There are currently about 200 players that are eligible for salary arbitration and, and the deadline to tender each of these players a contract for the 2017 season is tonight at 8pm. As we do each year at MLBTR, we’re providing a list of players whose teams could potentially elect not to tender them a contract, thus sending them into the free-agent pool earlier than expected. It should be emphasized that we’re not indicating that each of these players is likely to be non-tendered (though that’s certainly the case with some of them). Typically, we list any player for which we can envision a 10-20 percent chance of a non-tender. Many teams have already begun their 40-man maintenance by outrighting fringe players, trading semi-expensive veterans and making other cuts. For instance, both Chris Carter and Jeff Locke were on the initial iteration of this list, but both were designated for assignment earlier this week (making them each, in effect, non-tenders for their respective clubs).
I’ve broken the list down by division and included each candidate’s projected salary from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz in parentheses as a point of reference. For a full list of each team’s arb-eligible players, you can check out Matt’s team-by-team arbitration projections.
American League West
- Angels: None
- Astros: None
- Athletics: Yonder Alonso ($4.1MM)
- Mariners: Jesus Sucre ($600K)
- Rangers: Tanner Scheppers ($1.1MM), A.J. Griffin ($1.9MM)
American League Central
- Indians: None
- Royals: None
- Tigers: Andrew Romine ($1.2MM)
- Twins: Eduardo Escobar ($2.9MM)
- White Sox: Brett Lawrie ($5.1MM), Avisail Garcia ($3.4MM)
American League East
- Blue Jays:Â Darwin Barney ($1.6MM)
- Orioles: Vance Worley ($3.3MM), Ryan Flaherty ($1.7MM), T.J. McFarland ($700K)
- Rays: None
- Red Sox: Brandon Workman ($600K), Bryan Holaday ($900K)
- Yankees: None
National League West
- Diamondbacks: None
- Dodgers: Louis Coleman ($1.5MM)
- Giants: Cory Gearrin ($1.1MM)
- Padres: Alexi Amarista ($1.6MM), Hector Sanchez ($900K)
- Rockies: None
National League Central
- Brewers: Scooter Gennett ($3MM), Wily Peralta ($4.4MM)
- Cardinals:Â Seth Maness ($1.6MM)
- Cubs:Â None
- Pirates: Jared Hughes ($2.5MM), Wade LeBlanc ($1.6MM)
- Reds: None
National League East
- Braves: Chris Withrow ($1.2MM), Anthony Recker ($1MM), Paco Rodriguez ($900K)
- Marlins: None
- Mets: Rene Rivera ($2.2MM)
- Nationals: Ben Revere ($6.3MM)
- Phillies: Jeanmar Gomez ($4.6MM), Cody Asche ($1.3MM)
krillin
I hope they Tender Recker. I digger having him on the team last year. Even if it was a relatively small sample size
krillin
*digged
BirdRed85
*dug
krillin
HAHAHA
WAH1447
This is poorly written. Half these players were regulars last year. This needs to be re written I agree with less than half of these candidates
Steve Adams
Chris Carter and Jeff Locke were both regulars in 2016 as well. Regular players get non-tendered every year. And, as the intro clearly states, we’re not calling everyone on the list likely, but if there’s a 10-20% chance of someone getting cut, we give them a mention.
tbj777
There is a 0% chance of Darwin Barney getting cut, especially with the uncertainty around Travis’s recovery. If you had watched the team I think you would see that 1.6m for what he offered is fair if not surplus value. It also seems somewhat arbitrary to make the threshold for being a non-tender candidate at a “10-20% chance”. Thats also a pretty big range. This list should seemingly be those who are likely (above 50%) not lead by some arbitrary guideline. No matter what there is some level of subjectivity but that seems better to me.
BoldyMinnesota
Barney could easily be non-tendered, especially since he’s a righty just like Travis, Donaldson, and tulo. I think he’s better than goins, but having his lefty bat and superior glove might be more appealing this year.
TennVol
Respectfully, you are wrong here. Barney is a great value with one of the best 2b gloves in the league. He won a Gold Glove several years ago with the Cubs and having watched him with the Jays for several years, understand why. His bat is the only thing that has held him back, same with Goins, but he is much more consistent than Goins offensively. He will not be non-tendered.
Dookie Howser, MD
Read, you fool:
“It should be emphasized that we’re not indicating that each of these players is likely to be non-tendered (though that’s certainly the case with some of them). Typically, we list any player for which we can envision a 10-20 percent chance of a non-tender.”
WAH1447
10-20% chance is entirely too low needs to be like a 50% chance
Dookie Howser, MD
Nothing is stopping your from compiling such a list yourself. Just don’t change your argument that this was poorly written now just because you look dumb for not having any reading comprehension skills.
pukelit
Got ’em
black69
WAH1447: I’ve got some burn cream AND old VHS’s of Reading Rainbow. It’ll make it all better. I’ll leave them at your moms house tonight.
st3
That’s like a triple burn.
baseball10
Barring something unforeseen all the Braves candidates will be tendered. Really only if they are able to get another catcher will there be any question about it
mrperkins
Maness should have been gone and his 40man spot given to Cooney. Instead it was known he would be out all year and Cooney was selected by Indians. Former 3rd rder that pitched well through minors to AAA and did well in his few major league starts. Oh, and left handed.
bmore12
Orioles should non-tender all three of Worley, McFarland, and flaherty. Then try to work on cheaper deals with Worley and flaherty.
User 4245925809
I see no chance Workman gets non tendered. Boston has held onto him trying to pitch through a sore elbow, then with the surgery.. 2 years worth and now that he’s due barely league minimum? He sticks. Too much talent there.
Now, they can clear roster spots by DFA’ing people like Noe Ramirez, Bryce brentz and non tender Holiday easily. Those guys do no good whatsoever.
hende3165
I agree about Workman. I think if hes ready to pitch by spring training they will give him a shot at a bullpen spot. I liked him alot in ’13. Brentz is a AAAA player at best who can easily be replaced and id try to bring Holiday back on a minors deal as a depth piece in Pawtucket if he cant get a big league deal elsewhere
joew
For the Pirates, Hughes will be tendered i’d say the non-tender chance is well less than 10%.
Leblanc will probably be tendered, at 1.6M for someone who can start.. seems like a fair depth option should it hit the fan again this season.
bucsfan
I tend to agree but I’m on the fence for Hughes. I’m not sure if this season was just an aberration or if that was the new normal for Hughes
Monkey’s Uncle
I’ve honestly never been a fan of Hughes, and I think last year was much more representative of who he truly is. In any event, he’s not an 8th or 9th inning guy, and I feel like the Bucs could easily find a replacement on par with Hughes for less than $2.6 million. As for LeBlanc, there’s no way they tender him at that figure and based on his track record, but I could see them bringing him back on a minor-league deal or even a cheaper major-league deal if he’s game.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Hughes is the guy who comes in to get a double play. If they ask him to do more than that, it won’t go well. But, I like him in that role and would want to see another bad year before giving up on him.
disgruntledreader 2
I’m inclined to think the Rockies and Lyles will figure something out.
WAH1447
Wouldn’t mind seeing lyles in a braves uniform he looks like he still has a lot of upside to him if he can get out of coors field and stay healthy
ASapsFables
The White Sox have two of the more expensive projected arbitration eligible non-tender candidates on this list in Brett Lawrie and Avisail Garcia. It would surprise no one if either or both were non-tendered, although they can still tender them and hope for a trade before any potential arbitration hearing in February.
Whatever course they chose with these two players in the coming day(s) might provide a clue as to what their true path will be this offseason…rebuild, retool or reload.
saavedra
Can somebody explain what’s the point of carrying a player this long and non-tendering him instead of using that 40 man roster spot to protect players fromthe rule 5 draft?
In theory, all of these players should be tendered for that reaso alone, unless of course a team doesnt have a full 40 man roster.
shawkr
Because maybe there are no other players you want to protect.
stymeedone
That’s a good question. Even if they don’t have other players for those spots, having open spots just in case for the rule 5 would seem to be a better option. All I can think of, is that it allows more time to negotiate before making a decision.
disgruntledreader 2
If they’re nontendered now, their teams will have open spots for the Rule 5 draft.
MuleorAstroMule
Due to the uncertainty of free agency these players might still have trade value. Teams have to weigh that against having a free 40 man spot but the overall dearth of talent available in the Rule 5 draft suggests most teams don’t face the kind of roster crunch that would make that decision necessary.
neoncactus
I would beg the Dodgers to non-tender Hatcher even if he were making the minimum.
jdgoat
Is jeanmar Gomez really a non-tender candidate. I remember wanting him at the deadline but thinking he’d cost a small truck full of prospects
fs54
I thought the same until I checked his 2nd half stats.
BravesBoi
I don’t think he’s really all that good. I think last year was an aberration.
Monkey’s Uncle
Jeanmar can be a part of a bullpen, but should never be a closer and only was because the Philly bullpen was so weak. He’ll find work soon enough if he is non-tendered. He’s not as good as he was 2015 or as bad as he was 2nd half last year, but somewhere in between.
Brixton
He has an ERA in the area of 11 in the final 2 months
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
I expect that Rene Rivera will be back, but it would be problematic for him to see playing time to the degree that he did last season
bobtillman
Really think the Rays will tender Drew Smyly? For 7 million?
DeadliestCatch
Take a moment and make sure to thank Aj Preller for FINALLY cutting Amarista. Now trade solarte and spangeberg, sign Lawrie to a low deal to play 3B and lets get some picthing thats non tendered. Wily Peralta lets go.