasons, but he could draw interest on waivers due to his defensive versatility.

Atlanta claimed Waldichuk off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.

Waldichuk was sidelined for a year-and-a-half following Tommy John surgery and posted an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025 after returning. The lefty boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors and has minor-league options remaining, so it's not a surprise he didn't pass through waivers. Waldichuk will likely begin 2026 in the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation.

The Cardinals and Romero avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.26 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Romero, who is slated to hit the free-agent market next winter. The lefty reliever held a 2.07 ERA and 55:29 K:BB over 61 innings in 2025, picking up eight saves. Romero could be in the mix for saves again if he's still with the Cardinals on Opening Day, but a trade to a contender -- where he'd likely fill in a middle-relief role -- is likelier.

The Pirates and Bart avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.53 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Bart's second year in Pittsburgh didn't go nearly as well as his first, as he finished the 2025 campaign with a .249/.355/.340 batting line and only four home runs in 93 contests. The 29-year-old is in line to share catching duties with Henry Davis again in 2026.

The Cubs and Steele (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.775 million contract Thursday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Steele gets a modest raise after he missed nearly all of the 2025 season following UCL revision surgery. The left-hander's rehab has come along well, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least the first month or so of the 2026 campaign.

The Mets and Brazoban avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.05 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

The 36-year-old was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brazoban collected a 3.57 ERA and 57:27 K:BB over 63 frames for the Mets in 2025 and is slated for a middle-relief role again in 2026.

The Diamondbacks and Thomas avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.9625 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Thomas was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 25-year-old is regarded as a plus defender in center field but has not progressed offensively, finishing 2025 with a .249/.289/.370 batting line. If he's still with the team on Opening Day, Thomas figures to again receive the bulk of the reps in center field.

The Brewers and Zerpa avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.095 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Zerpa was acquired via trade from the Royals earlier in the offseason and had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The lefty held a 4.18 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 64.2 innings in 2025 and could be stretched out as a starting pitcher in his first spring training with the Brewers.