Ranking MLB’s Newest Free Agents Who Were Non-Tendered at the Deadline

A top prospect in the Cardinals system and the third-place finisher in 2021 NL Rookie of the Year voting, Carlson never developed into the franchise cornerstone he was expected to be in St. Louis. The Rays acquired him at the trade deadline, but he hit just .219 with a 78 OPS+ in 127 plate appearances with Tampa Bay and finished with minus-1.2 WAR overall in 2024.

Honeywell had a 2.62 ERA in 18 appearances with the Dodgers, and he ended up tossing 8.2 innings in long relief during the team’s playoff run. His 11.9 percent strikeout rate and 4.28 FIP paint a less promising picture of his performance, but he is capable of working multiple innings.

Joe has been a productive utility player for the Pirates at times over the past three seasons, hitting .238/.333/.384 for a 95 OPS+ while averaging 24 doubles, nine home runs, 35 RBI and 0.7 WAR in 452 plate appearances during that span. He can play first base and corner outfield, and had a 105 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 42 RBI in 2023.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the White Sox and the prospect centerpiece to acquire Craig Kimbrel from the Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline, Madrigal never lived up to lofty expectations in Chicago. The 27-year-old is a career .274/.323/.344 hitter, and while his contact skills are solid, his lack of extra-base pop is glaring.

Quantrill looked like a nice under-the-radar pickup for the Rockies early in the 2024 season, but he ultimately finished with a 4.98 ERA and 5.32 FIP in 148.1 innings while issuing a NL-leading 69 walks against just 110 strikeouts. The 29-year-old had a $9 million projected arbitration salary.

Sheets has hit double-digit home runs each of the past four seasons, though he has been miscast defensively by the White Sox as an outfielder. He had a 90 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 501 plate appearances, and could be worth a flier as a low-cost source of power.

Tauchman posted a 106 OPS+ and a strong .360 on-base percentage in 751 plate appearances with the Cubs over the last two seasons, but a crowded outfield situation made him expendable. He should be able to catch on somewhere as a fourth outfielder who is capable of stepping into a bigger role if needed.