The Chicago Cubs and left-hander Justin Steele have avoided arbitration and have agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal for the 2024 campaign. The southpaw is coming off of an excellent season that saw him work to a 3.06 ERA across a career-high 30 starts and 173 1/3 innings of work. He did so despite limping to the finish line as he surrendered six runs twice over his final three starts with 15 runs total allowed over 14 1/3 innings in that span. Nonetheless, Steele now sports a 3.30 career ERA across 74 appearances (63 starts) spanning 349 1/3 innings of work. His 2023 campaign also included a trip to the All-Star game and a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. Even without spectacular strikeout stuff, Steele should be a reliable fantasy option again in the 2024 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Dustin May have avoided arbitration by way of a one-year, $2.135 million deal. The right-hander has been devastated by arm injuries in his young big-league career as he has undergone Tommy John surgery and will be out until at least the 2024 All-Star break after undergoing UCL revision surgery in July, a procedure that carries a similar timetable as Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old has been fantastic when healthy, however, as he sports a career 3.10 ERA across 46 appearances (34 starts), including a dominant 2.63 ERA in nine starts last season before once again undergoing the knife. Despite making just 20 starts over the last three seasons, May is a solid late-round injury stash with the hope he can make a healthy return to the rotation mid-summer.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal has avoided arbitration by way of a one-year, $2.65 million contract. Flexor tendon surgery pushed Skubal's 2023 season debut back to July 4 but he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball from there on out. The 27-year-old worked to a 2.80 ERA across 15 starts and 80 1/3 innings, the sixth-best ERA mark among qualified pitchers in that time. However, Skubal's 2.00 FIP and 3.3 fWAR from July 4 on were both easily the best figures in all of baseball. Tyler Glasnow finished second in both areas with a 2.60 FIP and 2.6 fWAR. Finally, his 28.4% K-BB% was the third-best mark in baseball after his return. As a result, his fantasy stock has risen meteorically and he should be a top draft target this spring.

The Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert have settled on a one-year, $4.05 million contract, avoiding arbitration in the process. Thursday marks the deadline for clubs to either settle with their arbitration-eligible players or for the two sides to enter dollar figures before going to arbitration. Gilbert is coming off another solid season for the Mariners, working to a 3.73 ERA across 32 starts and a career-high 190 2/3 innings of work. The 26-year-old thrives with his control as his 4.7% BB% was the fifth-best mark in baseball among 44 qualified pitchers. As a result, he posted a hearty 19.9% K-BB% despite a solid, yet unspectacular 24.6% K%. He remains a rock-solid fantasy asset ahead of the 2024 season.

Outfielder Randy Arozarena and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by settling at $8.1 million for the 2024 season, according to a source. Arozarena put up his third straight 20-20 season in 2023, but it also came with a career-low .25 batting average. The 28-year-old also displayed better plate discipline, though, and it led to a career-high in runs scored with 95 to go along with 23 home runs, 83 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 551 at-bats over 151 games played in his fourth year with the Rays. Perhaps participating in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break screwed his swing up in the second half, as he was much more productive in the first half of last season. Arozarena will once again be an early round target for his power/speed combination in fantasy drafts this spring.