MLB Player News

Heim and the Rangers agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Heim is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility and will earn a $1.5 million raise from 2024. He's coming off of a disappointing season, as he slugged only 13 homers with a .602 OPS across 491 plate appearances. Heim is currently projected to split time behind the plate with newly acquired Kyle Higashioka in 2025.

Kirk agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Kirk will get a $1.8 million raise ahead of the 2025 campaign, which will be his sixth with Toronto. The catcher produced a .253 average with five home runs, 54 RBI and 23 runs scored over 103 games in 2024. Kirk will likely operate as the team's primary catcher again in 2025 with Tyler Heineman set to serve as his primary backup.

Stephenson agreed to a one-year, $4.925 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Stephenson receives a $2.4 million raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility after slashing .258/.338/.444 and setting career highs with 19 homers, 69 runs scored and 66 RBI in 2024. The Reds' offseason acquisition of Jose Trevino shouldn't cut too much into Stephenson's playing time, and the 28-year-old still projects as one of the better offensive backstops in the majors.

The Marlins and Fortes avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fortes, 28, has managed just a .222/.275/.344 batting line over parts of four major-league seasons. He sits atop the Marlins' depth chart at catcher but is not an appealing fantasy option.

The Rays and Rortvedt avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Rortvedt led Rays catchers with 328 plate appearances in 2024 but is slated to take a back seat to Danny Jansen in 2025.

The Reds and Trevino avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.425 million contract Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Picked up in a trade with the Yankees last month, Trevino was arbitration-eligible for the third and final time. The 32-year-old will be the Reds' No. 2 catcher in 2025 behind Tyler Stephenson.

Raleigh agreed to a one-year, $5.6 million contract with the Mariners on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Raleigh will receive a $4.8 million salary bump in his first year of arbitration eligibility after setting career highs with 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 2024. While his career .218 batting average remains an issue for fantasy managers, the 28-year-old's power and consistent playing time make him well worth rostering in 2025.

The Twins and Jeffers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.55 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Jeffers had been eligible for salary arbitration for a second time. The catcher took a step back offensively in 2024 with a .226/.300/.432 batting line but still cranked a career-high 21 home runs. He's currently slated to share catching duties with Christian Vazquez in 2025.

The Orioles and Rutschman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Rutschman receives a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The switch-hitting catcher trailed off in the second half of the 2024 regular season for the Orioles but still popped 19 home runs and drove in 79 runs.

Bart and the Pirates avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million deal, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft was unable to establish himself as the Giants' long-term answer at catcher over parts of four seasons in the big leagues, but the 28-year-old benefited from a change of scenery after he was shipped to Pittsburgh in April. He ended the 2024 campaign as the Pirates' top catcher, having slashed .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs across 282 plate appearances. The Pirates have 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and 24-year-old Endy Rodriguez on hand as intriguing young options at catcher, but based on his performance last season, Bart will enter spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Bucs' top backstop.