The Cardinals and Liberatore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.26 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Liberatore was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The left-hander had a solid first full season in the Cardinals' rotation, finishing 2025 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 122:40 K:BB in 151.2 innings over 29 starts. Liberatore will be counted on as a key member of the St. Louis rotation again in 2026.

The Nationals and Irvin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Irvin finished the 2025 campaign with a 5.70 ERA while serving up a major-league high 38 home runs. The right-hander's durability has been his biggest asset to this point, as he's made 33 starts in consecutive seasons. Irvin does not appear locked into a rotation spot in 2026, though his chances of nabbing one would increase if the Nationals trade MacKenzie Gore.

Kirby signed a one-year, $6.55 million contract with the Mariners on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Kirby turned in the worst statistical season of his four-year MLB career in 2025, logging a 4.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 126 regular-season innings, although his 9.8 K/9 marked a new personal best for the 27-year-old righty. He'll receive a $2.25 million raise entering the 2026 campaign and still has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining.

Kremer signed a one-year, $5.75 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Kremer made 31 appearances (29 starts) for the O's in 2025, during which he turned in a 4.19 ERA and 1.21 WHIP to go with a 142:45 K:BB across 171.2 innings. He'll be granted a $2.8 million raise during his second year of arbitration eligibility, and he's a safe bet to open the 2026 campaign in the back end of Baltimore's rotation.

The Nationals and Gore avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.6 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Gore concluded the 2025 campaign with a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 185:64 K:BB over 159.2 innings covering 30 starts. The left-hander's name has come up often in trade rumors this offseason, and he will be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time next winter.

Atlanta claimed Waldichuk off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.

Waldichuk was sidelined for a year-and-a-half following Tommy John surgery and posted an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025 after returning. The lefty boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors and has minor-league options remaining, so it's not a surprise he didn't pass through waivers. Waldichuk will likely begin 2026 in the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation.

The Cubs and Steele (elbow) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.775 million contract Thursday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Steele gets a modest raise after he missed nearly all of the 2025 season following UCL revision surgery. The left-hander's rehab has come along well, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least the first month or so of the 2026 campaign.

Ober signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with the Twins on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Ober endured his worst season in the big leagues in 2025, turning in a 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 146.1 innings with Minnesota. His second year of arbitration eligibility will grant him a $1.65 million raise, however, and his spot in the Twins' rotation appears to be safe.

Houck (elbow) avoided arbitration with the Red Sox by signing a one-year, $4.15 million contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Houck never found his footing on the mound in 2025, putting up an 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP over 43.2 innings before elbow trouble ended his season in May. He underwent hybrid UCL repair surgery in mid-August to address the issue and is aiming to return around the end of the 2026 season, though he may have to wait until 2027 to rejoin Boston's rotation.

Oviedo signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

A lat strain prevented Oviedo from making his first appearance of 2025 until August, at which point he turned in a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 40.1 innings in nine starts with the Pirates. After being traded to Boston in December, the 27-year-old will take in a $700,000 raise from his new club and look to win a spot in the Sox's rotation during spring training.