The Toronto Blue Jays and right-handed reliever Jordan Romano avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by settling at $7.75 million for the 2024 season, according to a source. This was Romano's second time being eligible for arbitration. The 30-year-old closer has had exactly 36 saves for the Blue Jays in each of the last two seasons and will open the 2024 campaign cemented into that role again, giving him plenty of fantasy appeal. The Canadian reliever had some ups and downs along the way in 2023, but he was solid overall and at one point converted a franchise-record 26 saves in a row. A back injury at the All-Star break may have been responsible for him not being as effective down the stretch. Still, Romano's ability to miss bats and set role as a closer for one of the better teams in baseball makes him a high-end fantasy target at his position.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and right-handed reliever Paul Sewald settled at $7.35 million for the 2024 campaign to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday, according to sources. Sewald was dealt from the Seattle Mariners to the D-backs at the trade deadline last summer and became a stabilizing force at the back end of Arizona's bullpen in the second half of the season as the team eventually advanced to the World Series. In 65 total appearances between Seattle and Arizona, Sewald had a decent 3.12 ERA (3.57 FIP), 1.15 WHIP and a career-high 34 saves while walking 24 and striking out 80 in 60 2/3 regular season innings. The 33-year-old veteran has a strong strikeout rate and should be targeted as a top-15 fantasy closer as Arizona's go-to guy for the ninth inning.

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration on Thursday with first baseman Christian Walker by agreeing to a one-year, $10.9 million deal, according to sources. Walker had another strong season for the D-backs while helping them reach the World Series in 2023. The 32-year-old finished the regular season with a .258/.333/.497 slash line with a career-high .830 OPS, 33 home runs, 36 doubles, two triples, a career-high 103 RBI, a career-high 11 stolen bases and 86 runs scored in 157 games played. As long as his plate discipline remains strong, Walker should be able to churn out another strong season in the desert as he approaches free agency next winter.

Outfielder Anthony Santander and the Baltimore Orioles settled at $11.7 million for the 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. It's a big raise for Santander, who made $4.3 million last season on his way to slashing .257/.325/.472 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI in 656 plate appearances over 153 games in his seventh year in Baltimore. The switch-hitting 29-year-old Venezuelan did also have a career-high strikeout rate, but it wasn't anything to be overly concerned about moving forward. Santander should remain a reliable contributor across the board for fantasy managers in 2024 in a potent Orioles lineup and he should continue to play nearly everyday because of his above-average glove in the outfield.

Right-hander Dylan Cease and the Chicago White Sox settled at $8 million for the 2024 season to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday, according to sources. Cease finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 by going 14-8 with a career-best 2.20 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with a league-high 78 walks and career-high 227 strikeouts over 32 starts (career-high 184 innings). He took a big step back in 2023, though, with a 4.58 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with 79 walks and 214 K's in 33 starts (177 innings). The 28-year-old is widely expected to be traded, at least by this summer's deadline, and he's extremely attractive to other clubs given his nasty stuff and high strikeout rate, not to mention two more years of club control. Cease is an attractive bounce-back candidate in 2024, especially if he's dealt to a contender.