PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have avoided arbitration with nine of their 10 arbitration-eligible players, leaving only was left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland without a deal.Among those reaching agreements were shortstop Nick Ahmed, outfielder David Peralta, third baseman Jake Lamb and starting pitcher Robbie Ray.Ahmed, coming off a Gold Glove season that included greatly improved offensive numbers, gets $3,662,500, a hefty increase from last year's $1,275,000. Peralta receives an even bigger raise to $7 million, up from $3.3 million last seasonRay gets $6.05 million, a raise of $2.1 million, and Lamb receives $4,825,000, a raise of $550,000.Also reaching one-year agreements were outfielder Steven Souza Jr., ($4,125,000), right-handed starter Taijuan Walker ($5,025,000), right-handed relievers Archie Bradley ($1.83 million) and Matt Andriesen ($920,000) and lefty reliever Andrew Chafin ($1,945,000).The Diamondbacks also reached one-year deals with outfielder Steven Souza Jr.... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Kyle Gibson and left fielder Eddie Rosario are among eight Minnesota Twins players who avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts.Gibson and Rosario received hefty raises Friday: Gibson will earn $8,125,000, an increase from his 2018 salary of $4.2 million, while Rosario receives $4.19 million for an increase from $602,500 last year.Also agreeing on contracts were right-hander Jake Odorizzi for $9.5 million up, from $6.3 million; center fielder Byron Buxton for $1.75 million; third baseman Miguel Sano for $2,650,000, up from $602,500; right fielder Max Kepler for $3,125,000, up from $587,500; left-hander Taylor Rogers for $1,525,000; and right-hander Trevor May for $900,000.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — AL MVP Mookie Betts, NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and major league home run champion Khris Davis reached high-priced one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration, while slugger Nolan Arenado and pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Aaron Nola were among 15 players still on track for hearings.Betts and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract on Friday, a record $9.5 million raise for a player in arbitration more than one time that topped pitcher Max Scherzer's $8.8 million hike from Detroit in 2014.Betts' standard didn't last the day, broken when deGrom and the New York Mets agreed at $17 million, a $9.6 million increase.Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor, eligible for the first time, got an even bigger raise. His salary went up more than $9.9 million, from $643,200 to $10.55 million.Davis and the Oakland Athletics reached a $16.5 million deal, a $6 million raise after he hit 48 home runs with a career-high 123 RBIs.Arenado... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Four-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado asked for $30 million in salary arbitration Friday, while the Colorado Rockies offered $24 million.Arenado, who has won six straight Gold Glove Awards and four consecutive Silver Slugger Awards, made $17.85 million last year.He hit .297 with an NL-high 38 home runs and 110 RBIs, which tied for second in the league, to help the Rockies reach the playoffs for the second straight season. They beat the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card game before being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series.Colorado agreed to one-year contracts with All-Star shortstop Trevor Story, right-handers Jon Gray and Chad Bettis, left-hander Tyler Anderson, right-handed reliever Scott Oberg and catcher Tony Wolters to avoid arbitration.Story, the Rockies' first-round pick in the 2011 amateur draft, gets a big raise from $630,000 to $5 million. He hit .291 with 37 homers and 108 RBIs in earning his first All-Star selection.Anderson, also a first-round... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds avoided arbitration with Yasiel Puig, agreeing with the newly acquired outfielder on a $9.7 million contract for 2019.The Reds also reached deals Friday with right-handers Tanner Roark ($10 million), Anthony DeSclafani ($2,125,000) and Michael Lorenzen ($1.95 million), second baseman Scooter Gennett ($9,775,000) and shortstop Jose Peraza ($2,775,000).Left-hander Alex Wood is Cincinnati's only arbitration-eligible player without a deal. He asked for a raise from $6 million to $9.65 million, and the team offered $8.7 million.The Reds acquired Puig and Wood last month in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cincinnati got Roark in a deal with Washington.Puig hit .267 with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a $5,125,000 deal for 2019 with reliever Corey Knebel.The Brewers avoided arbitration with all their remaining players who were eligible, including Knebel, who went 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA and 16 saves last year in an injury-shortened season. He had 39 saves in 2017.Milwaukee also reached one-year deals with third baseman Travis Shaw ($4,675,000) and pitchers Alex Claudio ($1,275,000), Zach Davies ($2.6 million) and Junior Guerra ($2,225,000).The Brewers reached a $1.75 million agreement with catcher Manny Pina — $1.6 million in 2019, plus a $1.85 million club option for 2020 that includes a $150,000 buyout.Shaw hit .241 with 32 home runs and 86 RBIs last year for the NL Central champions.Led by Knebel, Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress, the Brewers led the National League with 42 wins by their relievers and finished second in the league with a 3.47 bullpen ERA. But Knebel dealt with hamstring problems early in the season, and he was sent to the minors in late August for a brief stint to work on his mechanics.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins avoided arbitration with J.T. Realmuto by agreeing to a $5.9 million deal with the All-Star catcher, who has been mentioned in numerous trade scenarios this offseason.Realmuto hit .277 with 21 homers and 74 RBIs last season, when he made $2.9 million.The deal reached Friday includes bonuses of $50,000 each for All-Star selection, Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award.The 27-year-old made his first All-Star team and won his first Silver Slugger Award in 2018.Miami also reached one-year deals with pitchers Dan Straily ($5 million), Jose Urena ($3.2 million) and Adam Conley ($1,125,000) and infielder Miguel Rojas ($3,155,000.)___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's fitting that Russell Martin is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.He's pining for a World Series title, too.The Dodgers reacquired Martin in a trade with Toronto on Friday, receiving the veteran catcher in exchange for a couple minor leaguers. Los Angeles has won two straight National League pennants but lost each time in the World Series. Martin has never even played in a World Series in 13 seasons with the Dodgers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays."I'm looking for a championship," Martin said. "I've never won a championship, and I'm still hungry for that."The Dodgers also reached one-year deals with their seven remaining arbitration-eligible players. The NL champions agreed with Corey Seager ($4 million), Joc Pederson ($5 million), Chris Taylor ($3.5 million), Enrique Hernandez ($3,725,000), Pedro Baez ($2.1 million), Josh Fields ($2.85 million) and Yimi Garcia ($710,000) on 2019 contracts.With catcher Yasmani Grandal leaving for a deal with Milwaukee earlier in... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have reached one-year contract agreements with all six of their remaining arbitration-eligible players.Left-handers Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney got the biggest deals, with Skaggs agreeing at $3.7 million and Heaney getting $3.4 million.Relief pitcher Cam Bedrosian got $1.75 million and reliever Hansel Robles got $1.4 million. Two new Angels also finalized deals, with reliever Luis Garcia getting $1,675,000 and infielder Tommy La Stella getting $1.35 million.Right-handers JC Ramirez and Nick Tropeano reached deals Thursday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with Nicholas Castellanos, agreeing on a $9.95 million deal with the outfielder for 2019.Detroit also reached agreements with left-handers Matthew Boyd ($2.6 million), Daniel Norris ($1,275,000) and Blaine Hardy ($1.3 million). Right-hander Michael Fulmer is the Tigers' only arbitration-eligible player without a deal. He asked for $3.4 million and was offered $2.8 million.The 26-year-old Castellanos hit .298 last year with 23 home runs and 89 RBIs, when he made $6,075,000. He's considered a candidate to be traded, with the Tigers rebuilding after consecutive 98-loss seasons.Fulmer, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year, went 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA last season, when he dealt with oblique and knee problems.Boyd and Norris were acquired in the 2015 trade that sent David Price to Toronto. Boyd went 9-13 with a 4.39 ERA in 2018. Norris has shown potential, but he's been limited by injuries.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Gold Glove-winning free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees have agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, a deal that would appear to eliminate New York as a destination for Manny Machado.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because no agreement had been announced.The 30-year-old LeMahieu spent the previous eight seasons with Colorado at hitter-friendly Coors Field and won the NL batting title in 2016 with a .348 average. He hit .276 last year with 15 homers and 62 RBIs, and he won his second straight Gold Glove and third overall.New York was seeking infielders in the absence of shortstop Didi Gregorius, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected back until summer. The Yankees signed former Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki last week and said he will be their starting shortstop. LeMahieu likely will see time at second, third and possibly even first.NOTES: OF... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Catcher Mike Zunino, third baseman Matt Duffy and relief pitcher Chaz Roe have agreed to one-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays and avoided arbitration.The deals Friday left the Rays with one player proceeding to arbitration, outfielder Tommy Pham. He asked for $4.1 million and was offered $3.5 million.Pham made $570,000 last season when he batted .275 with 21 homers and 63 RBIs in 137 games with Tampa Bay and St. Louis. He was acquired from the Cardinals last July and hit .343 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 39 games for the Rays.Zunino ($4,412,500) was acquired this offseason in a five-player trade that sent outfielder Mallex Smith to Seattle. He earned $2,975,000 last season while batting .201 with 20 homers and 44 RBIs in 113 games with the Mariners.Duffy, 27, returned from missing all of 2017 because of injury to hit .294 with four homers and 44 RBIs in 132 games last season. He got $2,675,000, up from $1 million last year.Roe, a 32-year-old right-hander, was 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA in a career-high 61 appearances. He'll get $1,275,000, an increase from $720,000.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts keeps putting up big numbers.The AL MVP and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract Friday, a raise of $9.5 million that was for a few hours the highest for an arbitration-eligible player.Betts was later surpassed by New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, who got a raise from $7.4 million to $17 million.The Red Sox reached deals with all nine players eligible for arbitration ahead of Friday's scheduled swap of salary figures. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts got a $12 million contract and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. got $8.55 million.After beating the Red Sox in arbitration last offseason, the 26-year-old Betts led the major leagues in batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.640) and was second in on-base average (.438). He also had 84 extra-base hits, including 32 home runs, and stole 30 bases. The right fielder also won his third straight Gold Glove while making $10.5 million.Betts can make more in award bonuses,... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Four-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado asked for $30 million in salary arbitration Friday, while the Colorado Rockies offered $24 million.Arenado, who has won six straight Gold Glove Awards and four consecutive Silver Slugger Awards, made $17.85 million last year.He hit .297 with an NL-high 38 home runs and 110 RBIs, which tied for second in the league, to help the Rockies reach the postseason for the second straight season. They beat the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card game before being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series.Colorado agreed to one-year contracts with All-Star shortstop Trevor Story, right-hander Jon Gray and right-handed reliever Scott Oberg to avoid arbitration.Story, the Rockies' first-round pick in the 2011 amateur draft, gets a big raise, from $630,000 to $5 million. He hit .291 with 37 homers and 108 RBIs in earning his first All-Star berth.Gray will earn $2,925,000, up from $550,000. The team's first-round pick in the 2013 amateur... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have avoided arbitration with nine of their 10 arbitration-eligible players, leaving only was left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland without a deal.Among those reaching agreements were shortstop Nick Ahmed, outfielder David Peralta, third baseman Jake Lamb and starting pitcher Robbie Ray.Ahmed, coming off a Gold Glove season that included greatly improved offensive numbers, gets $3,662,500, a hefty increase from last year's $1,275,000. Peralta receives an even bigger raise to $7 million, up from $3.3 million last seasonRay gets $6.05 million, a raise of $2.1 million, and Lamb receives $4,825,000, a raise of $550,000.Also reaching one-year agreements were outfielder Steven Souza Jr., ($4,125,000), right-handed starter Taijuan Walker ($5,025,000), and right-handed relievers Archie Bradley and Matt Andriesen.The Diamondbacks also reached one-year deals with outfielder Steven Souza Jr. ($4,125,000) and right-handed starter Taijuan Walker ($5,025,000). Catcher... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's fitting that Russell Martin is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.He's pining for a World Series title too.The Dodgers reacquired Martin in a trade with Toronto on Friday, receiving the veteran catcher in exchange for a couple minor leaguers. Los Angeles has won two straight National League pennants but lost each time in the World Series. Martin has never even played in a World Series in 13 seasons with the Dodgers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays."I'm looking for a championship," Martin said. "I've never won a championship, and I'm still hungry for that."The Dodgers also reached one-year deals with their seven remaining arbitration-eligible players. The NL champions agreed with Corey Seager ($4 million), Joc Pederson ($5 million), Chris Taylor ($3.5 million), Enrique Hernandez ($3,725,000), Pedro Baez ($2.1 million), Josh Fields ($2.85 million) and Yimi Garcia ($710,000) on 2019 contracts.Toronto reached deals with outfielder Randal Grichuk at $5 million, outfielder... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics slugger Khris Davis is getting a $6 million raise after leading the majors in home runs last season.Davis reached agreement Friday with Oakland on a $16.5 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.The A's also agreed Friday to one-year deals with left-hander Sean Manaea for $3.15 million, second baseman Jurickson Profar for $3.6 million and shortstop Marcus Semien for $5.9 million and outfielder Mark Canha for $2.05 million.Davis received a hefty raise from the A's last winter, then went out and hit a majors-best 48 home runs while setting a career high with 123 RBIs — not to mention leading the low-budget club back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 before a wild-card loss to the Yankees.While Oakland general manager David Forst has said signing Davis to a multiyear contract is a high priority, it wasn't at the top of the team's offseason to-do list and Forst said Davis understands that as the A's try to build another winning roster.The... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Roenis Elias and the Seattle Mariners have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract for $910,000.The left-hander was 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA in four starts and 19 relief appearances last season, when he made $598,000. He allowed 15 earned runs in 51 innings. Elias is likely to be a long reliever in 2019.The only other Seattle player eligible for arbitration this winter was Domingo Santana. The outfielder agreed Thursday to a $1.95 million, one-year contract, getting a raise from $572,400 in his first year of arbitration eligibility.The team announced both deals Friday.Acquired in an offseason trade, Santana hit .265 with five home runs and 20 RBIs during a down season last year as he lost his regular spot in Milwaukee's outfield after the Brewers acquired Christian Yelich. In 2017, Santana batted .278 with a career-high 30 home runs and 85 RBIs.Seattle is banking on Santana providing right-handed power in a lineup looking to replace slugger Nelson Cruz.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have avoided arbitration with five players, including second baseman Cesar Hernandez and third baseman Maikel Franco.All-Star right-hander Aaron Nola didn't reach an agreement with the team. The Phillies offered $4.5 million and Nola is seeking $6.75 million. He finished third in NL Cy Young award voting last year after going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. The 25-year-old earned $573,000 in 2018.Hernandez gets $7.75 million under Friday's deal, up from $5.1 million. Franco gets $5.2 million, an increase from $2.95 million.Hernandez had career-highs in homers (15) and RBIs (60) last year but his average dropped from .294 in 2016 and 2017 to a career-low .253.Franco had a team-high .270 average with 22 homers and 68 RBIs last year.Right-hander Vince Velasquez, outfielder Aaron Altherr, and left-handers Adam Morgan and Jose Alvarez also agreed to deals on Friday. Former closer Hector Neris and righty Jerad Eickhoff agreed to deals Thursday.Velasquez gets... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — AL MVP Mookie Betts, NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and major league home run champion Khris Davis reached high-priced one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration, while slugger Nolan Arenado and pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Aaron Nola were among 15 players still on track for hearings.Betts and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract on Friday, a $9.5 million raise for an arbitration-eligible player that topped pitcher Max Scherzer's $8.8 million raise from Detroit in 2014.Betts' record didn't last the day, broken when deGrom and the New York Mets agreed at $17 million, a $9.6 million increase.Davis and the Oakland Athletics reached a $16.5 million deal, a $6 million raise after he hit 48 home runs with a career-high 123 RBIs.Arenado asked for a record $30 million in arbitration from Colorado and was offered $24 million. He will top the record for a salary for an arbitration-eligible player, a $23 million deal... [More]