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Joe Jimenez RP | ATL
Braves' Joe Jimenez: Avoids arbitration with Atlanta
Jimenez signed a one-year, $2.765 million contract with Atlanta to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Acquired from the Tigers via trade last month, Jimenez is slated to help set up for Raisel Iglesias with his new team. The righty finally broke out in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings.
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Ryne Stanek RP | STL
Astros' Ryne Stanek: Avoids arbitration
Stanek signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with Houston on Friday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
In his final year of arbitration eligibility, Stanek receives a healthy raise from his $2.1 million salary last season. The 31-year-old reliever was impressive out of the bullpen in 2022, posting a miniscule 1.15 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 54.2 innings with 17 holds.
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Tim Hill RP | NYY
Padres' Tim Hill: Inks one-year deal
Hill signed a one-year, $1.85 million contract with the Padres on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Hill posted a 3.56 ERA in 2022 but managed just 25 strikeouts over 48 innings and missed some time with a shoulder problem. It's possible the heavy usage over the years in his age-32 season just caught up to him, but the Padres will hope he can return to form in 2023.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Pirates' Robert Stephenson: Avoids arbitration
Stephenson signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Pirates on Friday to avoid arbitration, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
It was a tale of two seasons for Stephenson in 2022. After posting a 6.04 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with the Rockies, he was pushed off their roster and was claimed by the Pirates in late August. Upon joining Pittsburgh, Stephenson put up a 3.38 ERA and 0.82 WHIP to close out the season. If the 29-year-old righty can carry that success with Pittsburgh over into 2023, there's a good chance he establishes himself as the team's primary setup man.
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Dillon Tate RP | TOR
Orioles' Dillon Tate: Avoids arbitration with Baltimore
Tate signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Tate has evolved into a solid late-inning reliever for the Orioles, having put up a 3.05 ERA and 60:16 K:BB over 73.2 innings in 2022 with five saves and 16 holds. He'll help set up for Felix Bautista in 2023.
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Duane Underwood RP | NYY
Pirates' Duane Underwood: Avoids arbitration
Underwood signed a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
In his second season with the Pirates, Underwood reached the double-digit hold mark for the first time in his career and recorded his first career save as well. If the 28-year old can continue to strike batters out at an acceptable rate (8.95 K/9 in 2022) and give up fewer long balls, there's a good chance the Pirates let him pitch more often in high-leverage situations in 2023.
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Josh Staumont RP | CIN
Royals' Josh Staumont: Inks one-year deal
Staumont (biceps) signed a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Staumont put up an ugly 6.45 ERA over 42 appearances in 2022 before his season ended prematurely due to a biceps issue. The Royals will be hoping for better health and better results in 2023, and the 29-year-old right-hander is still a likely candidate to fill a high-leverage role.
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Jose Cisnero RP | LAA
Tigers' Jose Cisnero: Settles with Detroit
Cisnero signed a one-year, $2.2875 million contract with the Tigers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Cisnero made just 28 appearances in 2022 due to shoulder and personal issues. He managed a 1.08 ERA across 25 innings in spite of a 23:19 K:BB. Some regression is bound to happen, but he should still be a solid middle reliever in 2023.
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Jordan Hicks RP | CHW
Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Avoids arbitration
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.
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Ryan Brasier RP | TEX
Red Sox's Ryan Brasier: Settles with Boston
Brasier signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Red Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
2022 saw Brasier record a career-worst 5.78 ERA through 62.1 innings, though his 4.92 K/BB ratio was one of the better marks across the majors. Still, the 35-year-old reliever has a tendency to get hit around more often than not, and holds almost no fantasy value beyond the deepest of leagues.