MLB Player News

The Cubs and Leiter avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It was his first year of arbitration eligibility. Leiter has turned himself into a valuable reliever for the Cubs, having held a 3.50 ERA and 77:24 K:BB over 64.1 innings last season. He should see action in high-leverage spots again this year.

The Phillies and Hoffman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.2 million contract Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Hoffman, who is coming off his best season in the majors after collecting a 2.41 ERA and 69:19 K:BB over 52.1 innings. He'll be a high-leverage option out of the Phillies' bullpen again in 2024.

The Pirates and Bednar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.51 million contract Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's a sizable, well-earned raise for Bednar in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He's collected 61 saves while posting a 2.25 ERA and 226:56 K:BB over 179.2 innings during his time in Pittsburgh, blossoming into one of the best closers in baseball.

Almonte was traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs along with Michael Busch in exchange for Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers wanted to open up some 40-man roster spots, so they'll turn Almonte and Busch into a pair of yet to be reported minor leaguers. Almonte, 29, has a 96-mph fastball and struck out 49 in 48 innings for the Dodgers last season, but his 5.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP prevented him from turning in positive fantasy value. He should work in lower leverage situations.

The Dodgers and Yarbrough avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Yarbrough was in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander held a 4.52 ERA and 67:14 K:BB over 89.2 frames for the Royals and Dodgers in 2023.

Atlanta and Minter avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.22 million contract, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

It's a well-earned raise for Minter in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander's 3.76 ERA in 2023 was a tad elevated, but he boasted an 82:21 K:BB over 64.2 innings while notching 10 saves. Minter will be counted on in high-leverage spots again in 2024.

The Brewers and Wilson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

This was Wilson's first year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander thrived in 2023 in his first year as a full-time reliever, posting a 2.58 ERA and 61:22 K:BB over 76.2 innings of work. He'll work in middle relief again in 2024.

The Dodgers and Ferguson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

It's a nice salary bump for Ferguson, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the final time. The left-handed reliever collected a 3.43 ERA and 70:23 K:BB across 60.1 frames with the Dodgers in 2023.

The Marlins and Puk avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract Thursday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

It was Puk's first year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander saved 15 games while posting a 3.97 ERA and 78:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings in 2023. The Marlins plan to send Puk to camp as a starter, but the odds of him returning to relief would appear high.

The Cubs and Alzolay avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.11 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It's a nice little raise for Alzolay, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 28-year-old emerged as the Cubs' closer in 2023, saving 22 games while posting a 2.67 ERA and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings. Provided Chicago doesn't add a closer from outside the organization, Alzolay is in line to serve in that role again in 2024.