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The Cardinals and right-hander Michael Wacha avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $6.35 million contract, a raise of $1.05 million.
St. Louis also agreed to oneyear deals with outfielder Marcell Ozuna at $12.25 million and right-hander Dominic Leone at $1.26 million.
Wacha’s 2018 season was interrupted by a strained muscle in his left side. Limited to 15 starts for St. Louis, he went 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA.
He was injured on June 20 and placed on the 10-day disabled list a day later. His attempt to return ended when he was placed on the 60-day DL on Sept. 10. Wacha would earn a $100,000 performance bonus this year for pitching 175 innings, a figure he has reached only once in his big league career, when he was an All-Star in 2015.
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). Righthander 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.
Brewers reach $5,125,000 deal with Knebel for 2019
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 oneyear 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.