Fermin signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration.

Fermin was traded by the Royals to the Padres in late July, and across both clubs he posted a .636 OPS with one steal, 32 runs, 13 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI over 347 plate appearances during the 2025 regular season. The 30-year-old projects to be the Padres' No. 1 catcher to begin 2026 while Luis Campusano serves as the backup.

The Diamondbacks and Moreno avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.55 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

It's a nice raise for Moreno, who was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The catcher was limited to 83 games due to injury in 2025 but had his best offensive season, slashing .285/.353/.433 with nine home runs. Moreno -- who turns 26 in February -- has breakout potential in 2026 if he can stay healthy.

The Mets and Alvarez (thumb) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Alvarez had been arbitration-eligible for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier following a season that saw him put up a .787 OPS with 11 home runs over 76 tilts. The 24-year-old was scheduled to have surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb shortly after the season, but he's expected to be ready to go for spring training.

The Pirates and Bart avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.53 million contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Bart's second year in Pittsburgh didn't go nearly as well as his first, as he finished the 2025 campaign with a .249/.355/.340 batting line and only four home runs in 93 contests. The 29-year-old is in line to share catching duties with Henry Davis again in 2026.

The Cubs signed Bethancourt to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

He'll be paid $1.6 million if in the majors, but with Carson Kelly and an out-of-minor-league-options Miguel Amaya already on the team, Bethancourt is unlikely to crack the Opening Day roster. The 34-year-old catcher spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization, posting just a .551 OPS. Bethancourt is a career .229/.259/.362 hitter over parts of eight big-league seasons.

The Rockies signed Sullivan to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Sullivan spent nearly all of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level between the Padres and Pirates organization, slashing only .207/.264/.325 in 75 contests. A career .204/.250/.291 hitter over parts of three big-league seasons, Sullivan will turn 32 in February and is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

The Marlins re-signed Navarreto to a minor-league contract Monday.

Navarreto elected free agency last month after being outrighted off the Marlins' 40-man roster, but he's found his way back into the organization. The 30-year-old got into eight games with Miami in 2025, going 4-for-14 with one home run. Navarreto is likely pegged for Triple-A Jacksonville to begin the 2026 campaign.

The Mets claimed Romo off waivers from the Orioles on Wednesday.

Romo has bounced around from the Rockies to the Orioles and now the Mets this month. The switch-hitting catcher is just 9-for-54 at the plate during his brief time in the majors. With Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens slated to open 2026 as the Mets' catching duo, Romo is likely to begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Syracuse.

The Padres signed Hunt to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Hunt spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization, slashing .272/.368/.452 with eight home runs in 68 contests. The 27-year-old was up in the big leagues briefly with the Orioles in 2024 but is still looking to make his major-league debut. Hunt was originally selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft before being traded to the Rays in the Blake Snell deal.

The Reds re-signed Banfield to a minor-league contract Dec. 2.

Banfield was non-tendered by the Reds in November but wound up returning to the organization on a minor-league pact. The 26-year-old catcher went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts during a cup of coffee with the Reds and will provide depth behind the plate at Triple-A Louisville.