MLB Player News

Dubon agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Astros on Friday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Dubon made his big-league debut in 2019 and is now in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old appeared in 83 games for the Astros last year and had a .208/.254/.294 slash line, and he should fill a utility role in 2023, assuming he makes the Opening Day roster.

Estrada signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract from the Giants on Friday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Estrada gets a big raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility as a Super Two qualifier. The 26-year-old played a bigger-than-expected role for the Giants in 2022, finishing with a .722 OPS, 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He's the favorite to be the team's Opening Day second baseman.

Kemp agreed to a one-year, $3.725 million contract with the A's on Friday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 31-year-old made just over $1 million last season, and he'll more than triple that figure in 2023, which is his final year of arbitration eligibility. Kemp played in a career-high 147 games last year and had a .235/.307/.334 slash line with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Rodgers signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Rockies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

It's a substantial raise for Rodgers, who was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The infielder slashed .266/.325/.408 with 13 home runs in 2022 while winning his first Gold Glove award at second base. Rodgers is still just 26 so it's possible he has some untapped upside.

Urias agreed to a one-year, $4.7 million contract with the Brewers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Urias will receive a sizable raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility after he made $2.55 million in 2022. The 25-year-old struggled during the first half last season, but he found more success after the All-Star break with a .790 OPS in 56 games.

Hoerner signed a one-year, $2.525 million contract with the Cubs on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Hoerner had a nice 2022 campaign, putting up a .736 OPS with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He'll move back over to second base in 2023 following the Cubs' addition of Dansby Swanson.

Arroyo signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Red Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Although Arroyo was able to record a career-high .286 batting average last season, the quality of his plate appearances was pretty low for someone with an average as high as his -- his 4.3 percent walk rate didn't help his cause either. Still, he displayed enough offensive production and defensive versatility to get into Boston's lineup most games, though he holds little fantasy value.

Biggio signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Biggio has been a disappointment at the plate two years running with back-to-back sub-.700 OPS seasons. His versatility is appealing, though, and he looks to be in line for a super-utility role again in 2023.

Espinal and the Blue Jays agreed on a one-year, $2.1 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The 28-year-old infielder busted onto the scene in 2022, batting .267 with seven homers, 51 RBI, 51 runs and six stolen bases over 135 games in a season during which he made his first All Star team. Espinal will likely operate as a utility option in 2023 with Whit Merrifield expected to be the Jays' primary second baseman, and he could start at multiple spots across the infield.

Lopez signed a one-year, $3.7 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

A case could have been made for Lopez to be a non-tender candidate after he had one of the worst seasons at the plate as a regular in recent memory with a .227/.281/.273 batting line in 2022. However, he's still excellent defensively and the Royals will hope he can regain his form from 2021 when he slashed .300/.365/.378. Lopez is slated to compete with Michael Massey for playing time at second base and offers depth at third behind the perpetually injured Adalberto Mondesi (knee).