MLB Player News

The Royals and Schreiber avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Schreiber had been arbitration-eligible for a second time. The right-handed reliever saw his strikeout rate dip to 20.5 percent in 2024 in his first year in Kansas City but remained useful with a 3.66 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He'll be used in middle relief in 2025.

The Royals and Hernandez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.16 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It was the second year of arbitration eligibility for Hernandez, who posted a 3.30 ERA and 27:16 K:BB across 30 regular-season innings during 2024. The righty has teased with his big fastball but has shown no indication to this point that he can be consistently relied upon.

Graterol (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Injuries plagued Graterol's 2024 campaign, as shoulder inflammation prevented him from making his season debut until August, during which he suffered a Grade 3 hamstring strain. He was able to make six more appearances before the end of the regular season, finishing with two earned runs allowed over 7.1 innings. The 26-year-old is now recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery and isn't expected back until after the All-Star break.

Moll (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $1.001 million contract with the Reds on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The left-hander landed on the injured list late last season due to a shoulder impingement but should be ready for the start of spring training. Moll made 48 appearances for the Reds last year and had a 3.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB over 37.2 innings.

The Royals and Harvey avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Harvey dealt with back problems last season, which limited him to just six appearances after the Royals acquired him via trade. He enters spring training healthy and should be a key setup man if he can stay off the injured list.

King agreed to a one-year, $1.605 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

King's first full season in St. Louis marked the best of his five-year career, finishing with a 2.85 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 60 innings out of the bullpen. He won't be a candidate for saves as long as Ryan Helsley is on the active roster, but the 30-year-old King seems to have developed into a reliable middle reliever.

The Mariners and Thornton avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Thornton has turned into a quality reliever for the Mariners, collecting a 3.20 ERA and 98:24 K:BB over 98.1 frames since being acquired from the Blue Jays in 2023. The right-hander is slated for a middle relief role again in 2025.

Anderson agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract with the White Sox on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Anderson returned to the majors for the first time in five years last season, finishing 2024 with a 4.39 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 53.1 frames. While his numbers don't exactly jump off the stat sheet, the right-hander's experience could allow him to be one of the White Sox's go-to options in high-leverage situations, as Chicago projects to have a very young and thin bullpen.

The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Bender had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The right-handed reliever posted a 4.08 ERA and 59:18 K:BB across 53 innings with one save and 15 holds out of the Marlins' bullpen in 2024.

The Astros and Abreu avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million contract Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He was arbitration-eligible for a second time this winter. Abreu's ERA rose to 3.10 ERA during the 2024 regular season, but he notched 100 strikeouts in relief for the second year in a row and will again be a primary setup man ahead of closer Josh Hader in the Houston bullpen in 2025.