By our count, there are 225 arbitration eligible players. Of those, about 80 might be considered non-tender candidates. The deadline to decide is December 2nd, ten days earlier than years past. Non-tendering a player makes him a free agent.
How do I define a non-tender candidate? In my mind, it means the player has at least a 25% chance of being cut loose. This is a subjective list, one that I may revise in a few weeks. I've run it by a few people in the game to ensure there's nothing horribly wrong, but the list is mainly my opinion based on trying to predict non-tenders for the past several years. The links go to non-tender candidate posts we've done.
Position players
Willy Aybar
Clint Barmes
Travis Buck
Ryan Church
Jack Cust
Matt Diaz
Edwin Encarnacion
Josh Fields
Mike Fontenot
Jeff Francoeur
Kevin Frandsen
Esteban German
Alberto Gonzalez
Tony Gwynn
Scott Hairston
J.J. Hardy
Joe Inglett
Conor Jackson
Dan Johnson
Casey Kotchman
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Ryan Langerhans
Andy LaRoche
Fred Lewis
James Loney
Jose Lopez
Andy Marte
Russell Martin
Jeff Mathis
Corky Miller
Dioner Navarro
Wil Nieves
Laynce Nix
Augie Ojeda
Ronny Paulino
Brayan Pena
Humberto Quintero
Jason Repko
Ryan Theriot
Reggie Willits
Josh Wilson
Dewayne Wise
Delwyn Young
Pitchers
Jeremy Accardo
Matt Albers
Brian Bannister
Boof Bonser
Blaine Boyer
Jared Burton
Tim Byrdak
D.J. Carrasco
Gustavo Chacin
Todd Coffey
Clay Condrey
Lance Cormier
Kyle Davies
Manny Delcarmen
Zach Duke
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman
J.P. Howell
Bobby Jenks
Jeff Karstens
Wil Ledezma
John Maine
Brandon McCarthy
Dustin McGowan
Andrew Miller
Zach Miner
Sergio Mitre
Dustin Moseley
Pat Neshek
Dustin Nippert
Hideki Okajima
Scott Olsen
Tony Pena
Glen Perkins
Chris Ray
George Sherrill
Joe Smith
Brian Tallet
Tyler Walker
Chien-Ming Wang
Sean White
Joel Zumaya
Martin
Why is Papelbon missing from the list?
If the Red Sox decide not to pay for him as he is overpaid why would anyone trade for him?
Jake Humphrey
Because he probably won’t be non-tendered.
Tim Dierkes
He was on our initial draft and will be included on another post along the lines of, Not Quite Non-Tender Candidates. While him being cut would not be a total shock, the people I spoke to just did not see it happening.
Dave_Gershman
So you think he’s going to be traded then?
Tim Dierkes
I think they’ll keep him most likely.
Sniderlover
Even with a good year what would they do with him? He is likely going to make 12 million and I think he would accept arbitration if it was given to him the following year.
I’d just cut the ties, let him walk and use that money on re-signing Beltre or V-Mart and it would give more flexibility to go after FA.
TwinsVet
Nonsense. 8-figure closers are all the rave lately.
Sniderlover
Even with a good year what would they do with him? He is likely going to make 12 million and I think he would accept arbitration if it was given to him the following year.
I’d just cut the ties, let him walk and use that money on re-signing Beltre or V-Mart and it would give more flexibility to go after FA.
Dave_Gershman
There might be one team willing to trade for him…This is going to sound crazy but I’m going to say it…
Jonathan Papelbon for Bobby Jenks + Kyle Colligan.
Sniderlover
Or teams can just both non-tender Jenks and Papelbon and spend money getting better relievers on FA market for less…
Dave_Gershman
There might be one team willing to trade for him…This is going to sound crazy but I’m going to say it…
Jonathan Papelbon for Bobby Jenks + Kyle Colligan.
Wrek305
they wouldn’t the Red Sox are basically stuck with him, the worst part about it is he sucks, No one would have ever thought he would be worse the Kevin Gregg who lead the league in Blown saves two years in a row one with the Marlins and the other with the Cubs, i think he blew 10 saves with each team.. at one point 4 games in a row for the Cubs
Jake Humphrey
The Willy Aybar link got combined with the Clint Barmes one, and both lead to Barmes’ “Non-Tender Candidate” page. Actually it appears that it’s doing that for all the consecutive names with links.
Tim Dierkes
That sucks, I will tackle it. Thanks. By the way I added Josh Wilson to the list.
2ndedition
Also check out the break between position players and pitchers.
Dave_Gershman
Delmon Young?
Jake Humphrey
Delwyn Young, of the Pirates. Not Delmon Young.
Dave_Gershman
Oh. Tim might have corrected it.
Okay Delwyn…That sounds better.
Tim Dierkes
It was always Delwyn. Delmon was on last year’s list though.
Dave_Gershman
My bad Tim. Got my letters mixed up
Dave_Gershman
My bad Tim. Got my letters mixed up
Tim Dierkes
It was always Delwyn. Delmon was on last year’s list though.
Jake Humphrey
Delwyn Young, of the Pirates. Not Delmon Young.
Dave_Gershman
This non-tender list really intruigs me. It really seems like an interesting group…I think Papelbon should be on the list if Delmon Young is, but I think this will be the most interesting non-tender group in a long time.
James Loney
Russell Martin
J.P. Howell
Matt Albers
Zach Duke
Sean White
Bobby Jenks
Brandon McCarthy
Manny Delcarmen
Andy LaRoche
Edwin Encarnacion
are a few of the guys who intruig me the most…But I’m sure some of these guys will be tendered…maybe Howell.
Sniderlover
For the Jays, I’d target Martin and perhaps Jenks and Delcarmen.
rockfordone
Jenks for Scott Downs
Dave_Gershman
I’d like to see them target Loney, Burton, Miller, McCarthy, Guzman, Albers…Not all just a couple or a few.
Sniderlover
For the Jays, I’d target Martin and perhaps Jenks and Delcarmen.
moonraker45
if I’m AA, i non tender EE but bring him back. . His swing has potential, and has had a decent OPS (especially compared to other jays).. his down fall is and will always be his defense. but you have an opening at 1b, maybe EE and Lind can split DH/1B duties.
bring him back for a 1/3 million contract with a clause that says no fireworks
TwinsVet
Delwyn Young is on the list. Delmon Young is not.
I don’t understand why people confuse those.
Dave_Gershman
This was the first time I ever did that
rfffr
I don’t see DJ Carrasco gettting nontendered. He was one of the Diamondbacks best relievers.
Tim Dierkes
Pretty close to my borderline…maybe KT will come out and say that Carrasco will be tendered. Him getting cut by the White Sox was a factor in me putting him there, but of course Towers may value him more.
Tim Dierkes
Pretty close to my borderline…maybe KT will come out and say that Carrasco will be tendered. Him getting cut by the White Sox was a factor in me putting him there, but of course Towers may value him more.
pageian
There are a few interesting players on that list. JJ Hardy, James Loney, Dustin McGowan and Russell Martin would be interesting to a lot of teams if they were set free.
Sniderlover
I think McGowan’s career is over unfortunately. He had such a great future ahead…
pageian
I have to think he’ll get every chance to return before he decides to hang them up. Gotta think someone will take a chance on him. Rotator cuffs are tough to return from but given what he had going in someone will sign him if he’s non-tendered I’m guessing.
iains
Also McGowan being diabetic didn’t help either. Tends to make for slow healers.
moonraker45
he just resumed throwing!
moonraker45
dusty’s not going anywhere.. he has just resumed throwing..
the jays have waited too long to allow someone else to get a return on him..
I think this year he’ll either make a comeback or retire. either or it will be as a jay
moonraker45
dusty’s not going anywhere.. he has just resumed throwing..
the jays have waited too long to allow someone else to get a return on him..
I think this year he’ll either make a comeback or retire. either or it will be as a jay
rfffr
I think if Loney is nontendered he would benefit from a hitter friendly ballpark. The Jays, Diamondbacks, and Rangers could all use him and the Rockies could go after him if Helton retires
Sniderlover
I think he would be a solid fit with the Rangers. He’s still young and who knows, maybe he’ll start hitting more homeruns in that ball park.
rfffr
I think if Loney is nontendered he would benefit from a hitter friendly ballpark. The Jays, Diamondbacks, and Rangers could all use him and the Rockies could go after him if Helton retires
John W
No Brandon Wood?
Tim Dierkes
He is not yet eligible for arbitration.
pageian
iirc he’s out of options but doesn’t have the service time to be arbitration eligible. He’s gotten his chances but hasn’t been able to stick them out long enough.
Edward
Koyie Hill? The Cubs just added Robinson Chirinos to their 40 man roster. Hill is gone.
Tim Dierkes
I expect Hill to stay unless he asks for crazy money, the Cubs like his intangibles.
pageian
I don’t like his bat.
Edward
Granted, he’s probably the best hitter in baseball who has severed his thumb and three of his fingers and subsequently had them surgically reattached.
Edward
Koyie Hill? The Cubs just added Robinson Chirinos to their 40 man roster. Hill is gone.
derekbellstutu
I’d like to see the Pirates non-tender all of their guys and consider bringing Karstens back. I think if James Loney is playing for someone other than the Dodgers next season, the team that acquires him will have to trade for him. I don’t see the Dodgers non-tendering Loney knowing that many teams would be willing to take a chance on him. I hope the Pirates get a chance to acquire him and J.J Hardy.
TwinsVet
Surprised to see Neshek on the list. Sure, he’s coming off TJ. But the Twins are losing so much of their bullpen already, and he’ll be cheap to bring back.
Backup_Slider
I would project that Matt Lindstrom has at least a 25% chance of being nontendered given the variables in play: poor career WHIP numbers, horrible 2nd half in 2010, recurrent back injuries, expected to garner > $2M via arbitration.
baseball1010
FYI you have a free agent on your non tender list. I wonder why Lindstrom (Matt) is not on your list? He had 22 saves and will make more than $2M, closer to $3M.
coltrane3000
I would be really surprised to see the Tigers non tender Zumaya, and I would not understand why the Twins would do the same to JJ Hardy. If Hardy is actually non-tendered, I hope the Tigers sign him because he is a big upgrade over Peralta.
rfffr
Zumaya is made of glass. Of course he’ll be nontendered. Maybe if he could go a season without being injured he wouldn’t be.
ThinkBlue10
why is loney on this list?
braves1loyalfan
the braves will go all the way a good bull pin and good hitters and to much good pitching wow