MLB Player News

Hicks and the Cardinals agreed on a one-year, $1.8375 contract Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Hicks and the team will avoid arbitration after coming to terms on a deal for 2023 on Friday. The right-hander produced a 4.84 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 63 strikeouts and eight holds over 61.1 innings in 35 appearances, including eight starts, with St. Louis last season. Hicks will likely open the 2023 campaign as a setup option ahead of closer Ryan Helsley in the Cardinals' bullpen.

Heuer (elbow) and the Cubs agreed on a one-year, $785,000 contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The right-hander missed the entirety of the 2022 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early March and he will look to make his return to the mound in 2023. Heuer last pitched in 2021, producing a 4.28 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 56 strikeouts over 67.1 innings in 65 appearances between the White Sox and Cubs.

Soto agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Phillies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Soto, and he'll receive a significant raise after he posted a 3.34 ERA with 48 saves while working as Detroit's closer for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Phillies last weekend and is likely to see his save opportunities drop as a member of a closer committee that also features Craig Kimbrel and and Seranthony Dominguez.

Hader agreed to a one-year, $14.1 million contract with the Padres on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It's the biggest salary an arbitration-eligible reliever has ever received, and it comes in the left-hander's final year before being eligible for free agency. Hader had an ugly and uncharacteristic 5.22 ERA between the Brewers and Padres in 2022, though that figure was heavily inflated by five outings in which he gave up three runs or more. He still went 36-for-40 in save chances, and he should be once of the top closers in baseball again in 2023.

Ferguson and the Dodgers settled on a one-year, $1.1 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The reliever was very effective in 2022, posting a 1.82 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and seven holds over 34.2 innings in 37 appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen. Ferguson will likely operate in a significant role again in 2023.

Scott agreed to a $2.825 million contract with the Marlins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 28-year-old led the Marlins with 20 saves last season, but he struggled during the second half while Dylan Floro finished the campaign as the primary closer. Scott finished with a 4.31 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 90:46 K:BB across 62.2 innings and is likely to open 2023 in a setup role.

Junis signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Giants on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Junis put up a 4.42 ERA and 98:25 K:BB over 112 innings for the Giants in 2022 while serving as a traditional starter and bulk reliever. The 30-year-old would appear to be slated for a relief role in 2023, at least to open the season.

Minter signed a one-year, $4.3 million contract with Atlanta on Friday to avoid arbitration.

Minter was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2022, collecting a 2.06 ERA, five saves and a 94:15 K:BB over 70 innings with a major-league leading 35 holds. He'll presumably enter 2023 in a high-leverage role once again, but behind Raisel Iglesias in the pecking order for saves in Atlanta's bullpen.

Hudson signed a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the Cardinals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Hudson posted a 4.45 ERA and ugly 78:61 K:BB across 139.2 innings for the Cards in 2022 in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. He's currently on the outside looking in for a rotation spot in 2023 but could still wind up making a decent number of starts for the big club.

Edwards signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Nationals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Edwards earned the raise following a resurgent 2022 season which saw him post a 2.76 ERA and 56:25 K:BB over 62 innings. He'll be in the late-inning mix for the Nationals again in 2023, perhaps even seeing some save opportunities.