MLB Player News

The Pirates and Santana avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Santana finished the 2025 season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 60:17 K:BB over 70.1 innings, picking up 16 saves along the way. The 29-year-old reliever is the favorite to open the 2026 season in the Pirates' closer role.

The Cardinals and Pallante avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Pallante is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, having collected a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 111:62 K:BB over 162.2 innings covering 31 starts. He will nevertheless receive a substantial raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Pallante will have to compete for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation in 2026.

Lorenzen signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Rockies on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Lorenzen's new deal also includes a $9 million club option for the 2027 season. The 34-year-old right-hander took a step back in 2025, accumulating a 4.64 ERA and 1.33 WHIP alongside a 127:39 K:BB across 141.2 innings with the Royals. His chances of improving upon those numbers in 2026 have taken a hit now that he's slated to pitch his home games at Coors Field, but Colorado's weak pitching staff at least makes Lorenzen a safe bet to capture a rotation spot.

Graterol (shoulder) signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Graterol sat out the entirety of the 2025 season after undergoing labrum surgery in November 2024, but he is expected to be fully healthy by the time spring training begins. The 27-year-old emerged as a dominant high-leverage option during his last full season in 2023, during which he posted a 1.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 67.1 regular-season innings. However, the Dodgers may wait to see how he performs in his first several appearances post-surgery before moving him back into a setup role.

The Marlins acquired Hernandez, Owen Caissie and Edgardo De Leon from the Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for Edward Cabrera, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Hernandez spent the 2025 season at High-A South Bend, slashing .252/.329/.365 with seven home runs and 52 stolen bases. He hasn't reached his potential after being a top international signing in 2021, but Hernandez just turned 22 last month, so he has some time to show progress.

The Marlins acquired Caissie, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon from the Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for Edward Cabrera, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Caissie has nothing left to prove in the minors, having slashed .281/.380/.507 with 41 home runs at Triple-A Iowa over the last two seasons. The 23-year-old struggled in his cup of coffee with the Cubs in 2025 and has posted a 29.1 percent strikeout rate in the minors, but Caissie's power will play in the majors if he makes enough contact. He's the favorite to open the 2026 season as the Marlins' primary right fielder.

The Cubs acquired Cabrera from the Marlins on Wednesday in exchange for Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Cabrera experienced a breakthrough in 2025 after lowering his arm slot, finishing the season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 150:48 K:BB across 137.2 innings. It was a career-high workload for the righty, and he will remain a major injury risk moving forward, but Cabrera injects some much-needed upside and bat-missing ability into the Cubs' rotation. He is under team control through 2028.

The Cubs claimed Rolison off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

It's the fourth organization since November for Rolison, who posted a 7.02 ERA and 25:20 K:BB over 42.1 innings with the Rockies in 2025. The left-hander will compete for a spot in the Cubs' bullpen, but he does have minor-league options remaining.

The Rockies claimed Thompson off waivers from the Reds on Wednesday.

Thompson signed a one-year, $1.3 million split contract with the Reds in November, but he was booted off their 40-man roster in December and is now headed to Colorado. He's been used almost exclusively in relief over the past three seasons, but Thompson does have past starting experience, so the Rockies could consider him in a swingman role.

The Reds outrighted Richardson to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Richardson is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The right-hander finished 2025 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 30:21 K:BB across 37.2 regular-season innings for Cincinnati.