MLB Teams Non-Tender 29 Players

Major League teams non-tendered multiple former All-Stars last night and it won't be surprising if some of the 29 players re-establish themselves as Major League difference makers. For now, however, they're free agents, cut loose because their former teams didn't believe they would have been worth retaining through arbitration.

Here's a detailed explanation of what it means to non-tender a player and here's a link to our non-tender tracker. What follows is a position-by-position listing of the new arrivals on the free agent market:

Catchers (5)

• Chris Gimenez, Koyie Hill, Ronny Paulino, Eli Whiteside, Jason Jaramillo

Second basemen (2)

• Jeff Keppinger, Will Rhymes

Shortstops (1)

• Pedro Ciriaco

Outfielders (5)

• Mike Baxter, Cole Garner, Jeremy Hermida, Luke Scott, Ryan Spilborghs

Utility infielders (2)

• Brooks Conrad, Ryan Theriot

Starting Pitchers (2)

• Jo-Jo Reyes, Joe Saunders 

Right-handed relievers (7)

• Fabio Castillo, Dan Cortes, Willie Eyre, Clay Hensley, Peter Moylan, Micah Owings, Andy Sonnanstine

Left-handed relievers (5)

• Rich Hill, Hong-Chih Kuo, Aaron Laffey, Jose Mijares, Doug Slaten

Two fifths (41%) of all non-tenders were non-closing relievers. Saunders and, to a lesser extent, Reyes will likely draw substantial interest as free agent starters.

From an offensive standpoint, the 15 position players were a feeble bunch in 2011. None of them exceeded a .271 average (Keppinger), a .325 on-base percentage (Conrad), a .402 slugging percentage (Scott) or nine homers (Scott) this past season (minimum 50 plate appearances).