Steven Matz Avoids Arbitration

New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.625 million deal. He made just $577,000 last season. While Matz doesn't have the upside of Jacob deGrom or Zack Wheeler, he finally was able to stay healthy in 2018 and make more than 22 starts. The left-hander […]

Zack Wheeler Earns Raise For 2019

New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.975 million deal with a $25,000 bonus. Wheeler made $1.9 million in 2018. The 28-year-old right-hander finally took the next step in 2018 and went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 179 strikeouts across 29 starts […]

Marcell Ozuna Avoids Salary Arbitration

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to an undisclosed one-year deal. Ozuna was a disappointment in his first year with the Cards, hitting .280/.325/.433 with 23 home runs and 88 RBI in 148 games after he posted a .312 average and career-high 37 home runs in his final […]

Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Travis Shaw

The Milwaukee Brewers avoided salary arbitration with infielder Travis Shaw on Friday by signing him to an undisclosed one-year deal. While Shaw can play either third or second base, he'll likely be ticketed for the everyday job at the hot corner in 2019 with Mike Moustakas likely leaving in free agency. The dual-eligibility makes Shaw […]

Bill Lazor Out As Offensive Coordinator

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bill Lazor will not return for the 2019 season. The Bengals are expected to hire Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor as their new head coach, and he's likely to bring in his own staff. Lazor didn't have much of a chance this year due to injuries to quarterback Andy […]

Mike Wallace, Shelton Gibson Questionable

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers Mike Wallace (ankle) and Shelton Gibson (hamstring) are both questionable against the Saints on Sunday for the divisional round. Wallace was limited in practice all week, while Gibson was added to the injury report on Friday. Wallace fractured his leg in Week 2 and hasn't played since, so he'd likely be […]

Carson Wentz Officially Ruled Out

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (back) was ruled out for the divisional round against the Saints on Sunday. Wentz has yet to practice or play since a fracture was discovered in his back, and it remains a long shot that he'll play in the postseason if the Eagles pull off a big upset on the […]

Corey Dickerson Settles With Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $8.5 million deal, according to a source. Dickerson was a pleasant surprise in his first year in Pittsburgh, batting .300/.330/.474 with an .804 OPS, 13 home runs, 55 RBI, 65 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 135 games. It […]

Lance McCullers Jr. Avoids Salary Arbitration

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.1 million deal, according to a source. McCullers had Tommy John surgery and will miss all of the 2019 season, so he can safely be avoided in redraft leagues.

Tanner Roark Earns $10 Million In 2019

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tanner Roark avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10 million deal. Roark posted a very mediocre line in 2018 in his final season with the Nationals, going 9-15 with a 4.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 over 31 outings (30 starts). He was always more of […]

Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Eduardo Rodriguez

The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $4.3 million deal. E-Rod went 13-5 with a career-best 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 over 27 outings (23 starts) for the World Champion Red Sox in 2018. He's struggled with injuries in his […]

Jacob deGrom Avoids Salary Arbitration

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $17 million deal. It's a record raise in the arbitration process for a third-time arbitration-eligible pitcher. deGrom earned it by winning the National League Cy Young by going 10-9 with a microscopic 1.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 269 […]

Alex Colome Gets $7.325 Million From White Sox

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.325 million deal. Colome split his 2018 season with the Rays and Mariners and had a 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and 12 saves, with 11 of them coming in Tampa early in the season. He posted […]

Addison Russell Signs For $3.4 Million

Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. He can make $600,000 in bonuses if he's on the roster for 150 days this year. Russell will open the year finishing out his suspension for domestic violence, and nobody is really counting on him to make […]

Marcus Stroman Avoids Arbitration

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.4 million deal. Stroman's 2018 season was ruined by injury, as he made just 19 starts for Toronto. He wasn't effective either, posting a 5.54 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 6.8 K/9 in his 102 1/3 innings. Stroman would […]

Braves Avoid Arbitration With Kevin Gausman

The Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration on Friday with starting pitcher Kevin Gausman by signing him to a one-year, $9.35 million deal. Gausman could never really get it going in Baltimore in a tough hitter's park and a tough division, but he thrived after being traded to the Braves at midseason in 2018. The right-hander […]

Jets On Verge Of Hiring Gregg Williams

The New York Jets are on the verge of hiring former Cleveland Browns interim head coach Gregg Williams as their defensive coordinator on Friday, according to sources. Williams did a solid job in the second half of the season with the Browns after taking over for Hue Jackson. If he gets the job in New […]

Cardinals Hire Vance Joseph To Coordinate Defense

The Arizona Cardinals hired former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph as their next defensive coordinator on Friday. He went 11-21 in his two seasons as the top man in Denver but spent 11 years coaching defensive backs with the 49ers, Texans and Bengals before serving as the Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2016. The defense […]

Steve Sarkisian Closing In On Coordinator Job With Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are closing in on hiring former Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as their next offensive coordinator. Sarkisian was mostly a disappointment in his two years coordinating the offense in Atlanta with a bevvy of weapons, so he'll have his work cut out for him with a roster with very few playmakers outside […]

Hunter Henry Questionable For Sunday

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is listed as questionable for the divisional round on Sunday against the Patriots despite practicing in full all week. The Chargers are understandably being cautious with a player that torn his ACL last spring and didn't play at all in the regular season. Even if Henry is […]

Melvin Gordon Will Play Against Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (knee) practiced in full on Friday and was taken off the final injury report for the divisional round against the Patriots. Gordon is battling issues in both knees to close out the season and won't be 100 percent this Sunday, but he'll play. How many touches he'll be […]

Jake Lamb Settles With Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.825 million deal, according to a source. Lamb played in only 56 games for Arizona due to injury last season, but he hit a combined 59 home runs the previous two seasons and could bounce back as a corner […]

Austin Hedges Avoids Arbitration

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.06 million deal, according to a source. Hedges hit a disappointing .231/.282/.429 in 2018 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games for the Friars. The power keeps him relevant at a weak position in two-catcher leagues, […]

Dodgers Acquire Russell Martin

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired catcher Russell Martin from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, according to league sources. Toronto will eat a large portion of Martin's $20 million salary for 2019. Martin will turn 36 in February and is near the end of the line after hitting .194/.338/.325 with 10 home runs and 25 […]

A's Avoid Arbitration With Four Players

The Oakland Athletics avoided salary arbitration on Friday with outfielder Mark Canha, starting pitcher Sean Manaea, infielder Jurickson Profar and shortstop Marcus Semien by signing them to undisclosed deals. Profar is the biggest name from a fantasy perspective. He was acquired from the Rangers in the offseason and figures to be the team's regular second […]

Khris Davis Receives $16.5 Million From A's

Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $16.5 million deal. Davis is a beast in the power department with three straight years of 40-plus home runs as well as a career-high 48 in 2018. He's also had three straight seasons of 100-plus RBI and has had a […]

Mike Zunino Avoids Salary Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to an undisclosed one-year deal. He was projected to make $4.2 million in his second arbitration-eligible season. Zunino came over from Seattle in a trade this offseason after hitting .201/.259/.410 with 20 home runs and 44 RBI in 113 games. The 27-year-old […]

J.T. Realmuto Settles At $5.9 Million

Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.9 million deal. Realmuto is one of the top offensive catchers in baseball these days, and he hit .277/.340/.484 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI and 74 runs scored in 477 at-bats in 2018. He's RotoBaller's second-ranked fantasy catcher in […]

Steven Souza Jr. Avoids Salary Arbitration

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.125 million deal, according to a source. Souza managed 30 home runs and 16 stolen bases in his final season with Tampa in 2017, but he came back to Earth in 2018 by hitting a measly .220/.309/.369 with only […]

Kirby Yates Settles With Padres

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.062 million deal, according to a source. Yates will enter 2019 as the Friars closer, but he's merely a low-end fantasy closing option on a team that is perennially near the bottom of the National League West. The right-hander […]