In MLB, “tendered” means a team has offered a contract to one of its arbitration- or pre-arbitration-eligible players by the non-tender deadline (usually early December). If the player is tendered, he stays under team control and the two sides work out a salary for the upcoming season. If the player is non-tendered, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any club.
Fans usually hear the word around the Winter Meetings when reporters tweet things like “The Dodgers tendered contracts to all their arbitration-eligible guys” or “The Cubs non-tendered Kyle Schwarber.” In the clubhouse, players check their phones that night to see if they got the email or text saying they’ve been tendered. If they did, they celebrate quietly and start thinking about next year’s salary talks; if not, they’re suddenly on the open market.
Meaning & Usage Examples
- “The Braves tendered Max Fried a 2024 contract.” → He stays with Atlanta and they’ll agree on a salary.
- “The Angels non-tendered reliever José Quijada.” → Quijada is now a free agent.
- “Teams must decide by 7 p.m. CT whether to tender their arb-eligible players.” → The deadline for offering contracts.
Context / Common Use
The term pops up every December during MLB’s “non-tender deadline.” Fans refresh Twitter, reporters list who got tendered or non-tendered, and front offices use the day to clear roster spots or avoid paying rising arbitration salaries. It’s a quick, one-word headline that tells you whether a player is staying put or hitting the open market.
FAQ
What happens after a player is tendered?
The team and player negotiate a salary; if they can’t agree, an arbitration panel picks one.
Can a tendered player still be traded?
Yes—being tendered only locks him into the team’s roster for now; he can still be dealt later.
Is non-tendering the same as releasing a player?
Not exactly. A non-tender makes the player a free agent, while a release happens after a contract is already in place.
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