ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with newly acquired outfielder Marcell Ozuna, avoiding arbitration.The Cardinals also reached one-year deals on Friday with outfielder Randal Grichuk ($2.6 million), right-hander Michael Wacha ($5.3 million) and left-hander Tyler Lyons ($1.2 million).Ozuna is coming off a breakout season. He hit .312 with 37 homers and 124 RBIs for the Miami Marlins, then was traded to St. Louis in December.Grichuk batted .238 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs last year, his second straight 20-homer season. Wacha was 12-9 with a 4.13 ERA in 30 starts, and Lyons was 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 50 relief appearances.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shortstop Freddy Galvis was one of six players to reach agreement on one-year deals with the San Diego Padres to avoid salary arbitration.Galvis, acquired in a trade from the Phillies last month, will make $6,825,000 in a big bump from his 2017 salary of $4,350,000. He played in all 162 games for Philadelphia last season, the first time he has done so. He batted .255 with 12 homers and 61 RBIs.Left-hander Brad Hand received a $3.6 million contract and a raise from his $1,375,000 last year, when he went 3-4 with a 2.16 ERA in 72 appearances.Also reaching one-year deals Friday to avoid arbitration were right-hander Carter Capps for $1,062,500, up from $987,500; third baseman Cory Spangenberg at $1.7 million, up from $545,500; outfielder Matt Szczur at $950,000 after he made $549,500 and right-hander Kirby Yates for $1,062,500 up, from $545,000.Spangenberg batted .264 with career-bests of 13 homers, 46 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 129 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SEATTLE (AP) — Left-handed starter James Paxton and catcher Mike Zunino are among five players who have agreed to one-year deals with the Seattle Mariners.Right-handed starter Erasmo Ramirez and relievers David Phelps and Nick Vincent also agreed to deals Friday that will keep them out of arbitration. Seattle has not had a case go to arbitration since 2014.Paxton will get a hefty raise to $4.9 million after developing into the ace of Seattle's pitching staff. Paxton was 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 24 starts last season, striking out 156 in 136 innings. His health has been an issue, though. Paxton had two significant stints on the disabled list in 2017 with a forearm strain and a pectoral injury. His pectoral injury in August was a big blow to Seattle's slim playoff hopes. Paxton avoided arbitration a year ago by agreeing to a $2.35 million deal.Zunino was arbitration eligible for the first time and agreed to a $2.975 million contract coming off his best offensive season. Zunino hit .251 with... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with reliever Arodys Vizcaino, avoiding arbitration.The Braves also avoided arbitration with two other players, reaching one-year agreements with right-handers Sam Freeman ($1,075,000) and Dan Winkler ($610,000).Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz remains eligible for arbitration. He's asking for $2.3 million, and the team is offering $2.2 million.The 27-year-old Vizcaino took over the closer's role from Jim Johnson last season. Improved control, accompanied by an overwhelming fastball, helped Vizcaino keep the job. He was successful on 14 of 17 save chances, including 12 of 13 after the All-Star break.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — All-Star pitcher Alex Wood agreed to a $6 million deal with the Dodgers and catcher Yasmani Grandal settled at $7.9 million, among seven Los Angeles players agreeing to one-year contracts that avoiding arbitration.The deals Friday added $24.1 million to the Dodgers luxury tax payroll and raised it to $149,069,286 for 18 players with agreements. The Dodgers' tax payroll projects to $183 million, including $10 million for the rest of their 40-man roster, a $10 million charge for cash transactions in trades, plus benefits totaling $14,044,600. That puts Los Angeles on track to drop below this year's $197 million tax threshold.Also agreeing to deals were outfielder Joc Pederson ($2.6 million), utilityman Enrique Hernandez ($1.6 million), and pitchers Tony Cingrani ($2.3 million), Josh Fields ($2.2 million) and Pedro Baez ($1.5 million).Wood was 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 25 starts and two relief appearances last season, when he made his first All-Star team. He had 151 strikeouts... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pitchers Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker agreed to one-year deals with the Los Angeles Angels along with the team's other seven arbitration-eligible players.Richards, the team's ace, agreed at $7.3 million. He made one start last April before missing the next five months while rehabbing a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The 29-year-old right-hander has made just six starts in each of the past two seasons because of elbow injuries. Richards earned $6.85 last season and can become a free agent after the 2018 season.Skaggs agreed at $1,875,000 plus awards bonuses. The left-hander was 2-6 with a 4.55 ERA last season, when he missed three months because of injury. He made $555,000.Shoemaker receives $4,125,000. Like Richards and Skaggs, he was derailed by injury last season when he was 6-3 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts. The right-hander took a line drive off his head in early September and missed the rest of the season. He is... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Third baseman Derek Dietrich has agreed to a $2.9 million contract for 2018 with the Miami Marlins.Shortstop Miguel Rojas agreed to a $1.18 million contract. Both players avoided arbitration.Catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Justin Bour and right-hander Dan Straily are headed for arbitration after they were unable to reach contract agreements with the team by Friday's deadline.Realmuto asked for $3.5 million and the Marlins offered $2.9 million. Bour sought $3.4 million and was offered $3 million. Straily wanted $3.55 million and Miami countered at $3,375,000.Dietrich had career highs of 13 homers, 53 RBIs and 135 games last year, and batted .249. Rojas batted a career-high .290 in 90 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $5.1 million, one-year deal with Cesar Hernandez, avoiding arbitration with the second baseman who has led the team in batting average each of the past two seasons.The Phillies also reached one-year agreements with third baseman Maikel Franco ($2.95 million), reliever Luis Garcia ($1.2 million) and catcher Cameron Rupp ($2.05 million). Philadelphia has no remaining players eligible for arbitration.Hernandez hit .294 each of the past two years. He's thrived since moving into the leadoff role midway through 2016.Hernandez had a career-best nine homers and a .373 on-base percentage last season.Franco is coming off a disappointing season, although he did lead the Phillies with 24 homers. His average dipped to .230 with a .281 on-base percentage.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros starter Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2 million, one-year contract after helping lead Houston to its first World Series title, and designated hitter/catcher Evan Gattis got a $6.7 million deal.Pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. ($2.45 million) and Brad Peacock ($2.44 million) also agreed, when players and teams were set to swap proposed salaries in arbitration.World Series MVP George Springer, reliever Ken Giles and pitcher Collin McHugh swapped figures with Houston and remain headed to hearings.Springer asked for a raise from $4,075,000 to $10.5 million and was offered $8.5 million. Giles, who stumbled in the World Series, is eligible for arbitration for the first time and asked for a raise from $555,100 to $4.6 million. The Astros countered at $4.2 million.McHugh requested a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million and was offered $4.55 million.Keuchel, the 2015 AL Young Award winner, went 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA and 125 strikeouts in the regular season and was 2-2 with a... [More]

DENVER (AP) — NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon and the Colorado Rockies avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $14 million, one-year contract on Friday.The 31-year-old center fielder hit .331 with 37 homers and 104 RBIs last year and made $7.3 million. He can become a free agent after this season.Blackmon turned in one of the most productive seasons from the leadoff spot in major league history. His 102 RBIs from the top of the order surpassed Darin Erstad's previous major league record of 100 set with the Angels in 2000. Blackmon had 383 total bases — the most by a leadoff hitter for a season.His 37 homers tied him with Marcell Ozuna and Rockies teammate Nolan Arenado for third-most in the NL.In other deals, second baseman DJ LeMahieu agreed to an $8.5 million deal after making $4.85 million in 2017. He played in a career-high 155 games last season, hit .310 and made the All-Star team.Right-hander Chad Bettis agreed to $2 million deal, up from $545,000 in 2017. He was one of the... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shortstop Marcus Semien is one of five players who reached agreement on a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics to avoid salary arbitration, receiving a hefty raise to $3,125,000 from $545,000.Also Friday, right-hander Kendall Graveman asked for $2.6 million and the A's offered $2.36 million.Slugger Khris Davis received a $10.5 million, one-year deal Wednesday.Semien played until mid-April before missing the remainder of the month and all of May and June with a right wrist injury that eventually required surgery. He batted .249 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs in the injury-shortened season during which he didn't play from April 14-July 6. He earned $545,000 last season.When healthy in 2016, Semien hit 27 home runs with 75 RBIs in 159 games.Graveman started on opening day in place of injured ace Sonny Gray, later dealt to the Yankees at the trade deadline. The 27-year-old went 6-4 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 starts and 105 1/3 innings. Graveman missed time with a shoulder... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract with Billy Hamilton, avoiding arbitration with the speedy outfielder.The Reds also avoided arbitration with two other players, reaching an $860,000 deal with right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and a $1,312,500 deal with right-hander Michael Lorenzen. Infielders Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez remain eligible for arbitration.Gennett is asking for $5.7 million and the team is offering $5.1 million. Suarez is asking for $4.2 million and the Reds are offering $3.75 million.Hamilton established career highs last year with 85 runs, 144 hits, 11 triples and 59 steals. He finished one stolen base behind Miami's Dee Gordon for the major league lead.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Second baseman Joe Panik reached agreement on a $3.45 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Friday to avoid salary arbitration.The deal came Friday for the 27-year-old Panik, who has been limited by injuries the past three seasons and spent a stint on the concussion list in 2017. San Francisco also announced four others to reach one-year contracts Friday: right-handers Hunter Strickland, Sam Dyson and Cory Gearrin and left-hander Will Smith.Panik, a 2016 Gold Glover who earned $600,000 last season, batted .288 with 10 homers, 28 doubles and 53 RBIs over 138 games in 2017 as the Giants finished last in the NL West.He was limited to 127 games in 2016 and dealt with a concussion after a back injury derailed his 2015 season.Strickland's biggest moment of 2017 came in a punches-throwing brawl with Nationals star Bryce Harper in late May. He went 4-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 68 appearances and will earn $1,550,000 up from $555,000.Dyson earned a raise to $4,425,000... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon more than doubled his salary going into 2018, reaching agreement on a $12.3 million contract Friday to avoid salary arbitration.Rendon made $5.8 million last season, his first year of arbitration eligibility. He finished sixth in NL MVP voting last season and ranked seventh in WAR among the league's position players, helping carry an injury-depleted Washington team to a second consecutive NL East title by batting .301 with 25 homers, 100 RBIs, 41 doubles, a .403 on-base percentage and .533 slugging percentage.At third base, he made seven errors and had a .979 fielding percentage. Asked at the Nationals' fan festival in December whether he would be open to staying with the team for the long term under a multiyear contract, he replied: "Yeah, for sure. Why not stay with one organization?"As for whether he expects his agents, Scott Boras and Co., to negotiate this offseason with the Nationals about a long-term contract, Rendon joked:... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a $4.85 million, one-year deal with infielder Eduardo Escobar, avoiding arbitration.The Twins also reached one-year agreements with infielder Ehire Adrianza ($1 million), outfielder Robbie Grossman ($2 million) and right-handers Trevor May ($650,000) and Ryan Pressly ($1.6 million).Right-hander Kyle Gibson is the lone Minnesota player still eligible for arbitration. He's asking for $4.55 million and the team is offering $4.2 million.Escobar started last year in a utility role and wound up providing the Twins a steady bat and glove when circumstances forced him into an everyday spot in the lineup. After taking over at third base for the final six weeks when Miguel Sano was injured, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Escobar finished with a career-high 21 home runs.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant put up another big number on Friday.Bryant agreed to a $10.85 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, a record for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time."I guess for some players it might be stressful, but I really enjoyed the whole process of it," Bryant said before the start of the team's annual fan convention. "You play to get to this point in your career, and I've put in so much hard work behind the scenes to get to this point. It just feels so rewarding."The previous mark was held by former Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard, who was awarded $10 million by a three-person panel in 2008. The Cubs and Bryant avoided arbitration, and the 26-year-old third baseman receives a hefty raise after making $1.05 million last year."I don't look at money records," Bryant said. "I guess the records on the field are way more important, because when you're doing that, you know, you're helping the team. But it really is a cherry on top when you get paid... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — There was no surprise return for Jake Arrieta. No dramatic entrance for Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb or Greg Holland, either.Not even close.The Chicago Cubs settled five of their six potential arbitration cases before the start of their annual fan convention on Friday, including a record $10.85 million, one-year deal for third baseman Kris Bryant. But they remain at an impasse when it comes to another free-agent addition or a big acquisition via trade — a common refrain during one of the slowest winters for baseball in a long time."We're not done. We have confidence in this group if this is the 25 we end up taking to spring training," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "But realistically, we'd certainly like to add another pitcher. I like the talent that we have right now, but I think we could certainly add to the depth, and you can do that through depth moves or you can do it through adding another real quality pitcher and bolster the depth even more that way."I... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gerrit Cole remains a Pittsburgh Pirate. For now, at least.The Pirates and their top starting pitcher avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal worth $6.75 million on Friday. Cole went 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA while making a career-high 33 starts in 2017. He has one year of arbitration remaining and could command a hefty salary bump in 2019, one of the reasons the Pirates have explored trading him in recent weeks.Pittsburgh also reached agreements with shortstop Jordy Mercer and reliever George Kontos. Mercer, who will make $6.75 million in 2018, hit .255 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs last season. Kontos, acquired from San Francisco at the trade deadline last July, will make $2.725 million.Closer Felipe Rivero remains eligible for arbitration. He is asking for $2.9 million and the team is offering $2.4 million.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $13 million, one-year deal with slugger Jose Abreu.The White Sox avoided arbitration with Abreu and three other players, also reaching one-year deals Friday with infielder Leury García ($1,175,000) and left-handers Luis Avilán ($2.45 million) and Carlos Rodón ($2.3 million).Outfielder Avisaíl García and infielder Yolmer Sánchez remain eligible for arbitration. Garcia asked for $6.7 million and was offered $5.85 million, Sanchez sought $2.35 million and was offered $2.1 million.Abreu has reached the 30-home run mark three times and driven in at least 100 runs in all four of his major league seasons. The first baseman hit .304 with 33 homers and 102 RBIs last year.Avilan was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade last week.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BOSTON (AP) — Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. were among nine Boston players who reached deals on one-year contracts Friday with the AL East champion Red Sox.Pitchers Joe Kelly, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Workman, infielder Brock Holt and catchers Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez also settled.The agreements left two-time All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts as the only Boston player in salary arbitration. He asked for $10.5 million and the Red Sox offered $7.5 million as players and teams exchanged figures.Bogaerts will make $7.05 million, up from $4.5 million last season. The 25-year-old hit .273 with 62 RBIs and 15 steals.A year after becoming an All-Star, Bogaerts saw his power drop from 21 homers to 10. His second half was the problem: He batted .229 with a .339 slugging percentage from June 23 on.Bradley will get $6.1 million, an increase from $3.6 million last year, when he hit .245 with 17 homers and 63 RBIs.Although he remained a defensive... [More]