MLB Player News

The Dodgers and Call avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.6 million contract Thursday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Call gets a pay bump in his first year of arbitration eligibility as a Super 2 qualifier. The 31-year-old hit .247/.333/.384 in 38 regular-season games for the Dodgers in 2025 after being acquired at the trade deadline. Call will open 2026 as a reserve outfielder.

The Brewers and Mitchell (shoulder) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $950,000 contract Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Mitchell missed most of the 2025 season after requiring a second surgery on his left shoulder, and it's unclear whether he will be ready to go at the start of the 2026 campaign. The outfielder is under team control through 2028 and is likely to compete for a starting job in the outfield when healthy.

Isbel (hamstring) agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Isbel batted .255 over 135 games last year but otherwise failed to improve at the plate, finishing the season with a .654 OPS alongside four home runs, 33 RBI and 42 runs scored -- all decreases from 2024. With the Royals bringing in Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins during the offseason, Isbel is likely to receive some competition for playing time in the outfield in 2026.

Brown agreed to a one-year, $5.71 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander will receive a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brown positioned himself as Houston's ace in 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206:57 K:BB across 185.1 innings.

The Padres and Morejon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Morejon, who is slated to become a free agent next offseason. The left-hander has posted a 2.42 ERA and 141:38 K:BB over 137.1 regular-season innings as a full-time reliever since the start of the 2024 campaign. He'll again serve in a high-leverage role in 2026.

Kelly agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kelly missed more than a month toward the start of the 2025 season due to a glute strain and struggled to be effective on the mound after returning, finishing the year with a 5.90 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 39.2 frames. He'll take just a $149,000 pay raise as a result and will likely be limited to middle-relief duty until he recaptures his previous form.

The Phillies and Sosa avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.4 million contract Thursday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

Sosa was in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The utility player has been a useful part of the Phillies' roster, slashing .264/.307/.448 over the past three-and-a-half regular seasons while seeing playing time at five different positions.

Lowe agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe failed to live up to his breakout 2023 campaign again in 2025, ending the season with a .220/.283/.366 slash line alongside 11 homers, 40 RBI and 56 runs scored over 435 plate appearances. He still provides some value as a base-stealing threat, but even his 18 steals this past season marked a three-year low. The 27-year-old has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining.

The Diamondbacks and Moreno avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.55 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

It's a nice raise for Moreno, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The catcher was limited to 83 games due to injury in 2025 but had his best offensive season, slashing .285/.353/.433 with nine home runs. Moreno -- who turns 26 in February -- has breakout potential in 2026 if he can stay healthy.

Pepiot agreed to a one-year, $3.025 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pepiot made a career-high 31 starts for the Rays in 2025 but finished the season with a career-worst 3.86 ERA over 167.2 innings, largely due to his allowing 26 homers. The 28-year-old righty will receive a $2.25 million raise from Tampa Bay during his first year of arbitration eligibility and projects to be one of the top starters in the Rays' rotation in 2026.