Players To Avoid Arbitration: Friday

Here's a list of the players who have avoided arbitration so far today, with more names sure to stream in:

• The Mets and John Maine have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $3.3MM, plus incentives.
• MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that the Astros have agreed to deals with Chris Sampson and Jeff Keppinger for 2010, avoiding arbitration. Sampson gets $815K, Keppinger $1.15M.
• The Rangers and Dustin Nippert have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $650K according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The righty was eligible for arbitration for the first time after earning $412K in 2009.
• The D'Backs and Miguel Montero are close to agreeing on a $2MM salary for the coming season, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The sides have agreed to a deal, according to The Sports Network (via the Miami Herald).
• The Rangers agreed to pay Brandon McCarthy $1.32MM this year.
• The Dodgers agreed to a two-year deal with Matt Kemp. The center fielder will earn a total of $10.95MM over the course of the next two seasons.
• The Dodgers agreed to pay Chad Billingsley $3.85MM this year.
• The D'Backs and Conor Jackson agreed on a $3.1MM salary for the coming season.
• The Padres and Heath Bell agreed on a $4MM salary.