MLB Player News
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Gets $9 million with Bronx Bombers
Bednar agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Bednar had a rocky start to the 2025 season with Pittsburgh, which resulted in a brief demotion to Triple-A. His trip to the minors did the trick, as he reclaimed his closer role in the Pirates' bullpen and pitched well before being traded to the Yankees in late July. Bednar served as the preferred closer for the Bronx Bombers toward the tail end of the regular season, and in 22 outings with the Yankees, he logged a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 10 saves (on 13 opportunities) and a 35:9 K:BB across 24.2 innings. Bednar figures to reprise his role as the Yankees' top closer for the 2026 season.
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Matt Brash RP | SEA
Mariners' Matt Brash: Signs deal with Seattle
Brash and the Mariners agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration on Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Brash has been a key high-leverage reliever for the Mariners across the last two seasons, racking up a combined eight saves and 46 holds. He should serve in a similar capacity in 2026, working as the primary setup man to Andres Munoz. This was Brash's first year of arbitration eligibility.
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Andrew Nardi RP | MIA
Marlins' Andrew Nardi: Avoids arbitration with Miami
Nardi and the Marlins agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.
Nardi is in his first year of arbitration eligibility, so it's likely a modest deal. He posted a 5.07 ERA across 49.2 innings of work in 2025, though he had a far more impressive 70:18 K:BB.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Avoids arbitration
McLain agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from shoulder and rib injuries, but he was healthy for the start of last season. He started strong with three home runs and five RBI through the first four games, though that momentum was halted when he landed on the IL briefly due to a hamstring strain. That turned out to be his only stint on the IL in 2025, and he finished the regular season with a .643 OPS, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 18 stolen bases and 73 runs over 577 plate appearances while appearing in 147 games. With a full season under his belt, McLain is expected to enter the 2026 campaign as the Reds' everyday second baseman.
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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.