MLB Player News

Williams and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Williams was dealt to the Yankees earlier this offseason and has already been named the team's closer. Though he missed most of 2024 due to a back issue, he's maintained an ERA below 2.00 for each of the last three seasons while striking out at least 13.3 batters per nine innings in each of the last five campaigns. Williams will earn $1.6 million more than he did in 2024.

Schmidt agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Schmidt will get a $1.57 million raise after he produced a career-best 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 93 strikeouts over 85.1 innings in 16 regular-season starts with New York in 2024. The right-hander also garnered a start in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Dodgers, allowing three earned runs over 2.2 innings. Schmidt will likely enter the 2025 campaign as a back-end starter behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Urias and the Orioles agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Urias is one of the top utility infield options in baseball, and he earned 301 plate appearances in 2024. He matched his career-best mark with a 115 wRC+, though he still had only 11 homers and one stolen base. Urias will earn a $1.1 million raise from 2024.

Wells (elbow) and the Orioles avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million contract Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's a slight increase from the $1.96 million that Wells made in his first year of arbitration eligibility last year. He started just three games during 2024 before undergoing a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. It's a procedure that needs at least 12 months of rehab, so Wells will be sidelined until the midseason of 2025, at minimum.

Brieske agreed on a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Brieske and Detroit were able to reach an agreement before Thursday's deadline. The right-hander produced a 3.59 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 69 strikeouts, six holds and a save over 67.2 innings in 46 regular-season appearances, including 12 starts, with the Tigers in 2024. Brieske will likely occupy a significant role in the team's bullpen again in 2025.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Valdez is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and will earn nearly $6 million more than he did in 2024. He's emerged as one of the more reliable pitchers around the league in recent seasons, posting no worse than a 3.45 ERA in any season since 2021. Valdez has also completed at least 176 innings in each of the last three campaigns.

Akin agreed to a one-year, $1.475 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Akin is coming off of a 2024 campaign in which produced a 3.32 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 97 strikeouts, six holds and a save over 78.2 innings in 66 regular-season appearances. The left-hander appears to be geared up to operate in a significant role out of the bullpen with the Orioles again in 2025.

Heim and the Rangers agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Heim is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility and will earn a $1.5 million raise from 2024. He's coming off of a disappointing season, as he slugged only 13 homers with a .602 OPS across 491 plate appearances. Heim is currently projected to split time behind the plate with newly acquired Kyle Higashioka in 2025.

Guerrero agreed to a one-year, $28.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Guerrero will return to Toronto in 2025 with a well-deserved $8.6 million raise. The 25-year-old produced a career-high .323 average last season while adding 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 98 runs scored and two stolen bases over 616 at-bats in 159 games. Guerrero finished sixth in the AL MVP voting in 2024, while his 5.5 WAR ranked 11th in the AL amongst hitters. The team has been open to potentially moving Guerrero to third base in 2025, but regardless of position, he remains one of the best players in baseball.

Kirk agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Kirk will get a $1.8 million raise ahead of the 2025 campaign, which will be his sixth with Toronto. The catcher produced a .253 average with five home runs, 54 RBI and 23 runs scored over 103 games in 2024. Kirk will likely operate as the team's primary catcher again in 2025 with Tyler Heineman set to serve as his primary backup.