MLB Player News

Merryweather signed a $1.175 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

In his first season with the Cubs, Merryweather turned in the best year of his career with a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 72 innings while picking up two saves and 17 holds. The 32-year-old earns a $438,000 raise in his first arbitration year, and he appears in position to continue serving in a setup role for Adbert Alzolay.

Suter agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Reds on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The deal comes with a $3.5 million club option ($500K buyout) for 2025. Suter goes from the worst pitcher's park in baseball (Coors Field) to the second- or third-worst pitcher's park in Cincinnati. He has logged an ERA under 3.80 in five consecutive seasons and seven of his eight big-league seasons. Suter is one of the better middle relievers to pick up wins with, but he has one career save.

The Reds and Sims avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.85 million contract Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

It was the reliever's third and final year of arbitration eligibility. Sims managed to stay healthy and pitch well for Cincinnati this past season, collecting a 3.10 ERA and three saves to go along with a 72:39 K:BB over 61 innings. He'll likely be relied upon for high-leverage outings again in 2024.

Romero agreed to a one-year contact with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

The 27-year-old southpaw is coming off his best big-league season, in which he registered a 3.68 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. Romero should work as the Cardinals' top lefty reliever in 2024.

King agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

The 29-year-old lefty has seen his strikeout rate decline in three consecutive seasons, while his WHIP has gone up for three years in a row. He is a left-handed groundball specialist who has more real-life value than fantasy value.

Kittredge agreed to a one-year, $2.63 million deal with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

He was just traded to St. Louis from Tampa Bay last week in exchange for Richie Palacios, so naturally the two sides came to an agreement. Kittredge, who has been limited to 31.2 innings over the last two seasons due to injury, should work in a setup capacity for the Cardinals. He has 15 saves in 96 appearances over the past four seasons.

The Rockies and Lambert avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.25 million contract Thursday, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Lambert receives a nice little raise in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander's 2023 season ended with a 5.36 ERA and biceps tendinitis, but he should be healthy for the start of spring training.

Helsley signed a one-year, $3.8 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

A forearm strain forced Helsley to miss roughly three months of the 2023 campaign, but he still managed to accumulate 14 saves while posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 36.2 innings. The 29-year-old righty surrendered just one run and struck out 19 batters in 11.2 innings after returning from his injury and should again close for the Cardinals in 2024.

Feyereisen (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $770,000 deal with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

He was traded to the Dodgers from the Rays in December of 2022 after Tampa Bay initially designated him for assignment, and he missed the entire 2023 season recovering from shoulder surgery, so it's not surprising to see Feyereisen get one of the lowest deals among arbitration-eligible players. The 30-year-old reliever did not give up an earned run in 24.1 innings for the Rays in 2022. He has four career saves in 83 appearances.

Phillips agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The offseason isn't over, and Josh Hader remains unsigned while other top relievers could be getting shopped, but as things stand, Phillips would be the Dodgers' top ninth-inning option again in 2024. He had a 2.05 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 66 strikeouts and 24 saves in 62 games last season.