Almost with the close of the established period, several Cuban baseball players managed to avoid salary arbitration with a view to the next season of the Major Leagues (MLB, for its acronym in English), with the Pinar del Río Randy Arozarena leading the group.
This Thursday the 31-year-old outfielder signed what could be his last contract with the Seattle Mariners, in exchange for 15.65 million dollars, the highest amount he has received since his arrival on the circuit, according to a report from the mlb.com site.
The @Mariners have agreed to terms with six arbitration eligible players:
Randy Arozarena, OF
Matt Brash, RHP
Logan Gilbert, RHP
George Kirby, RHP
Luke Raley, INF/OF
Gabe Speier, LHPhttps://t.co/IaiUWeVsi4 pic.twitter.com/xk5FravHQs
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) January 9, 2026
The pact places him as one of the highest-paid outfielders in this process and recognizes the contribution he made to the franchise since his arrival during the 2024 trade window from the Tampa Bay Rays.
During last season, the baseball player who will represent Mexico in the next World Baseball Classic (WBC) hit the highest number of home runs in his history, with 27.
In addition, he had 31 stolen bases and posted a .238/.334/.426 offensive line in a total of 160 games, according to the official statistics.
That deployment helped him to be called up for the second time to the MLB All-Star Game and he was very close to reaching the World Series.
Arozarena was in his last year eligible to undergo salary arbitration, and once the 2026 season concludes he will become a free agent.
Morejón and his consecration prize
Just hours before the deadline to avoid salary arbitration, the San Diego Padres announced that they had reached an agreement with reliever Adrián Morejón to keep him on their staff for the upcoming campaign.
The left-hander born in Mayabeque will receive a salary of 3.9 million dollars, which represents a significant increase compared to what he earned in the previous season.
We have avoided arbitration with 6 players, agreeing to terms with RHPs Jason Adam and Mason Miller, LHPs Adrian Morejon and JP Sears, C Freddy Fermin and INF/OF Gavin Sheets on 1-year contracts through 2026.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) January 9, 2026
The unprecedented figure in his record comes after a year of consecration, in which he fought off the injuries that had limited his performance to become a reference in the bullpen of the Californian franchise.
According to the MLB statisticsMorejón entered the box in 75 games, always as a reliever, and achieved an impressive 13 successes, a record for a Cuban in that role during a season.
In his 2025 locker there are also six defeats and three games saved out of a possible six, in addition to 20 holds, eight more than those recorded in 2024.
Morejón closed the season with an ERA of 2.08 earned runs per game, struck out 70 and walked only 17, while his rivals only averaged .186 against him.
Maintaining or improving these metrics in 2026 would be confirming the solidity of his evolution and becoming a coveted piece for his debut in free agency.
Cano and Oviedo join the dance
News emerged from Baltimore that confirms the continuity of Yennier Cano at the highest level, thanks to the good demonstrations from the Orioles bullpen last season.
(BAL): RHP Yennier Cano avoid arbitration with a $1.6 million deal this year pic.twitter.com/uTUQlQwsrP
— MLB Transactions (@MLBTransacs) January 9, 2026
The Avila reliever agreed to continue with the team for one more year in exchange for 1.6 million dollars, a step that will allow him to continue showing his quality and continue growing within the most demanding baseball in the world.
Johan Oviedo moved along the same rope, who is on the right path to achieving full recovery from Tommy John surgery that limited his appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates during 2025.
The #RedSox have agreed to terms with four players on one-year contracts for the 2026 season: 1B Triston Casas, INF/OF Romy Gonzalez, and RHPs Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo.
The Red Sox have no remaining players eligible for salary arbitration.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 9, 2026
Before arriving via trade to the Boston Red Sox, the team with which he will play next season in exchange for 1.55 million dollars, Oviedo left signs of his encouraging return to the mound, setting his sights on service record balance of 2-1 and an ERA of 3.57, in addition to leaving the offensive average of the hitters he faced at just .182.
Now the Massachusetts team will give him the opportunity to complete his redemption and forget the nightmare of his time under the knife to continue making his way in the MLB.
