Every year, MLB’s non-tender deadline sees club’s allow players under team control to head for the open market early, whether it be due to an increasing price tag in arbitration or a need for additional space on the club’s 40-man roster. While being cast aside in this manner is often a bad omen for a player’s prospect, the likes of right-hander Kevin Gausman and center fielder Cody Bellinger have gone on to find considerable success after being non-tendered.
Relief arms are among the players most commonly cut loose at the non-tender deadline. Though it’s elite players on the level of Bellinger and Gausman aren’t found among the relievers non-tendered each year, teams find quality bullpen pieces among the pile of discarded players fairly frequently. Rays right-hander Jason Adam, Orioles lefty Danny Coulombe and Phillies righty Jeff Hoffman are among the pieces non-tendered in recent years who went on to have strong seasons out of the bullpen.
Now that we’ve discussed five hitters and starters to keep an eye on this coming winter, let’s turn our attention to bullpen arms. Though this offseason’s crop of free agent relievers has plenty of interesting options, headlined by relief ace Josh Hader, all 30 clubs are constantly on the lookout for additional bullpen help, more so than they are for any other position. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five relievers who hit free agency following last week’s non-tender deadline and could be worth keeping an eye on throughout the offseason. Players are listed in alphabetical order, with their age for the 2024 season in parentheses.
Adam Cimber (33)
A ninth-round pick by the Padres in the 2013 draft, Cimber made his big league debut with San Diego during the 2018 season but was almost immediately shipped to Cleveland alongside Brad Hand in a deadline deal that sent catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres. Cimber remained in Cleveland through the end of the 2020 season, acting as an adequate middle reliever with a combined 4.30 ERA (108 ERA+) and 4.70 FIP across 110 appearances. The sidearming righty had a breakout season in 2021, with a 2.26 ERA and 3.07 FIP in 71 2/3 innings of work between the Marlins and Blue Jays.
His excellence continued for Toronto last year, as he posted a 2.80 ERA with a 3.47 FIP while appearing in 77 contests, the most in the big leagues that season. Unfortunately, things came off the rails for Cimber in 2023 as he was sidelined for much of the year by multiple shoulder injuries. That being said, it’s easy to see how Cimber could positively impact a club’s bullpen in 2024 if healthy, given the late-inning potential he flashed in recent years.
Trevor Gott (31)
Gott was drafted by the Padres in the same year as Cimber, with San Diego selecting the righty in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. He didn’t stick in the Padres organization long, however, as he was quickly shipped to Anaheim before making his big league debut with the Angels in 2015. Though he posted a strong 2.85 ERA and 3.68 FIP across his first 57 big league appearances with the Halos and Nationals, the 2017-20 seasons saw Gott struggle with injuries and under-performance as he posted a ghastly 6.36 ERA and 5.18 FIP in 89 big league appearances. Those struggles saw Gott spend the entire 2021 campaign in the minor leagues.
Since then, however, Gott has fashioned himself into a solid middle relief option with peripherals that could hint at something more. Gott has been roughly league average by the results the past two seasons, with a 4.17 ERA across 103 2/3 innings of work split between Milwaukee, Seattle, and Queens. During that time, Gott has posted 23.7% strikeout rate against a 6.9% walk rate, both better-than league average marks. If Gott can replicate his 2023 campaign while getting his sky-high .343 BABIP under control in 2024, he could prove to be a valuable relief arm for a contending club.
Tim Hill (34)
The oldest entrant on this list, Hill was a 32nd-round pick by the Royals in the 2014 draft and made his debut with the club in 2018 at the age of 28. Hill was a steady if uninspiring left-handed relief option for Kansas City and San Diego from 2018-22, with a 3.88 ERA and 3.98 FIP that both clocked in slightly better than league average in that time. Unfortunately, his 2023 campaign saw him post a brutal 5.48 ERA and matching 5.49 FIP in 44 1/3 innings of work.
While Hill posted a well-below league average 12.9% strikeout rate and allowed a massive 1.033 OPS to right-handers this year, his fantastic 61.2% groundball rate in 2023 and strong .223/.302/.304 slash line allowed against lefties for his career suggest he could be a solid option against left-handers out of the bullpen next year for a club lacking depth in that area.
Brandon Hughes (28)
A 16th-round pick by the Cubs in the 2017 draft, Hughes began his professional career as an outfielder before converting to left-handed relief prior to the 2019 season. He posted solid numbers in the lower levels of the minors in that first season as a bullpen arm before breaking out in a big way during the 2021 campaign, with a 1.71 ERA in 42 innings between High-A and Double-A. After 16 2/3 scoreless innings of work at the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2022, Hughes got the call to the majors and fashioned a strong rookie campaign, with a 3.12 ERA and 4.64 FIP in 57 2/3 innings of work for Chicago while picking up eight saves.
Hughes appeared poised to be a key piece of the Cubs’ bullpen in 2023 after his strong 2022 debut. While he managed a strong 27% strikeout rate, he struggled badly with his control (12.7% walk rate) and surrendered 11 runs in 17 appearances before seeing his 2023 cut short by knee surgery. That said, he’s expected to be ready for Spring Training in 2024, and could be an interesting left-handed relief option for clubs thanks to his youth and recent late-inning success.
Penn Murfee (30)
Murfee stands out somewhat from the rest of the options on this list thanks to his consistently excellent results at the big league level. Initially drafted by the Mariners in the 33rd round of the 2018 draft, Murfee debuted in the big leagues during the 2022 season and fashioned an excellent rookie campaign with a 2.99 ERA, 3.10 FIP, and 27.9% strikeout rate across 69 1/3 innings of work. He followed that up with even better results in 2023, as the right-hander posted a sterling 1.26 ERA across his first sixteen appearances this year. Unfortunately, those would prove to be his only appearances in 2023 as he underwent UCL surgery in late June.
Murfee was cut loose by the Mariners but found himself claimed by both the Mets and Braves before being non-tendered by Atlanta at the deadline earlier this month. Though Murfee figures to miss most, if not all, of the 2024 campaign, the right-hander is under team control through at least the 2028 season. That long-term team control could make the late-blooming righty an interesting pickup for a team willing to take a chance on him as he continues his rehab process.
Rays and cimber have always felt like a match made in heaven.
Of course a Rays fan would say that.
Yeah, but he is not wrong though!
“The” Rays fan
Any of these relievers could be a match made in heaven for the Rays. They thrive in the relief pitching scrap yard.
The second Rays fan comes out of the woodwork!
There are dozens of us.
I attended a game in 2000 that Yan started and hit a home run.
ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=6132
I saw that game on TV. Has to be the highlight of his Devil Rays career.
Also notable because Pat Mahomes made a relief appearance for the Mets.
Hughes getting let go is so odd to me.
Control issues. That can be so frustrating for a manager. And the Cubs dfa’d him despite having no other solid lefty relievers.
They just signed that guy from Japan and they have Little in the pen.
There’s also several teams that seem to roster one of these guys in their pen each year in the hopes they can have him keep the K totals while lowering his walks.
I don’t think he’ll be available very long. I think he’ll probably go after another lefty or two are taken off the board. I’m pretty positive some teak will take a chance on him thinking they’ll know how to get the best out of him.
This is especially because, in theory, teams will likely believe he still has some untapped potential with him being a converted position player.
He’ll be an interesting follow as will Penn Murphy. We likely won’t see him pitch until very late in the season, if at all, but I’d be willing to bet someone will pick him up later on and then stash him on their long-term IL after the roster deadline.
There will likely be a contender or two that’ll take a chance using him for their last roster spot, and then having a backup plan once they immediately send him to the IL.
Was he dealing with an injury or something? His control seemed to have left him and his BABIP was super high (.353).
It’s very possible he was dealing with an undisclosed injury.
I know when Dansby Swanson was first trying to establish himself on the Braves he would routinely try to play through wrist injuries, even though it sapped him of his power at the plate, he would begin to press, and it would lead to him also striming out more often.
The smallest injury to a pitcher can throw their entire mechanics out of whack, and it can easily lead to poor results. Even if you don’t realize it, your body will automatically try to overcompensate for that injury and it’ll definitely lead to minor, subtle changes in your mechanics.
When you’re playing at the highest level, if you aren’t 100% it will have a negative impact no matter how good you are. That goes especially for pitchers who arent as experienced, and aren’t fully in-tune with their bodies and their mechanics.
Now, obviously, I don’t know whether he was dealing with an injury or not, but it certainly seems plausible. It’s either that, or he was attempting to make some kind of change in his mechanics and it threw him out of whack.
Both are just as likely explanations..I’m not a Cubs fan though, so I really am ignorant to what went on for him last season.
Hughes was dealing with a knee injury all year and eventually needed surgery. It’s my understanding he was expected to have a “normal” offseason training program.
Michael Tonkin for the Braves. Had a rough September, but before that he was very effective.
Yes, before the end of the season Tonkin was money, almost everytime he took the mound it seemed like.
Plus, he’s capable of working multiple innings, he’s more than capable of entering in for a starter who’s outing gets cut short, and he’ll keep your team in the game.
I’m not entirely sure how well he’d do in a more high leverage role. Even still, every team needs an innings eater quality arm in their pen, and Tonkin fits that role perfectly.
in years past we’ve have some really high level talent non-tendered like Gausman and Hoffman.
…. this year however we only have Penn Murfee
I’m not familiar with him as a player, but his name is kinda awesome
It looks like his parents couldn’t spell their last name so they just wrote it phonetically
Like Anfernee Hardaway et al.
Or Fee Waybill ( The Tubes)…
There should be a Steve Starter to go with Penn Murfee
Someone please tell Penn to correct the spelling of his last name. And maybe get a real first name too, while we’re at it.
“Murfee” was not an uncommon spelling in old Ireland. It was also a fairly normal spelling throughout 1800s east coast America.
It’s fate. I say start a “Strengthen your pen…with Penn” movement.
Or if they also acquire Taylor Rodgers they’d have a bullpen with Penn & Taylor. (Close enough?)
Reds nontendered Derek Law (about $1.4MM arb.). Think I’d rather have him than any of these 5.
Maybe, but the advanced metrics were not high on his work. His FIP was more than a full run higher than his ERA in 2023.
Just speculating here, but… I’m wondering is there’s a problem in Penn Murfee’s medical reports. The Mets – with David Stearns already at the helm – claimed him on Halloween knowing full well that he’d miss next year. But they waived him two weeks later when they had only 33 players on the 40-man roster (and are now down to 28). Why? They had plenty of roster space for off season acquisitions. And Murfee would spend next year on the 60-day IL thus not using a roster space.
The Braves, with a full roster at the time, claimed him immediately, and cut another pitcher just to make room for Murfee. They then waived him a day or two later, even though they were in the process trading 5 players for 2, and non-tendering others bringing their roster down to 31.
Must be. Unless the 2 teams wanted to take a look at the medicals before offering him a minor league deal later on.
Murfee played well for the Mariners. Was so sorry he got injured.
Murfee played well for the Mariners. Was sorry to see him injured
Michael Tonkin is a interesting name on the non-tendered list as well. He started the year great for the Braves last year, often pitching multiple innings. He did however fall off quite a bit later on in the season but I could still see him landing somewhere on a league minimum deal and turning in very solid numbers as a middle/long relief arm.
A possible Angel. We need a decent multiple inning guy and there’s Minasian’s Atlanta connections.
It does sound like a good fit. He even showed up at times in high leverage spots as well, just not as often as he was the “long man.”
Murfee wasn’t so much ‘cut loose’ by the M’s than they tried to sneak him through waivers given they’ve got no space on their 40 man and he’s injured.
I’d add LH Jovani Moran who had a dominant 2022, before the bad season and TJ surgery in 2023. Shouldn’t cost much for a two year deal while he recovers and returns in 2025.
The Nats traded a .300 hitter for Gott, who tantalized with possibility but never put it all together and was unreliable with them. Relievers can be up and down, but I wouldn’t count on him from what I saw. I can see why teams would be tempted though.
Didnt realize Gott was still pitching in the majors.
Sure they can. Just void Wander’s contract
Mets took on flexen’s deal to effectively purchase Gott. Odd that he was nontendered.
Guess Stearns is not a fan.
Looking at the puddle of starters available, has anyone checked in with the Big Sexy ? He could still be serving up some gopher balls somewhere soon!