Jordy Mercer Avoids Arbitration

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.75 million deal. Mercer's 2016 and 2017 seasons were nearly identical, as he had just three more homers last year and one less RBI in four fewer games. He doesn't have much pop and won't help in stolen bases or average, so […]

Gerrit Cole Avoids Arbitration

The Pittsburgh Pirates and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.75 million deal. Cole has been a hot name on the trade block with the Yankees and Astros being the most involved. It was reported earlier in the week by numerous sources that Cole to the Astros was a […]

Manny Machado Won't Settle On Arbitration

The Baltimore Orioles and third baseman Manny Machado will not settle on salary arbitration before the deadline Friday, according to a source. It's another indication that the Orioles are ready to trade Machado away before he reaches free agency after the 2018 season. However, their price for the third base slugger is extremely high, and […]

Jose Abreu And White Sox Settle At $13 Million

Robert Murray of FanRag Sports reports that the Chicago White Sox and first baseman Jose Abreu have agreed on a $13 million deal to avoid arbitration. Abreu remains one of the more underrated hitters in both real life and fantasy. This past year he hit .304 with 33 home runs and 102 RBI. He should […]

Mets, Wilmer Flores Avoid Arbitration

New York Mets infielder Wilmer Flores avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. Flores missed more time with injuries in 2017, and his value really lies in his ability to fill multiple positions for fantasy owners on the infield. He's an excellent cheap daily pick against left-handed pitchers, but he could […]

Yu Darvish Tweets That Yankees Haven’t Offered Him A Deal

Free-agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish tweeted to a fan that the New York Yankees have not offered him a contract. Darvish has been using Twitter a lot during his free-agent process to address rumors. Earlier in the week, it was reported that Darvish narrowed his list to the Cubs, Astros, Rangers, Twins and Yankees. Darvish also […]

Lonnie Chisenhall Avoids Arbitration

Cleveland Indians outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.587 million deal. 2017 was a lost season for Chisenhall because of various injuries, and he ended up playing in only 82 games, and when he did play, he was platooned in the outfield. However, when he was on the field, he […]

Nationals, Tanner Roark Avoid Arbitration

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.475 million deal. Roark took a bit of a step back in 2017 with a 4.66 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 166 K's in 181 innings, and pitching in the World Baseball Classic may have had something to do with it. His […]

Maikel Franco Avoids Arbitration

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.95 million deal, according to a source. It was a very disappointing 2017 season for the young third baseman in Philly, and his batting average has dropped steadily the last two years. However, he's still young and makes plenty of contact, […]

Tommy La Stella Avoids Arbitration

Chicago Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella avoided arbitration with the Chicago Cubs by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $950,000. The infielder hit .288 in 125 games this past year. La Stella won’t hold much fantasy value outside of daily leagues.

Brewers, Corey Knebel Avoid Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers closer Corey Knebel avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.65 million deal. Knebel took over the closer's role in Milwaukee in 2017 and ran away with it. He was highly effective and extremely dominant (14.9 K/9) for the fantasy owners that swooped him up. Knebel has earned the closer's job heading […]

Jake Lamb Avoids Arbitration

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.275 million deal. Lamb has proven to be a fine everyday third baseman for the Snakes, but he'll need to improve against left-handers in order to take a step forward for his fantasy owners. Still, he's an extremely valuable corner infielder […]

Mets Considering Lucas Duda Reunion

The New York Mets may not be done just yet in terms of reuniting with players they traded in 2017. After re-signing outfielder Jay Bruce on Wednesday, the Amazins are reportedly considering making a run at free-agent first baseman Lucas Duda as well. In 126 games last season between the Mets and Tampa Bay Rays, Duda […]

Zach McAllister, Indians Avoid Arbitration

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Zach McAllister was able to reach an agreement to avoid arbitration with the team, signing a one-year, $2.45 million contract. McAllister was an important part of the Cleveland bullpen in 2017, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 66/21 K/BB ratio in 62 innings. He'll return to a middle-relief role in […]

Mets And Matt Harvey Avoid Arbitration

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that the New York Mets and starting pitcher Matt Harvey have agreed to a one-year, $5.625 million contract. It will be a raise for Harvey despite coming off a rough season. This past year in 19 games (18 starts), he posted a 6.70 ERA. Injuries have gotten the best of […]

Twins, Eduardo Escobar Avoid Arbitration

Minnesota Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar avoided salary arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.85 million deal, according to a source. Mostly a utility player for Minnesota, he wound up playing more than expected at shortstop and third base, and he hit a career-high 21 dingers in 129 games. A bloated fly-ball rate was responsible […]

Patrick Corbin Signs One-Year Deal With Arizona

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, who has been on the trade block this offseason, reached a one-year, $7.5 million deal Thursday. The talented left-hander went 14-13 last season with a 4.03 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 178 strikeouts in 189 2/3 innings, but he was better after the All-Star break (3.26 ERA). There is plenty […]

Nationals Re-Sign Edwin Jackson

The Washington Nationals re-signed starting pitcher Edwin Jackson to a minor league deal Thursday, but he can make $1.5 million if he's on the big league roster, plus another $1.4 million in potential incentives. Between the Orioles and Nats in 2017, Jackson went 5-6 with a 5.21 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.1 K/9 in 76 […]

Michael Fulmer On Track For Spring Training

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer (elbow) is doing fine and is on track for spring training four months after he had ulnar transposition surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve in his right elbow. "Everything is going fantastic," Fulmer told Tigers play-by-play broadcaster Dan Dickerson and Pat Caputo on Tuesday night on the TigerTalk Hot […]

Twins Waiting For Ruling On Miguel Sano

The Minnesota Twins are hoping that Major League Baseball comes to a resolution before spring training starts of their investigation against third baseman Miguel Sano. MLB is currently conducting their investigation into sexual-assault allegations against Sano, according to Twins general manager Thad Levine. Sanu issued a statement denying the allegations. MLB has made it clear […]

Giants Remain Interested In Andrew McCutchen

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the San Francisco Giants have remained in talks with the Pirates for outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Nightengale also notes that the Giants offered outfielder Jay Bruce a three-year deal before he signed with the Mets, but it was for $10 million less. The Giants have swung and missed on many […]

Zach McAllister And Indians Avoid Arbitration

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that relief pitcher Zach McAllister has avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.45 million contract with the Indians. McAllister had a strong season out of the bullpen last year for the Tribe. Over 62 innings, he had a 2.61 ERA with 66 strikeouts. He will be eligible to reach […]

Giants Still Searching For Outfield Help, Likely To Avoid Giving Up Draft Pick

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports suggests that the San Francisco Giants have targeted free-agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain. The Giants have knowingly been targeting outfielders all offseason. They missed out on trading for Marlins outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton. They’ve been linked to Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, but nothing has gained traction. Cain, 31, would […]

Yu Darvish Narrows List Of Teams

Max Wildstein of the Sporting News reports that free-agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish has narrowed his list to the Astros, Cubs, Rangers, Twins and Yankees. Darvish on Twitter replied to the post saying that "I know one more team is in." Darvish seems to be in the final stages of deciding where he will like […]

Jay Bruce Returns To Mets On Three-Year Deal

Jerry Cransick of ESPN.com reports that free-agent outfielder Jay Bruce has agreed to a three-year deal worth $39 million with the New York Mets. Bruce was acquired in 2016 at the trade deadline by the Mets and flipped by the Mets to the Indians during the 2017 trade deadline. In 153 games as a Met, he hit .245 […]

Braves Release Adonis Garcia

The Atlanta Braves released third baseman Adonis Garcia so that he can purse an opportunity in the Korean League in 2018. In his three seasons in Atlanta, Garcia had a slash line of .267/.300/.414 with 29 home runs and 110 RBI over 244 games. In his absence next season, expect some combination of Rio Ruiz […]

Nate Jones Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Nate Jones (elbow) has begun throwing and is expected to be ready by spring training. Jones made 11 appearances last year before having season-ending nerve repositioning surgery on his right elbow in mid-July. If Jones doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he is a candidate to be […]

Mets Touching Base With Jay Bruce

The New York Mets have spoken recently with the agent for free-agent outfielder Jay Bruce, and they remain a possibility to reunite with him. Twenty nine of Bruce's career-high 36 home runs in 2017 came with the Mets in the first half of the season. Familiarity may be a big selling point if the two […]

Matt Belisle, Twins Interested In Reunion

The Minnesota Twins and free-agent relief pitcher Matt Belisle are interested in a reunion in 2018, but no deal is close, according to sources. Belisle was a nice surprise for the Twinkies in 2017, going 9-for-11 in save chances, although he did sport a 4.03 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. Belisle worked […]

J.J. Hoover Agrees To Minor League Deal With Brewers

Free-agent relief pitcher J.J. Hoover has agreed to a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoover recovered with the Diamondbacks after a rough year with the Reds in 2016. This past season. he posted a 3.92 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 41 1/3 innings. He will have a chance to earn a spot with […]