MLB Player News

Caballero agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Yankees to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Caballero was dealt to the Yankees at the trade deadline, and he enjoyed a strong second half of the season. Across 95 regular-season plate appearances for New York, he managed to hit .266/.372/.456 with 15 stolen bases and three home runs. Caballero projects to be in a bench role when the Yankees' lineup is healthy, though he's likely to get regular at-bats to begin the year with Anthony Volpe (shoulder) sidelined.

Bird signed a one-year contract with the Yankees to avoid arbitration Thursday.

The official terms of the deal haven't been announced, but this was Bird's first year of arbitration eligibility. The Yankees acquired him from the Rockies at the summer deadline, but he was dispatched to Triple-A after giving up six earned runs in his first three outings for New York, and he spent the rest of the season in the minors.

Speier signed a one-year contract with the Mariners to avoid arbitration Thursday,Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The terms of the deal aren't yet known, though Speier is likely getting a decent raise after making $845,000 during his first year of arbitration eligibility in 2025. He's coming off of an excellent campaign, maintaining a 2.61 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 62 frames while also earning 24 holds during the 2025 regular season.

Raley signed a one-year contract with the Mariners on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

This marked Raley's first year of arbitration eligibility. He took a significant step back in 2025, logging only a .630 OPS across 219 plate appearances while also dealing with oblique and back injuries. Raley projects to begin 2026 in a reserve role for Seattle.

Gilbert and the Mariners agreed to a one-year, $10.9 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

This marked Gilbert's third year of arbitration eligibility, and he's secured a raise of about $3.4 million for 2026. He turned in another very strong season last year, maintaining a 3.44 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 131 frames during the regular season.

Bednar agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Bednar had a rocky start to the 2025 season with Pittsburgh, which resulted in a brief demotion to Triple-A. His trip to the minors did the trick, as he reclaimed his closer role in the Pirates' bullpen and pitched well before being traded to the Yankees in late July. Bednar served as the preferred closer for the Bronx Bombers toward the tail end of the regular season, and in 22 outings with the Yankees, he logged a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 10 saves (on 13 opportunities) and a 35:9 K:BB across 24.2 innings. Bednar figures to reprise his role as the Yankees' top closer for the 2026 season.

Brash and the Mariners agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration on Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Brash has been a key high-leverage reliever for the Mariners across the last two seasons, racking up a combined eight saves and 46 holds. He should serve in a similar capacity in 2026, working as the primary setup man to Andres Munoz. This was Brash's first year of arbitration eligibility.

Abreu signed a one-year, $5.85 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Abreu was one of five relief pitchers in 2025 to record 100-plus strikeouts, doing so for a third consecutive season while boasting a 35.5 percent strikeout rate and 41.2 percent whiff rate. He finished the year with a 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25 holds over 71 innings while recording a career-high seven saves, though that opportunity came only after Josh Hader (shoulder) landed on the IL in mid-August. With Hader on track to be fully healthy by Opening Day, Abreu should return to a setup role to begin 2026.

Duran agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Duran played 90 games for the Rangers last season and had a career-worst .559 OPS, failing to hit a home run in 219 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has a contract for 2026 but likely won't have much roster security given that he has a .237/.278/.309 slash line across the past two seasons.

Smith agreed to a one-year, $3.225 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Smith will end up earning a little more than the $2.5 million that he was projected for in his first year of arbitration eligibility, per Spotrac.com. He's primarily worked as a super-utility player for the Rangers but could find a regular role at second base in 2026 following the offseason departure of Marcus Semien.