MLB Player News

The Nationals and Gore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2.9 million Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Gore had an uneven but ultimately pretty encouraging 2024 season, finishing with a 3.90 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 181:65 K:BB over 166.1 innings covering a career-high 32 starts. He'll be a key rotation piece for the Nationals again in 2025.

The Phillies and Suarez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.8 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It was the third and final year of arbitration eligibility for Suarez. The veteran left-hander had a 2.76 ERA in the first half but just a 5.65 ERA in eight starts during due to a back injury. Suarez entered the offseason healthy and will be heading into his walk year in 2025.

Lodolo agreed to a one-year, $1.975 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo finished last season with a 4.76 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 115.1 innings and continued to struggle with injuries, as calf, groin and finger issues all caused him to miss several chunks of the year. When healthy, the 26-year-old southpaw has shown flashes of what once made him a top prospect, but he'll be hard for fantasy managers to trust until he proves he can stay off the injured list for an extended period of time.

The Dodgers and Kopech avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.2 million contract Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kopech had been eligible for salary arbitration for the third and final time. The hard-throwing right-hander was dominant down the stretch for the Dodgers after being acquired via trade, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB over 24 regular-season innings. Kopech should be in the mix for saves in 2025 but will have competition.

Cease agreed to a one-year, $13.75 million contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cease will receive a raise of almost $6 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 29-year-old posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB over 189.1 innings during the regular season and is now entering a contract year.

The Cubs and Steele avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year $6.55 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander had been eligible for salary arbitration for the second time. Steele missed a little time with injury in 2024 but was highly effective again when on the bump, putting up a 3.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 135:37 K:BB across 134.2 innings.

The Brewers and Civale avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Civale had been in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The veteran right-hander posted a 4.36 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 149:52 K:BB over 161 innings between the Rays and Brewers in 2024.

Gallen agreed to a one-year, $13.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Gallen missed some time last season due to a hamstring strain but still made 28 starts for Arizona and posted a 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 156:54 K:BB across 148 innings. The right-hander should serve as the Diamondbacks' No. 2 starter following the offseason signing of ace Corbin Burnes.

The Brewers and Cortes avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.6 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Picked up via trade from the Yankees last month, Cortes was eligible for salary arbitration for the final time, as he's slated for free agency next winter. The veteran left-hander held a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB over a career-high 174.1 regular-season innings with the Yankees in 2024.

Luzardo agreed to a one-year, $6.225 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Luzardo will receive a $725,000 raise heading into his first year with the Phillies. The 27-year-old southpaw logged a 5.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 66.2 innings with the Marlins before a lumbar stress reaction put an early end to his season in June. After being traded to the Phillies, he recently told reporters that he's fully recovered from his injury and is a candidate to bounce back in 2025 after posting a 3.48 ERA between 2022-23.