MLB Player News

Wells agreed to a one-year, $2.45 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

The right-hander made his season debut for the Orioles late in 2025 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the injury limited his earning potential while heading into his third year of arbitration eligibility. Wells posted a 2.91 ERA over four starts in September and had a 3.64 ERA across 118.2 innings during his last full season in 2023. He's expected to enter spring training as a starter but isn't guaranteed to crack the rotation with the Orioles trading for Shane Baz and signing Zach Eflin (back) this winter. Even if Wells does earn a starting spot, he'll likely have some workload limitations in 2026 while coming off two mostly lost seasons.

Mize agreed to a one-year, $6.15 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The right-hander was a reliable rotation piece for Detroit in 2025, making 28 regular-season starts with a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 139:36 K:BB across 149 innings. He doubled his previous career high with 14 wins and should be a key starter for the Tigers again in 2026.

Meyers agreed to a one-year, $3.55 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Meyers' batting average jumped up from .219 in the 2024 regular season to .292 in 2025, although a calf strain forced him to miss two months and limited him to just three homers, 24 RBI, 53 runs scored and 16 steals in 104 games. The 30-year-old's increased efficiency will grant him a $1.25 million raise for the 2026 campaign, and he'll likely open the year as Houston's everyday center fielder.

Pena agreed to a one-year, $9.475 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Pena was a reliable shortstop across his first three MLB campaigns, but his breakout in 2025 will more than double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old posted a career-best .304/.363/.477 slash line with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 62 RBI and 68 runs in 125 games. He missed the final week of the season due to an oblique injury and was also sidelined by a rib issue earlier in the year, but he should be healthy to begin 2026.

Lynch agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch finished the 2025 campaign with a 3.06 ERA across 67.2 innings, although his 4.75 FIP indicates he may have been fortunate to get those results. He'll pick up a slight raise for 2026 and figures to continue working in a multi-inning relief role for the Royals.

McKinstry agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

McKinstry took a massive step forward at the plate in 2025, finishing the year with a .259/.333/.438 slash line alongside 12 homers, 49 RBI, 68 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 511 regular-season plate appearances. He doesn't seem to have a clear path to playing time at any one position in 2026, though he should still be able to crack the starting nine with some regularity thanks to his defensive versatility.

The Cardinals and Gorman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.655 million contract Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

It was Gorman's first year of arbitration eligibility. The 25-year-old has regressed at the dish over the last two seasons, finishing 2025 with a .666 OPS, 14 home runs and a 33.8 percent strikeout rate in 111 games. The left-handed-hitting Gorman could get another opportunity for regular at-bats versus right-handed pitching in 2026, though his playing time outlook would diminish if the Cardinals are unable to trade Nolan Arenado.

Doval agreed to a one-year, $6.1 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Doval bounced back over 69 regular-season appearances between the Giants and Yankees last year, finishing with a 3.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 72:35 K:BB in 65.1 innings while recording 16 saves and 10 holds. The right-hander is likely to open 2026 as New York's top setup man ahead of closer David Bednar.

The Cardinals and Liberatore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.26 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Liberatore was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The left-hander had a solid first full season in the Cardinals' rotation, finishing 2025 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 122:40 K:BB in 151.2 innings over 29 starts. Liberatore will be counted on as a key member of the St. Louis rotation again in 2026.

The Nationals and Irvin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Irvin finished the 2025 campaign with a 5.70 ERA while serving up a major-league high 38 home runs. The right-hander's durability has been his biggest asset to this point, as he's made 33 starts in consecutive seasons. Irvin does not appear locked into a rotation spot in 2026, though his chances of nabbing one would increase if the Nationals trade MacKenzie Gore.