TAMPA, Fla. -- The Rays avoided arbitration hearings with four players prior to Thursday¡¯s deadline to exchange salary figures for the coming season, and they will head to a hearing with shortstop Taylor Walls.

The Rays agreed to terms on the following one-year deals, according to a source, avoiding arbitration:

• Zack Littell: $5.72 million
• Shane Baz: $1.45 million
• Garrett Cleavinger: $1.2 million
• Ben Rortvedt: $1.125 million

Walls filed for a $1.575 million salary, according to MLB.com¡¯s Mark Feinsand, while the Rays filed at $1.3 million for the 28-year-old shortstop. Typically, the Rays either proceed to a hearing or negotiate a multi-year deal with players if they don¡¯t settle before the figure-exchange deadline. When the club announced the other four agreements, Tampa Bay said it will proceed to arbitration with Walls.

Walls is in line to return as Tampa Bay¡¯s starting shortstop this year after earning $757,300 in an injury-delayed 2024 season. The switch-hitter began the year on the injured list following right hip surgery then provided his usual combination of elite defense and subpar offense. Regarded by his bosses as arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball, Walls hit just .183 with a .530 OPS and 16 steals in 84 games.

The Rays began the offseason with 12 arbitration-eligible players. They pared down that list by cutting ties with Colin Poche, Tyler Alexander, Dylan Carlson and Richard Lovelady, trading Jose Siri to the Mets, agreeing to a split contract with reliever Cole Sulser ($900,000 in the Majors, a guaranteed $450,000 in the Minors) and extending starter Drew Rasmussen for two years and $8.5 million with an option for 2027.

Littell, 29, earned $1.85 million last season. The right-hander made an impressive transition from the bullpen to the rotation on the fly in 2023, and he followed that up with a strong season going wire-to-wire as a big league starter for the first time. Littell led the Rays with 2.8 bWAR as he recorded a 3.63 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP with 141 strikeouts and only 31 walks in a team-leading 156 1/3 innings over 29 starts.

Littell is expected to be one of Tampa Bay¡¯s top six starters this year. This is his final arb-eligible year, as he will be a free agent after this season. The three other Rays who avoided arbitration on Thursday -- and Walls -- are going through the process for the first time.

The 25-year-old Baz debuted in September 2021, but he¡¯s still looking to put together his first full season in the Majors this year. The right-hander was set back by Tommy John surgery in 2022 but made his long-awaited return to Tampa Bay¡¯s rotation last July. He pitched well in the second half, totaling 2.1 bWAR with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 79 1/3 innings over 14 starts.

Baz, who earned $743,600 last season, is expected to join Shane McClanahan, Ryan Pepiot, Taj Bradley, Rasmussen and Littell as key members of this year¡¯s starting rotation.

Cleavinger, 30, is set to be the most experienced left-hander in the Rays¡¯ bullpen this season after earning $746,900 in his final pre-arb campaign last year. The lefty is coming off a solid season in which he tied for the team lead with 68 appearances. He logged a 3.75 ERA and six saves with 71 strikeouts and only 52 hits allowed in 60 innings, although free passes (31 walks and seven hit batsmen) were an issue.

Rortvedt, 27, joined the Rays just before Opening Day last year and earned $755,400 in his first season with Tampa Bay. Initially slated to split time with Ren¨¦ Pinto, Rortvedt ended up being the Rays¡¯ primary catcher as he slashed .228/.317/.303 with three homers and 31 RBIs in 112 games. He is expected to back up free-agent addition Danny Jansen this year, complementing the right-handed-hitting Jansen with his left-handed bat.