MLB Player News
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Bryan Abreu RP | HOU
Astros' Bryan Abreu: Earns $5.85 million with Houston
Abreu signed a one-year, $5.85 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Abreu was one of five relief pitchers in 2025 to record 100-plus strikeouts, doing so for a third consecutive season while boasting a 35.5 percent strikeout rate and 41.2 percent whiff rate. He finished the year with a 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25 holds over 71 innings while recording a career-high seven saves, though that opportunity came only after Josh Hader (shoulder) landed on the IL in mid-August. With Hader on track to be fully healthy by Opening Day, Abreu should return to a setup role to begin 2026.
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Max Meyer SP | MIA
Marlins' Max Meyer: Comes to terms with Miami
Meyer (hip) and the Marlins agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.
Meyer has struggled with injuries throughout his big-league career and made only 12 starts in 2025. He posted a 4.73 ERA and 68:20 K:BB across 64.2 frames before being sidelined in early July by a hip issue that required surgery. Meyer figures to be ready for spring training and should have the inside track on a rotation spot to begin 2026.
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Jason Adam RP | SD
Padres' Jason Adam: Avoids arbitration with San Diego
Adam (quadriceps) signed a one-year, $6.7 million contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
Adam earned his first All-Star selection in 2025, and he finished the regular season with a 1.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 30 holds (tied for fifth most in the majors) and a 70:25 K:BB across 65.1 innings. His 2025 campaign came to an abrupt halt in September after rupturing a tendon in his left quadriceps. After undergoing surgery that carries a 6-to-9 month recovery timeline, the 34-year-old right-hander is expected to begin the 2026 season on the injured list. However, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Adam is expected to be ready to throw off a mound during spring training and may not need a lengthy stint on the IL.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Avoids arbitration with Cincinnati
Lodolo signed a one-year, $4.725 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The deal also includes up to $450,000 in incentives, per Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Lodolo spent the majority of 2025 in the Reds' rotation before being moved to the bullpen for one late-season appearance, plus Cincinnati's brief playoff run. He ended the regular season with a 9-8 record (over a career-high 28 starts) while posting a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 156:31 K:BB across 156.2 innings. Lodolo has seen his ERA and WHIP numbers steadily improve over the past three seasons, and his 4.8 percent walk rate in 2025 ranked fourth among starters with at least 150 innings.
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Tony Santillan RP | CIN
Reds' Tony Santillan: Avoids arbitration
Santillan agreed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Santillan set a career high by pitching 73.2 innings during 2025 and did so while remaining as effective as ever, finishing the regular season with a 2.44 ERA and 1.11 WHIP to go with seven saves and 33 holds. Emilio Pagan isn't likely to let go of his grip on the closer role anytime soon, so Santillan will continue to work as Cincinnati's premier setup man in 2026.
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Brady Singer SP | CIN
Reds' Brady Singer: Secures $12.75 million from Reds
Singer agreed to a one-year, $12.75 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Singer finished his first year in Cincinnati with a 4.03 ERA and 1.24 WHIP alongside a 163:60 K:BB across 169.2 regular-season innings, and he'll now be rewarded in the form of a $4 million salary increase. He'll presumably claim a spot at the back end of the Reds' rotation to begin 2026 and is slated to become a free agent after the end of the season.
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Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Nets deal for 2026
Duran agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Duran played 90 games for the Rangers last season and had a career-worst .559 OPS, failing to hit a home run in 219 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has a contract for 2026 but likely won't have much roster security given that he has a .237/.278/.309 slash line across the past two seasons.
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Anthony Banda RP | MIN
Dodgers' Anthony Banda: Settles at $1.625 million
Banda agreed to a one-year, $1.625 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Banda will receive a $625,000 salary bump after finishing 2025 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 65 innings and notching a career-best 11 holds. Those numbers made him one of the more reliable members of Los Angeles' bullpen last year, but the sheer amount of talent on the Dodgers' pitching staff could force Banda back into a middle-relief role in '26.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Signs deal for 2026
Smith agreed to a one-year, $3.225 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith will end up earning a little more than the $2.5 million that he was projected for in his first year of arbitration eligibility, per Spotrac.com. He's primarily worked as a super-utility player for the Rangers but could find a regular role at second base in 2026 following the offseason departure of Marcus Semien.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Contract official for 2026
Jung agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but Jung was estimated to make about $2.4 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility, according to Spotrac.com. The third baseman played a career-high 131 games last season, but he scuffled to a .251/.294/.390 slash line while hitting just 14 home runs.