MLB Player News

The Padres and Morejon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Morejon was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander was excellent out of the San Diego bullpen in 2024, putting up a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 regular-season innings. However, the club is thinking about stretching him out this spring as a candidate to join its rotation.

The Giants and Wade avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This was Wade's final year of arbitration eligibility, as he's slated to hit free agency next winter. While the 31-year-old is the current favorite to open the 2025 season as the Giants' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching, there have been reports of the club seeking help at the position from outside the organization and also whispers of Wade being available via trade.

Bart and the Pirates avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million deal, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft was unable to establish himself as the Giants' long-term answer at catcher over parts of four seasons in the big leagues, but the 28-year-old benefited from a change of scenery after he was shipped to Pittsburgh in April. He ended the 2024 campaign as the Pirates' top catcher, having slashed .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs across 282 plate appearances. The Pirates have 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and 24-year-old Endy Rodriguez on hand as intriguing young options at catcher, but based on his performance last season, Bart will enter spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Bucs' top backstop.

The Reds and Diaz avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It's a substantial raise for Diaz, who was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The closer saved 28 games for the Reds in 2024 but had a lackluster season overall, collecting a 3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB across 56.1 frames. Diaz is slated to open 2025 in the closer role again, but new manager Terry Francona might not give him a long leash.

Arraez and the Padres agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Arraez will receive a raise of nearly $3.5 million for his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2025. The 27-year-old took a step back in 2024 with a .314/.346/.392 slash line in 150 regular-season games between Miami and San Diego, though he still won the National League batting title for the second straight year. Arraez underwent surgery in October to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, but he's expected to enter spring training at full health.

Ginkel and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $2.425 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander will nearly double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Ginkel recorded five saves and 18 holds with a 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 77:15 K:BB over 70 innings last season, and he should continue to work in a high-leverage role for Arizona in 2025.

Megill agreed to a one-year, $1.94 million contract with the Brewers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The 31-year-old was in his first year of arbitration eligibility and should enter spring training as the favorite for saves after the Brewers traded closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last month. Megill tallied 21 saves and six holds with a 2.72 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 50:14 K:BB across a career-high 46.1 MLB innings during the 2024 regular season.

Atlanta and Kelenic avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It's a substantial raise for Kelenic, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The 25-year-old outfielder slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta. While Kelenic looks like the favorite right now to open the 2025 season as Atlanta's starting left fielder versus righties, he's probably not guaranteed a job after posting just a .595 OPS in the second half of 2024.

Ferguson agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Ferguson put up a disappointing 4.64 ERA over 62 appearances in 2024 between the Yankees and Astros but did record 67 strikeouts across 54.1 innings out of the bullpen. He could end up being the left-handed setup man in Pittsburgh, though Stumpf relays that the Pirates intend to let Ferguson get stretched out over the winter before potentially placing him on a starter's schedule in spring training.

The Padres and Campusano avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It was Campusano's first year of arbitration eligibility. The 26-year-old entered last season as the Padres' top catcher, but he was eventually passed on the depth chart by Kyle Higashioka and finished with just a .227/.281/.361 slash line while spending some time in the minors. Higashioka is now with the Rangers and Campusano is currently at the top of the catching hierarchy again in San Diego, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the club brought someone in to at least share the job.