Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by settling on an $8.55 million salary for the 2024 season, according to a source. It's a record for a second-time arbitration-eligible catcher. It's also a $3.3 million raise from what he earned in 2023. Smith was a first-time All-Star last season despite a slight drop in his numbers. He finished with a .261/.359/.438 slash line with 19 home runs, 21 doubles, two triples, 76 RBI, three stolen bases and a career-high 80 runs scored in 126 total games played. At the weak catcher position in fantasy, those numbers are still well above-average. The 28-year-old backstop is one of just five catchers to score 80 runs in the last 15 seasons. Smith will be one of the first few catchers off the board yet again in fantasy drafts this spring.

Free-agent right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a two-year deal that includes an option for a third year. The deal averages $18.5 million per season. The 32-year-old was an All-Star with the Chicago Cubs last year for the second time in his career and finished by going 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA (3.58 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 52 walks and 119 strikeouts over 136 2/3 innings covering his 27 appearances (25 starts). Stroman had a great first half with the Cubbies before dealing with injuries and struggling down the stretch. He became a free agent when he opted out of his $21 million option in Chicago for 2024. Injuries are to be expected, but when healthy, Stroman has been solid for fantasy managers in recent seasons and should slot into New York's starting rotation right behind ace Gerrit Cole and lefty Carlos Rodon.

The Houston Astros and outfielder Kyle Tucker settled at a $12 million salary for the upcoming 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. It's a $7 million raise from a season ago. The 26-year-old has become one of the best left-handed sluggers in the game after slashing .284/.369/.517 with an .886 OPS, 29 home runs, 37 doubles, five triples, a league-high 112 RBI, a career-high 30 stolen bases and a career-high 97 runs scored in 674 trips to the plate over 157 games played. He's made back-to-back All-Star teams has one more season of arbitration eligibility before he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. Tucker fell short of his third straight season of exactly 30 home runs when he finished with 29 dingers in 2023.

The Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration on Thursday with left-hander Framber Valdez by settling on a $12.1 million salary for the 2024 season, according to a source. Valdez will almost be doubling his salary for this upcoming season. The 30-year-old southpaw has been as durable as they come in the last two seasons, posting a strong 3.13 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 394 strikeouts over 399 1/3 innings covering 62 starts for the Astros. He didn't get the results he wanted in the postseason and could have been wearing down late in the season. A high ground-ball rate and plenty of strikeout upside give Valdez a high floor for fantasy managers, although he's best drafted as a No. 2 for your fantasy rotation.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes and the Milwaukee Brewers settled at $15,637,500 for the 2024 season to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. Burnes and the Brewers went to an arbitration hearing last year, which caused Burnes to come away with a bad taste in his mouth. The 29-year-old will see a $5.5 million increase in his salary after having another solid season in 2023 with a 10-8 record, 3.39 ERA (3.81 FIP) and league-best 1.07 WHIP while walking a career-high 66 and striking out 200 in 193 2/3 innings over his 32 starts. The two sides aren't expected to work out a long-term contract extension, and Burnes' name has been on the trade market this offseason. No matter where Burnes is pitching in 2024, he'll be a high-end fantasy starter with elite strikeout upside, having reached 200 K's in each of his last three seasons.