The MLB offseason is kicking into high gear with a flurry of roster moves that have sent shockwaves through the baseball world. In a stunning turn of events, a total of 62 players found themselves suddenly cast into the free agent pool after their teams elected not to tender them contracts for the 2025 season. The list includes some eye-popping names that no one saw coming.
All-Stars Austin Hays and Kyle Finnegan Headline Non-Tendered Group
Leading the pack of newly minted free agents are a pair of All-Stars: outfielder Austin Hays and closer Kyle Finnegan. Hays, coming off an All-Star campaign in 2023 with the Baltimore Orioles before a midseason trade to Philadelphia, seemed poised to cash in this winter. Instead, the 29-year-old finds himself unexpectedly looking for a new team.
Finnegan’s situation is equally perplexing. The 33-year-old reliever was the Washington Nationals’ lone All-Star representative in 2024, notching an impressive 38 saves. Yet the Nationals, in the midst of a rebuild, obviously felt his projected arbitration salary was more than they were willing to pay. It’s a decision that has rival executives scratching their heads.
Brendan Rodgers, Jordan Romano Among Other Surprise Cuts
The shockers didn’t stop there. Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers, himself an All-Star not long ago in 2022, also failed to receive a contract tender. As did Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano, Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval, and veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman. They are just a few of the many players who are suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, free agents.
I think a lot of us around the game expected there to be a few non-tenders, as there are every year. But this many, and this many big names? It’s unprecedented. It’s going to be a fascinating free agent market, that’s for sure.
– A rival MLB executive speaking on condition of anonymity
What’s Behind the Non-Tender Frenzy?
So what’s behind this rash of non-tenders? Industry insiders point to a perfect storm of factors, headlined by the looming specter of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2025 season. Teams appear more hesitant than ever to commit dollars and years, leading to short-term deals and increased scrutiny on arbitration-eligible players.
There’s also the fact that many teams that fancy themselves contenders are already bumping up against the luxury tax threshold. Couple that with a robust free agent class, and many clubs seem content to non-tender contributors like Hays and Finnegan rather than pay them in arbitration. They’d rather spend those dollars on the open market.
A Bonanza for Bargain-Hunting Teams
While it’s a shock to the system for the players involved, the non-tender frenzy could be a boon for opportunistic organizations. Teams willing to take a chance on bounce-back players or bet on untapped potential could find themselves striking gold at a discount price.
You almost never see All-Star caliber players like Hays and Finnegan just handed over to free agency like this. For teams willing to be creative and take some chances, there are definitely some potential impact players to be found at maybe a fraction of what they would have cost in arbitration or free agency.
– A major-league scout offering his take on the non-tender crop
A New World for Players and Teams
For the players thrust into this brave new world, it’s a time of both uncertainty and opportunity. Proven contributors like Hays, Finnegan, and others will undoubtedly have multiple suitors, perhaps even more than they would have had in trade talks. The open market is unforgiving, but it can also be quite rewarding for players who seize their moment.
As for the teams, this year’s non-tender craze is perhaps a sign of things to come. In a landscape of soaring payrolls, a finite supply of premium free agents, and the ever-present specter of the luxury tax, organizations seem increasingly reluctant to pay premium prices for arbitration-eligible players. It’s a trend that could lead to younger, cheaper, more flexible rosters – and a lot more year-to-year turnover.
An Offseason of Chaos and Opportunity
In the end, the 2024-25 MLB offseason will be remembered as one of both chaos and opportunity. For the 62 players non-tendered, it’s a shocking and abrupt detour in their baseball journeys. But it’s also a chance for reinvention and revitalization, an opportunity to bet on themselves and seize their futures.
For the teams both cutting players loose and pursuing new additions, it’s a high-stakes dance of risk and reward. In the wake of this non-tender bombshell, one thing is certain: in the modern MLB, no one’s future is guaranteed. It’s a brave new world, one where adaptability, creativity, and a keen eye for value are the keys to survival – and success.
