MLB Player News
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Settles at $4.7 million
The Brewers and Megill avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.7 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
It's a nice raise for Megill, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the second time. The 32-year-old notched a career-high 30 saves in 2025, collecting a 2.49 ERA and 60:17 K:BB over 47 regular-season innings. Megill should open the 2026 campaign as the Brewers' closer, but Abner Uribe could also be in the mix to save games.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Finalizes deal for 2026
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.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Settles with Red Sox
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.
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Gavin Lux SS | CIN
Reds' Gavin Lux: Avoids arbitration
The Reds and Lux avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.525 million contract Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Lux had been eligible for salary arbitration for the final time, as he's slated to reach free agency next winter. The 28-year-old hit .269/.350/.374 with five home runs over 140 regular-season games in his first season with the Reds. The left-handed-hitting Lux should play regularly against right-handed pitching in 2026, though he's unlikely to be locked into one position defensively.
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Johan Oviedo SP | BOS
Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Gets $1.55 million from Boston
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.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Gets $7.65 million from Brewers
The Brewers and Vaughn avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.65 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Vaughn was reinvigorated after a trade to the Brewers last season, slashing .308/.375/.493 with nine homers across 64 regular-season tilts. He will enter the 2026 campaign slated for the bulk of the playing time at first base for Milwaukee.
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Avoids arbitration at $8.5 million
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.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Settles with A's
Langeliers signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Athletics on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Langeliers emerged as one of the top bats in the Athletics' lineup in 2025 while slashing .277/.325/.536 with 31 homers, 72 RBI, 73 runs scored and seven steals across 123 contests. He'll take a $4.48 million raise into his fifth MLB season as a result while maintaining a firm grip on the starting catcher job in Sacramento.
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Anthony Bender RP | MIA
Marlins' Anthony Bender: Avoids arbitration with Marlins
The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.81 million contract Thursday, Craig Mish of FanDuel Sports Network Florida reports.
Bender finished with a 2.16 ERA in 2025, though his strikeout rate dropped to 20.6 percent and walk rate ballooned to 10.3 percent. The veteran reliever is in line to serve in a setup role for the Marlins in 2026 ahead of closer Pete Fairbanks.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Gets $4.5 million from Padres
Sheets and the Padres avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Sheets enjoyed a resurgence at the plate during his first year with the Padres, slashing .252/.317/.429 while setting new career highs with 19 homers, 71 RBI and 57 runs scored across 545 regular-season plate appearances. He'll be rewarded with a $2.9 million raise from the club and figures to remain as San Diego's primary DH in 2026.