MLB Player News

Manaea agreed to a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the A's on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

This was the big lefty's second of four years as an arbitration-eligible player. He had a successful return from injury late in 2019 (1.21 ERA, 0.78 WHIP) and will look to build back up his innings in 2020.

Devenski signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Astros on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The team declined his $2.63 million club option for 2020 in November, but the 29-year-old will stick around on a lesser deal while avoiding arbitration. Devenski had another up-and-down season in 2019 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 72:21 K:BB over 69 innings.

Farmer signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract Friday with the Tigers, avoiding arbitration, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

Farmer took a major step forward in 2019 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 73:24 K:BB over 67.2 innings while recording 15 holds, leading to the raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old enters the 2020 campaign as one of the Tigers' top bullpen arms.

Colome and the White Sox avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10,532,500 deal, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports.

Colome saved 30 games for the 72-win White Sox last season while posting a 2.80 ERA. He could be in line for a higher total this season after the team made several moves to be more competitive over the offseason, though Steve Cishek, who owns 132 career saves, is now available as an alternative should Colome get off to a poor start.

Wittgren signed a one-year, $1.125 million deal to avoid arbitration with the Indians on Friday, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

Wittgren was acquired by the Indians from the Marlins in February and had a quality first season with his new team, posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 60:15 K:BB over 57.2 innings with 12 holds and four saves. The 28-year-old figures to work in a similar role in 2020.

Duffey signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Twins on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old earned a solid raise in his first season of arbitration eligibility with somewhat of a breakout campaign last year, posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 82:14 K:BB with 15 holds in 57.2 innings. Duffey is unlikely to see much in terms of saves next season, but he could work as a setup man if he can replicate his 2019 performance.

Barnes and the Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Considered a top closing candidate prior to last season, Barnes wound up saving just four games. His 38.6 percent strikeout rate was excellent, but when combined with a poor 13.3 percent walk rate, he wound up with a merely decent 3.78 ERA.

Pruitt was traded from the Rays to the Astros in exchange for Peyton Battenfield and Cal Stevenson on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Pruitt put together the best big-league season of his career in 2019 with the Rays, posting a 4.40 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 39:12 K:BB over 47 frames. He'll join a Houston bullpen that already has a handful of impressive arms, likely putting him in line for mid-to-low-leverage work in 2020.

Herget cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

The 26-year-old was designated for assignment twice following the end of the 2019 season, but he cleared waivers this time around and was assigned outright to Triple-A Nashville. The right-hander made his major-league debut last season, posting a 4.26 ERA over 6.1 innings for the Reds.

Castro signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old appeared in 65 games last year and recorded a 4.66 ERA that was up slightly from his two previous seasons. He got the chance to record a couple saves when Mychal Givens was briefly demoted from the closer's role, but Castro will likely need to bring his ERA down if he hopes to be trusted in more high-leverage situations.