Astros Avoid Arbitration With Roberto Osuna, Others

The Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration on Friday with relief pitchers Roberto Osuna, Brad Peacock, Will Harris and Ryan Pressly, starting pitcher Collin McHugh and outfielder Jake Marisnick by signing them to undisclosed one-year deals. Osuna served a suspension in the middle of the 2018 season and was then traded to the Astros, where he […]

Phillies Settle With Cesar Hernandez, Others

The Philadelphia Phillies avoided salary arbitration with second baseman Cesar Hernandez on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $7.75 million deal. The team also avoided arbitration with outfielder Aaron Altherr ($1.35 million), reliever Jose Alvarez ($1.925 million), pitcher Jerad Eickhoff ($975,000), third baseman Maikel Franco ($5.2 million), pitcher Adam Morgan ($1.1 million), reliever Hector […]

Nomar Mazara Avoids Arbitration

Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, according to sources. The 23-year-old has been very consistent by hitting exactly 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons in the big leagues. He also added a .258/.317/.436 slash line and 77 RBI in […]

Michael Conforto Gets $4.025 Million From Mets

New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.025 million deal after he made $605,094 in 2018. While Conforto's average suffered a bit last season, he took steps forward by hitting 28 home runs and driving in 84 in 153 games. His lack of speed on the […]

Redskins Would Like To Re-Sign Jamison Crowder

The Washington Redskins want to try and re-sign impending free-agent wide receiver Jamison Crowder, according to head coach Jay Gruden. The slot receiver has been a solid performer for the Redskins, but he has yet to live up to expectations and was injured for a big chunk of the 2018 season. Crowder caught 192 passes […]

Eddie Rosario Avoids Arbitration

Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.190 million deal. Even in the pitching-friendly environment of Minnesota, Rosario has hit 51 home runs in the last two seasons and also slashed a very respectable .288/.323/.479 in 138 games. He enters the 2019 season just inside RotoBaller's top […]

Cubs Settle With Kris Bryant

The Chicago Cubs avoided salary arbitration on Friday with third baseman Kris Bryant by signing him to a one-year, $12.9 million deal, according to a source. A shoulder injury derailed Bryant's 2018 campaign and limited him to only 389 at-bats over a career-low 202 games. He hit .272/.374/.460 with just 13 home runs and 52 […]

Javier Baez Earns Raise For 2019

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.2 million deal. The 26-year-old superstar broke out in 2018 with a .290/.326/.554 slash line and career highs across the board in home runs (34), RBI (111), runs (101) and stolen bases (21) on his way to finishing second in […]

O's Avoid Arbitration With Three Players

The Baltimore Orioles avoided salary arbitration on Friday with starting pitcher Dylan Bundy, relief pitcher Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar by signing them to undisclosed one-year deals. Villar was proving to be a bust in 2018 with the Brewers before he was traded to the Orioles, where he flourished in 54 games by hitting […]

Yasiel Puig Settles With Reds

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.7 million deal, according to a source. Inconsistent playing time hurt Puig the most in 2018, as he hit .267/.327/.494 with 23 home runs, 63 RBI, 60 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 125 games for the Dodgers before […]

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 […]