Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia and catcher Jonah Heim headline the list of 66 MLB arbitration-eligible players who were not tendered contracts by their respective teams Friday.
Those players immediately become free agents, available to sign with any team, including the ones that just non-tendered them.
Garcia, 32, and Heim, 30, were instrumental in the Rangers’ World Series victory in 2023, but the past couple of seasons haven’t been as productive.
Garcia won American League Championship Series MVP in 2023, compiling a 1.108 OPS in the postseason that October, but he followed that with back-to-back years with an OPS under .700. In 2025, he hit .227 with 19 home runs while making over $9 million in salary.
Heim hit .213 last season with 11 home runs and a .602 OPS while earning $4.57 million.
Both players were due raises through the arbitration system, but the cost-cutting Rangers declined to offer them contracts.
Rangers right-hander Josh Sborz also became a free agent Friday when he wasn’t offered a 2026 contract.
“Regardless of what happens moving forward, Adolis, Jonah and Josh will always be remembered for their contributions to the first World Series title in franchise history,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said in a statement.
Among those also non-tendered Friday: Atlanta Braves pitcher Alek Manoah; Boston Red Sox infielder Nathaniel Lowe; Chicago Cubs catcher Reese McGuire; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Carson Spiers; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Sam Hentges; Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman; Detroit Tigers reliever Jason Foley and infielder Andy Ibanez; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips; New York Yankees pitchers Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross and Ian Hamilton; Seattle Mariners pitcher Gregory Santos; San Francisco Giants catcher Andrew Knizner; and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Christopher Morel.
All other arbitration-eligible players were tendered contracts, meaning they are tied to their teams for the 2026 season. Their salaries will be determined through negotiation between the team and player or, if need be, by an arbitrator later in the offseason.
The deadline marked the last time a team could drop an arbitration-eligible player without committing to at least 30 days of termination pay if the player is released.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
