MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.