Every American League team has officially announced their non-tender decisions. It was a quiet evening in terms of subtractions, with only the Rangers parting with any marquee players. All players who were non-tendered are free agents without going on waivers. A few teams dropped pre-arbitration players from the back of the 40-man roster. It’s possible they preferred not to expose them to waivers and are hopeful of re-signing them to non-roster deals.
Here’s a full list of today’s activity in the AL, while the National League moves are available here. All projected salaries are courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
- The Angels announced they’ve non-tendered outfielder Gustavo Campero and catcher Sebastian Rivero. Campero is a depth outfielder who has hit .202/.272/.346 over the past two seasons. Rivero operated as the club’s third catcher for most of the season but spent the final few weeks on the active roster. Neither player had been eligible for arbitration. All their arb-eligible players were easy calls to retain.
- The Astros technically made one non-tender, dropping infielder Ramón Urías after he was designated for assignment earlier in the week. He’d been projected at $4.4MM.
- The Athletics officially non-tendered outfielder JJ Bleday, the club announced. He’d been designated for assignment on Tuesday, so this was inevitable unless they found a trade partner. Bleday had been projected at $2.2MM.
- The only non-tenders for the Red Sox were first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and reliever Josh Winckowski, each of whom had been designated for assignment on Tuesday. Lowe was projected at $13.5MM, while Winckowski was at $800K.
- The Guardians non-tendered outfielder Will Brennan and relievers Sam Hentges and Nic Enright. The latter had been designated for assignment on Tuesday. Hentges hasn’t pitched since undergoing shoulder surgery in September 2024. He underwent a right knee procedure a few months ago and will be delayed this offseason. Brennan only appeared in six MLB games this year and underwent Tommy John surgery while in the minors in June. He’d been projected at $900K.
- The Mariners non-tendered reliever Gregory Santos, reports Francys Romero. He’d only been projected at $800K, narrowly above the MLB minimum, so the move was about dropping him from the 40-man roster. Seattle acquired the 26-year-old righty from the White Sox over the 2023-24 offseason. He has only made 16 MLB appearances with a 5.02 earned run average over the past two years because of lat and knee injuries. Seattle also non-tendered relievers Trent Thornton and Tayler Saucedo (the latter of whom was designated for assignment on Tuesday). Thornton had been projected at $2.5MM and is coming off a 4.68 ERA through 33 appearances. He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in August.
- The Orioles non-tendered swingman Albert Suárez, the team announced. Everyone else in their arbitration class was offered a contract, surprisingly including first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan). Suárez, 36, was a solid depth starter in 2024. He was limited to five MLB appearances this past season by a flexor strain but is not expected to require surgery.
- The Rangers non-tendered each of Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Josh Sborz and Jacob Webb. MLBTR covered those moves in greater detail.
- The Rays only non-tendered outfielders Christopher Morel and Jake Fraley, each of whom had been designated for assignment earlier in the week. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reported last night that the Rays were open to bringing back Fraley at a lower price than his $3.6MM arbitration projection.
- The Royals non-tendered outfielder MJ Melendez and reliever Taylor Clarke, per a club announcement. Melendez, who’d been projected at $2.65MM, was an obvious decision. The former top prospect never developed as hoped and is a career .215/.297/.388 hitter over parts of four seasons. Clarke isn’t as big a name but comes as the more surprising cut. He’d been projected at just $1.9MM and is coming off a 3.25 ERA with a 21.4% strikeout rate over 55 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
- The Tigers are non-tendering utility player Andy Ibáñez, according to Romero. He’d been projected at $1.8MM. The righty-hitting Ibáñez had been a solid short-side platoon bat for Detroit between 2023-24. His production against southpaws dropped this year (.258/.311/.403), limiting his value. The Tigers optioned the 32-year-old to Triple-A in early June and kept him in the minors until shortly before the trade deadline. Detroit also dropped the six pitchers they’d designated for assignment earlier in the week: Tanner Rainey, Dugan Darnell, Tyler Mattison, Jason Foley, Jack Little and Sean Guenther.
- The only Twins non-tender was outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who’d been designated for assignment this morning to make room for the Alex Jackson trade. Everyone in the arbitration class was brought back.
- The White Sox non-tendered outfielder Mike Tauchman, as first reported by Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. The lefty hitter turned in a solid .263/.356/.400 line in 93 games this past season. Tauchman has gotten on base at plus rates in three straight years but was also non-tendered by the Cubs a year ago. The 34-year-old (35 next month) had been projected for a $3.4MM salary. The Sox also announced they’ve dropped lefty reliever Cam Booser and first baseman Tim Elko. Neither had been eligible for arbitration. The former posted a 5.52 ERA in 39 appearances after being acquired from the Red Sox last winter, while the latter hit .134 in his first 23 MLB games despite a 26-homer season in Triple-A.
- The Yankees announced five non-tenders. Relievers Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, Jake Cousins and Ian Hamilton were all cut loose, as was pre-arbitration righty Michael Arias. Leiter, who’d been projected at $3MM, never clicked in the Bronx after being acquired at the 2024 deadline. He posted a 4.89 ERA in 70 innings as a Yankee. Hamilton, Effross and Cousins were all projected just above the MLB minimum but are cut to clear roster space. Hamilton was on and off the active roster and posted a 4.28 ERA in 40 big league frames this year. Effross was limited to 11 appearances and has been plagued by various injuries for the past three and a half years, while Cousins is working back from Tommy John surgery. Arias has never pitched in the big leagues and could be brought back on a minor league deal.
The Blue Jays tendered contracts to all unsigned players on the 40-man roster.

Jamai Jones is the new Tiger lefty killer so Ibanez has become redundant. Also hoping that Max Anderson takes Ibanez’s infield spot.
100% agree on both.
Yup. Plus I love the vibes that Jahmai brings to the clubhouse.
Between Ibañez and the recent DFA’s, Detroit should have opened about $7.5 mm of salary. Not a ton, but I’m hoping that means at the very least they’re really going after either Finnegan or a free agent swing-and-miss closer.
I agree, though I would have cut Ibáñez before the rule 5 cutoff to protect Petit. Maybe they are close to signing someone so they need the open spot?
Raul Ibanez
Don’t get why Tauchman isn’t valued more. What am I missing?
India gets $8,000,000 but tauchman can’t get a job. Math don’t add for me either
Tauchman will get a major league contract at $2 million for one season
I’d love for him to come back to the Cubs. They never should’ve let him go.
Tauchman was basically a 2 WAR player last year. I was surprised the Sox didn’t move him last year at the trade deadline. I don’t get it either.
It was because he’s from the area and his baby’s doctor was out here. They had stuff going on. And liked the extra family support. Plus, wouldn’t really get much for him anyway.
Something is better than nothing
2 WAR is worth more than $3M+ on the open market too.
He is much better than league average. Has been the last two years.
Actually.old man Tauchman has very even boring splits for his career, .726/.728 and he had slight reverse splits last year. Perhaps if he did slaughter RHP he’d be more interesting
Then why didn’t they trade him at the deadline last year?
Unless they plan on giving Tauchman’s money to someone like JJ Bleday, non-tendering Tauchman doesn’t make sense.
He’ll likely get resigned for under 2 mill. 3.4 just too rich for a good dude who couldn’t stay on the field and just undertook knee surgery
Not for a solid back up.
Yes, old and injured a lot. Couldn’t run last year and has no arm for RF.
2M about right on a 1 year deal.
He fell down rounding third making the last out in the 9th on the basepaths. Not once, but twice
There is no ‘youth movement’ in the OF for the White Sox. There is Braden Montgomery but there is no guarantee he is going to be good,
Never mind what mohnoey said, why not then trade him last season for a fringe prospect?
Unfortunately, Tauchman too old. Turning 35.
Wow Tauchman would be a good add for the Astros. Too bad we’re not in a Luhnow/Click era
I kept thinking a trade to the Astros would make sense last July. But they kept Tauchman in Chicago near his family and child’s doctor (going through off field stuff)
Tauchman can’t seem to hang on more than a year with a team. Will he find a new home or is he going to only find a spring minor league invite?
Tons of teams can use a decent dependable outfielder for a discount. He was the most surprising non tender for sure.
I’d take him over Adolis Garcia any day.
Find out next time on dragon ball z!
We got some decent production from another Chisox castoff in Gavin Sheets, perhaps we will go to that well again.
I just can’t see adding another OFer. That being said, welcome to San Diego Jonah Heim! We all know Preller still loves the Ranger castaways…
Tauchman might be a good bench bat/no name DH that could be had fairly cheap for the right team. Can still play defense if needed from time to time.
Well good luck to MJ Melendez. Maybe somebody will offer him a minor league contract and help him find that swing he used to have. 😢
I’m glad I got his autograph a few years ago. I never got Brady Singer’s autograph and had to get an autographed ball on eBay.
You could ptolly get his autograph rather easily now
I’m surprised Mountcastle got a contract. I can’t imagine he has much value at what he’s predicted to get, Mayo or Basallo on the move for pitching?
Each rationale you try to pose for the Orioles doing this begs at least one question.
– Platoon him (a righty) with Basallo (a lefty)
First, Mayo is also a righty. Second, Mountcastle hit worse versus lefties last year than righties (though in his career, that’s not the case)
– Its a sign and trade
Who in their right mind wants to pay Mountcastle the ~8M he’s projected? What value does he still have? Maybe in November 2023 he had some, not much now.
– They think new coaching can fix him.
“He’s already been through a couple coaches and continued declining. Wouldn’t a new coach also be able to improve Mayo?
– Mayo is going to be traded
This is my conclusion. But then that begs the question are they going to get another 1B/DH type who’s much more productive? That’s $8M for a guy in a power hitting position who doesn’t hit for power on a team that’s supposed to contend. Mayo is a much more attractive asset and could return good pitching. Either way, they have to do better than Mountcastle.
They also tendered Cano, which I was against, but he’s cheap so I’m not surprised.
As for Basallo, this is the first time that they’ve actually extended a guy and made a commitment, he’s not going anywhere.
Mayo for pitching, sign Polar Bear, Mounty as an elite rotational backup?
Unless the new owner is throwing in Dodger-type money, an $8 million backup 1B seems unlikely. This stinks, as I have Alonso going to the O’s in the contest.
I forgot they just signed Basallo, so I doubt he’d be moved unless it was a crazy overpay by somebody else
Orioles seem to be overplaying their hand when it comes to excess players in their lineup. Even if you’re going to move a guy like Mayo or move on from Tyler O’Neil, is giving 8M to Mountcastle really a prudent move??
Nothing that Elias and the Orioles do makes any sense. Next thing you know they’ll be resigning Urias to come back and take more playing time away from the talented young infielders.
As a White Sox fan I don’t get the Tauchman hype, he’s a 35 year old non-prospect league average player. But I’m in the clear minority, most Sox fans are outraged.
As a White Sox fan, I’m fine with it. Braden Montgomery is going to take over in RF at some point (barring a Robert trade and needed in CF instead) anyway.
I agree, but back in July, the common opinion was that Tauchman was not traded because he was going to be tendered a contract in 2026 and either traded at the deadline or traded before the season if some team suffered an outfield injury in spring training.
By fans, maybe. Braden Montgomery will be up sometime in April/May so he wouldn’t be playing much anyway.
Fans often become strangely attached to ordinary or below average players. Adam Frazier is the poster child for this condition..
Exactly. Dude is going to be 35 and looked like he could barely run (when he actually played). Move on
I would not say outraged, but its a bit of a head scratcher for a team with nothing in the OF.
Why would the Jays tender contracts to Ryan Burr and Dillon Tate? I mean, save the 2+M and use the funds for better players that might actually make the team.
Never mind, they did not update the link above and i see they already cut both Burr and Tate.
Carter Kieboom, Carson Fulmer, and Connor Brogdon combine to make $3 million and provide no more value than a minimum wage waiver claim. I figured they would be gone.
Two years in a row I don’t understand a Tauchman cut. He’s actually useful at the MLB level and priced reasonably.
Kieboom, Fulmer, and Brogdon were sent outright back in October
Ok. They were on MLBTR’s arbitration estimate piece.
Feels weird to non-tender Gregory Santos when he was only going to make like 800k. He was so dominant in 2023 but hasn’t pitched much in either the majors or the minors the past two years. Still, a guy with a 99 mph sinker would seem to be someone to give another season just in case he returns to form. I’m guessing there’s more going on. I noticed in his 7 innings this year that he didn’t record a single strikeout. That’s hard to do.
There was talk that he was not making a great effort to get back, get healthy, and try and help the Mariners in their stretch run, because if healthy, and especially at $800,000 ,it seems like he could help…
If that’s true, it’s an interesting contrast to Trent Thornton. Thornton was bad for most of this year then injured and is scheduled to make 2.5 mil. Yet he wasn’t non-tendered for some reason. Was it just because he was out there on his scooter celebrating like a madman with his teammates at the end of the season?
Thorton was non-tendered. I’m amazed they didn’t upgrade on him at the deadline
That is so true. Maybe they do see Thornton as a great teammate worth keeping on the payroll as he gets healthy. and yeah, he was a bit of a madman on his scooter and kind of funny as well watching him circle the bases on that thing.
Ah, okay, I see a mention of that elsewhere. He wasn’t in this list when I first read it so I assumed he was tendered a contract. I see they’ve now updated his non-tendered status.
Go back to the team that drafted him?
*Astros*
I just want to know what’s going to happen to Nathaniel Lowe’s turtlenecks.
Well, they’re going to be worn a lot around his house now that he’s out of work and all…
These non tenders in both leagues are the list of guys on the Reds shopping list.
Swing and miss by the writers and all of the Orioles non-tender candidates. Surprised Mounty got a contract but he’s always been one of the leaders on this team. He was decent down the stretch as well. Cano should return to form this year as well.
Mountcastle should have been cut loose.
God I’d love Jason Foley on the Mets. He is so underated
Tauchman to the former tribe by Lake Erie.
I was wondering if they might kick the tires on a guy like Tauchman. As it stands now, they really need a guy to play every day in CF or RF. Preferably someone who bats right-handed. They are already loaded up with lefties and 4th OF types.. but that could change as the offseason develops.
Gregory Santos was a major disappointment for the M’s. Perhaps his limited appearance was a good thing.
Yanks gutting the bottom of that bullpen is welcomed. Time for a change.
Smart move by the Red Sox getting rid of Lowe.
No other team would be giving Ryan Mountcastle the amount he’s going to receive in arbitration. Another dumb decision by Elias.
Several targets can be considered. For example, LHP: Sam Hentges, Tayler Saucedo, and Can Booser. The former actually put excellent numbers with Cleveland in 2024, so it can be worth the shot.
There is also a couple of RH bullpen arms with success in the past: Jason Foley (he was a a closer last year), Albert Suarez, Josh Sborz, Taylor Clarke, Ian Hamilton, Tanner Rainey. Suarez and Clarke most certainly will get a major league deal somewhere.
As for position players, I’m intrigued by Tim Elko. He might just need a change of scenery. The guy has raw power and can play 1B, although with lot of strikeouts. Other position players that fit with the Marlins are: Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis García (obvious choices), but also maybe Gustavo Campero and Andy Ibáñez could help the team.
Now let’s check the NL list.
I wouldn’t call it a sound upgrade, but an upgrade nevertheless. I’m more inclined to #BringBackLewinDiaz
I am amazed at the amount of faith the Guardians have in Nolan Jones (except for that one time they teaded him). I couldn’t believe he made it the entire 2025 season on the roster and now they tendered him a contract.
They see something there and it would be awesome to see it pay off.
JJ Bleday in, Meadows out, for Detroit
When you’re non-tendered by the White Sox, you suck.