MLB Player News

Houck agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

After logging a 5.01 ERA in 2023, Houck bounced back with a 3.12 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season while also posting a 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames. His improvement will earn him a $3.18 million raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and the 28-year-old righty is expected to follow new acquisition Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox's rotation.

The Orioles and Bradish (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It's a nice raise for Bradish, who qualified for arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 player. The right-hander will be sidelined until around midseason of 2025 while continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace.

The Orioles and Kremer avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.95 million contract Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Kremer had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The right-hander collected a 4.10 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 123:51 K:BB across 129.2 frames covering 24 regular-season starts with the Orioles in 2024 and will be part of their rotation again in 2025.

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.

Skubal agreed to a one-year, $10.15 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The left-hander will get a raise of nearly $8 million in his second year of arbitration eligibility after unanimously winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2024. Skubal posted a 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 228:35 K:BB across 192 regular-season innings and should be one of the top pitchers in baseball again this 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 Twins and Ryan (shoulder) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

It's a big raise for Ryan, who had been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The right-hander earned the pay bump after posting a 3.60 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 147:23 K:BB over 135 innings in 2024. Ryan missed most of the final two months of the season with a shoulder strain but is expected to be ready for spring training.

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.