Jonathan Villar Avoids Arbitration For Final Time

Miami Marlins shortstop Jonathan Villar avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $8.2 million deal. It is Villar's final season of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old was one of the lone bright spots for the lowly Orioles in 2019, hitting .274/.339/.453 with a career-high 24 home runs, 73 RBI and 40 stolen bases […]

Mets Settle With Noah Syndergaard

The New York Mets and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.7 million deal, according to a source. Thor made a career-high 32 starts (197 2/3 innings) for the Mets in 2019, but he posted a career-high 4.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 202 strikeouts. He also allowed […]

Brewers, Omar Narvaez Avoid Arbitration

The Milwaukee Brewers and catcher Omar Narvaez avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.725 million deal. It was Narvaez's first season being eligible for arbitration. He'll essentially be replacing Yasmani Grandal as Milwaukee's backstop in 2020 after breaking out to the tune of a .278/.353/.460 slash line with 22 home runs, […]

Mallex Smith Settles With Mariners

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million deal, according to a source. It was the first year that he was eligible for arbitration. While Smith led the league with 46 swipes, he hit a putrid .227/.300/.335 with only six home runs and 37 RBI in […]

Mitch Haniger To Make $3 Million In 2020

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.01 million deal, according to a source. Some freak injuries caused Haniger to play in just 63 games for the M's in 2019, and he hit a disappointing .220/.314/.463 with 15 home runs and 32 RBI after batting .285/.366/.493 with […]

Marcus Semien Gets Big Raise

Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $13 million deal, according to a source. Semien finished third in the American League MVP voting in 2019 after hitting an impressive .285/.369/.522 with a career-high 33 home runs, 92 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 162 games for Oakland […]

Josh Bell Avoids Arbitration

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.8 million deal, according to a source. It was Bell's final year of arbitration eligibility. The 27-year-old was a breakout star in 2019, slashing .277/.367/.569 with 37 home runs, 94 runs and 116 RBI in 527 at-bats. It was […]

Alex Colome, White Sox Avoid Arbitration

The Chicago White Sox and closer Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10.532 million deal, according to a source. Colome earned the hefty raise from $7 million last year by posting a 2.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 30 saves and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched over 62 outings in […]

Mychal Givens Avoids Arbitration

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Mychal Givens avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.225 million deal, according to a source. Givens had a rough 4.57 ERA but also recorded a career-high 11 saves for the last-place Orioles as the primary ninth-inning arm for Baltimore down the stretch. He has a nice 10.8 […]

Andrew Heaney, Angels Avoid Arbitration

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.3 million deal, according to a source. Heaney made just 18 starts for the Halos in 2019 due to injury and went 4-6 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings pitched. There […]

D-Backs Avoid Arbitration With Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks and starting pitcher Robbie Ray avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.43 million deal. It's his final year of arbitration eligibility and he can become a free agent after the 2020 season. The 28-year-old lefty has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to last summer. He […]

Kris Bryant To Make $18.6 Million In 2020

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $18.6 million deal, according to a source familiar with the agreement. Bryant's name has surfaced in trade rumors this offseason after he hit .282 with 31 home runs and 77 RBI in 2019. He finished eighth in the National […]

Mookie Betts Sets Arbitration Record

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a record-breaking, one-year, $27 million deal, according to a source. The amount breaks the record set by Nolan Arenado last year of $26 million. Boston also reached one-year deals with outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. ($11 million) and relievers Brandon Workman ($3.5 […]

Josh McCown To Have Surgery Next Week

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Josh McCown (hamstring) will undergo surgery on his hamstring next Tuesday, according to sources. The veteran quarterback played the second half of the wild-card loss against the Seahawks on a torn hamstring. Ouch. It's a testament that he stayed in the game in place of a concussed Carson Wentz to complete 18 […]

Dak Prescott Is Dallas' QB Of The Future

Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones reiterated that quarterback Dak Prescott is "our quarterback of the future." Jones also said that the team was "real, real, real close" to signing Prescott to a long-term extension before the 2019 season. Despite a disappointing finish and missing the playoffs, Prescott had a career-high 4,902 yards while throwing […]

Adam Thielen Expected To Wear Protective Padding

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (ankle) is expected to wear protective padding around his stitched-up ankle in the Divisional game against the 49ers on Saturday, according to a source. Thielen is questionable to play, but all signs point to him being active in this big game. He had seven catches for 100-plus yards in […]

Travis Kelce's Injury Not Serious

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that tight end Travis Kelce's (knee) injury is "more of a bruise than anything." Kelce was limited in practices this week but should be fine to play in the Divisional Round against the Texans on Sunday. The stud tight end had just four grabs for 58 yards […]

Will Fuller A Game-Time Decision For Sunday

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said that wide receiver Will Fuller (groin) is a game-time decision for the Divisional game against the Chiefs on Sunday. Fuller missed the wild-card win over the Bills and hasn't played since Dec. 21. Getting him back would be great news for Houston's entire offense, as the Texans just […]

Brewers Agree With Jedd Gyorko

The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to an undisclosed deal with infielder Jedd Gyorko on Friday, according to a source. Gyorko played in only 62 games last year with the Cardinals and Dodgers and hit an embarrassing .174/.248/.250 with two home runs and nine RBI. At this point in his career, Gyorko is more of a utility […]

Braves Settle With Mike Foltynewicz, Dansby Swanson

The Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and shortstop Dansby Swanson on Friday. Foltynewicz agreed to a one-year, $6.425 million contract, while Swanson settled for one year and $3.15 million. Folty predictably fell back down to Earth in 2019 after posting a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in an All-Star 2018 […]

Matt Barnes Avoids Arbitration

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.1 million deal, according to a source. The 29-year-old reliever had a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 64 1/3 innings in 70 outings for the BoSox in 2019. He also recorded a career-high four saves […]

Diamondbacks Reach Extension With David Peralta

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a three-year, $22 million extension with outfielder David Peralta on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. He can make an extra $1.25 million in incentives. Injuries held Peralta to only 99 games for the D-backs in 2019, but he hit a useful .275/.343/.461 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI when […]

Rays Avoid Arbitration With Tyler Glasnow

The Tampa Bay Rays and starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.05 million deal, according to a source. The 26-year-old right-hander only made 12 starts (60 2/3 innings) in 2019 because of injury, but he was electric when he was on the mound, going 6-1 with a […]

Hunter Renfroe Avoids Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Hunter Renfroe avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million deal. Renfroe came over to the Rays this offseason in the trade that sent Tommy Pham to the Padres. Although he hit just .216 in 140 games for the Friars, Renfroe delivered on his power potential by […]

Marcell Ozuna Deciding Between Cardinals, Rangers

Free-agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna said he's basically deciding between the St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers in free agency. I’ve been in St. Louis and I like the city. My first option will be St. Louis. If they step up I will stay, if not I will find a new home," Ozuna said. St. Louis just […]

Adam Thielen Should Be Able To Play

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (ankle) isn't expected to do much until the Divisional game against the 49ers on Saturday, but he should be able to play despite needing stitches for a cut he suffered in practice earlier this week. There's optimism around Thielen, but the team doesn't know how his stitches will hold […]

Divisional Round Busts? Players To Consider Avoiding In DFS

And then there were eight... Eight teams remain for the right to play in Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Feb. 2. We'll get one step closer to finding out who those teams will be after this weekend's matchups, which will consist of Vikings-49ers and Titans-Ravens on Saturday, followed by Texans-Chiefs and Seahawks-Packers on Sunday. […]

Brandon Drury Avoids Arbitration

The Toronto Blue Jays and third baseman/outfielder Brandon Drury avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.05 million deal. Drury started the 2019 season as the team's starting third baseman, but he became a corner outfielder primarily once prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was called up. The 27-year-old hit an underwhelming .218/.262/.380 on […]

Michael Taylor Avoids Arbitration

The Washington Nationals and outfielder Michael Taylor avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.325 million deal, according to a source. He'll receive $25,000 in incentives if he reaches 300 plate appearances in the majors next season. The 28-year-old speedster hit only .250/.305/.364 in 97 plate appearances in 2019 and was demoted […]

Mitch Moreland Could Return To Boston

Once considered a long shot to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox, it's looking more likely that first baseman Mitch Moreland will return. Sam Travis is now off the 40-man roster, and only Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec are capable of playing first base, but both of them are right-handed bats on a team loaded […]