MLB Player News

Giles agreed to a one-year, $9.6 million deal with the Blue Jays, avoiding arbitration, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

This is his third and final year as an arbitration-eligible player before he hits the open market. Giles will be unchallenged as the Jays' closer as long as he is healthy and reasonably effective, but it's possible he could be dangled in trades at the deadline if Toronto falls out of the playoff mix.

Norris and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $2.96 million contract Friday, avoiding arbitration, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Norris will more than double his $1.28 million salary from 2019. He didn't exactly have a great year, posting a 4.49 ERA in 29 starts and three relief appearances, though that ERA still represented his best mark since 2016.

Hendriks and the Athletics agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Hendriks will more than double his salary from the previous season, a very deserved raise following his breakout campaign. In his ninth season in the majors, Hendriks improved his ERA from 4.13 to 1.80 and saw his strikeout rate jump from 21.2 percent to 37.4 percent. He saved 25 games and should be in line to save several more this season provided he can keep up a similar level of performance.

Montero signed a one-year, $785,000 contract with the Rangers on Friday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Montero will receive a slight raise in his second season of arbitration eligibility after excelling as a reliever in 2019. The 29-year-old had a 2.48 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 34:5 K:BB over 29 innings and could work in a high-leverage bullpen role next season.

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.