Listing The Top 5 Newest Free Agents After Being Non-Tendered

Friday at 6pm ET was the deadline for teams to decide on whether or not they would tender a contract to an arbitration-eligible player. Those who were non-tendered immediately became free agents.

With that, let's have a look at the top 5 notable new free agents, essentially cut loose by their teams, the top two being former closers.

Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals

Yes, he had 38 saves and was an All-Star in 2024, but Finnegan crashed and burned in the second half of the season, posting a 5.79 ERA with a .337 opponents' batting average after the All-Star Break. His projected $8.6 million salary in arbitration was too much for the Nats to risk.

Jordan Romano, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

A former lockdown closer for his hometown team, this one is another surprise. Romano battled injury troubles in 2024, and had season-ending arthroscopic elbow surgery, leading to the non-tender, with an expected arbitration salary closing in on $10 million. Romano, however, was an All-Star the previous two seasons, and racked up 95 saves over a three-year period from 2021 through 2023. If he can recover well from his elbow issues, the Blue Jays may regret this one.

Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies

He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, but despite playing in the thin air of Coors Field, was never able to put the expected numbers on the board offensively. He did win a Gold Glove at 2B in 2022, and has at least topped the 15 HR, 50 RBI mark in three of the last four seasons, so maybe as a 28-year-old, he will be given another chance elsewhere.

Ramon Laureano, Atlanta Braves

Another tremendous outfield pickup midseason by Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, Laureano, with his combination of power and speed, slashed .296/.327/.505 for Atlanta, with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 226 plate appearances with a 128 OPS+. But with Ronald Acuna Jr. returning sometime next season, the Braves decided to let Laureano go, and instead stick with the younger and cheaper Jarred Kelenic in the outfield.

Dylan Carlson, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Carlson was a highly-regarded prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals system, and thought to be one of their outfielders of the future. He finished 3rd in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2021 when he posted a .780 OPS (115 OPS+) along with 18 homers in his freshman season. But a combination of injuries and underperformance have left Carlson as an afterthought for the Rays, who acquired him at this year's trade deadline. He hit just .219 in 37 games in Tampa, with a 78 OPS+. Now the former 1st round pick (2016 MLB Draft) is up for grabs.