Sixty-six players were non-tendered Friday, Nov. 21, before the 5 p.m. deadline for MLB teams to tender a contract to arbitration-eligible players under team control for the 2025 season, including infielder Andy Ibáñez by the Detroit Tigers.
Those 66 players are free agents.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are five new MLB free agents the Tigers could be interested in during the 2025-26 offseason:
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Adolis García, OF
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) and right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) and center fielder Wyatt Langford (36) celebrate a three-run home run by Langford during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field on Aug. 11, 2025.Age: 32.
Non-tendered by: Texas Rangers.
Arbitration projection: $12.1 million.
The buzz: García, a two-time All-Star in his seven-year MLB career, hit .227 with 19 home runs, 28 walks and 135 strikeouts across 135 games last season, posting a .665 OPS. He made the All-Star Game in 2021 and 2023, but since then, he has struggled – hitting .225 with a .675 OPS over the 2024-25 seasons. Strikeouts are high and walks are low, but he continues to hit the ball extremely hard, posting an average exit velocity of at least 91 mph in each of the past five seasons. Defensively, García grades as an above-average right fielder with a strong arm. If the Tigers want a right-handed power bat in the outfield – making Kerry Carpenter the everyday designated hitter and pushing Wenceel Pérez into a bench role – García fits the profile, though he wouldn't help solve their strikeout problem. He isn't worth the estimated $12 million that the Rangers would've had to pay him in his final year of salary arbitration, but he should land a cheap one-year deal as a bounce-back candidate. From 2021-23, García produced a 10.6 fWAR, ranking 40th among 226 qualifying hitters.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWELCOME BACK: Tigers tender contracts to 11 of 12 arbitration-eligible players for 2026 season
Evan Phillips, RHP
March 20: Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips closes out the Padres with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.Age: 31.
Non-tendered by: Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arbitration projection: $6.1 million.
The buzz: Phillips, an eight-year MLB veteran, will miss most of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early June to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Before the surgery, he logged 5⅔ scoreless innings with two walks and six strikeouts in seven relief appearances. From 2021-24, Phillips pitched in 194 games for the Dodgers, serving as one of their most reliable relievers. He posted a 2.28 ERA with a 6.7% walk rate and 29% strikeout rate across 189⅓ innings during those four seasons. When healthy, his sweeper-fastball combination generates whiffs at an elite rate – something the Tigers desperately need in their bullpen. Don't be surprised if the Dodgers bring back Phillips for less than his projected $6 million salary, but if a reunion doesn't happen, plenty of teams should be interested in offering a one-year deal for 2026 with a player option for 2027.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRamón Urías, 3B
May 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Ramon Urias (29) hits a single during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Age: 31.
Non-tendered by: Houston Astros.
Arbitration projection: $4.4 million.
The buzz: Urías, a six-year MLB veteran, is a defense-first player who specializes in third base but also plays second base, shortstop and first base. He hit .241 with 11 home runs, 27 walks and 88 strikeouts in 112 games for the Baltimore Orioles (77 games) and Astros (35 games) last season, performing better against left-handed pitchers. From 2023-25, Urías hit .263 with a .734 OPS against lefties, compared to .249 with a .692 OPS against righties. The Tigers would benefit from a right-handed hitting infielder who performs against lefties (only if prospect Hao-Yu Lee begins the season in Triple-A Toledo or shortstop Javier Báez plays center field against lefties), making Urías' fit dependent on the roster configuration. His defense has been above average throughout his entire career, while his offense has been above average in four of his six seasons – giving him potential in a platoon role as a part-time player. He won the American League Gold Glove Award at third in 2022.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSEE YOU LATER: Tigers non-tender Andy Ibáñez after 3 seasons, sending him into free agency
Christopher Morel, OF
Christopher Morel #24 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.Age: 26.
Non-tendered by: Tampa Bay Rays.
Arbitration projection: $2.6 million.
The buzz: Morel, who turns 27 in late June, has more upside than any non-tendered player, having topped 20 home runs in two of his four MLB seasons. Last season, he hit .219 with 11 homers, 25 walks and 109 strikeouts across 105 games, finishing with a .684 OPS. His game is defined by extremes. The weaknesses: too many whiffs and below-average defense. The strengths: big power and a solid walk rate. Morel needs to make more contact to reach his ceiling, but he makes good swing decisions, possesses elite bat speed and draws enough walks to remain dangerous – and he comes with three years of team control. The Tigers like to unlock the upside in players, but unless they have a specific plan to fix his contact issues, he is a better option for a rebuilding club destined for a losing season. The combination of poor defense and inconsistent offense makes him an unlikely fit for a contender like the Tigers, but if he puts it all together, he should become an All-Star in the future.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlek Manoah, RHP
Age: 27.
Non-tendered by: Atlanta Braves.
Arbitration projection: $2.2 million.
The buzz: Manoah – a 2022 All-Star as part of a four-year MLB career – didn't pitch in the big leagues last season. He spent all of 2025 in the minors, making 10 starts across four levels. In Triple-A, he posted a 2.97 ERA with 18 walks and 30 strikeouts over 33⅓ innings in seven starts. His sinker averaged 91.1 mph in those outings, down from 93.3 mph in 2022, while his slider generated a 37.8% whiff rate, up from 31.8% in 2022. After his All-Star season, Manoah struggled with underperformance in 2023, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn't fully rebound in 2025. He is likely to draw a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, making him a low-risk option for the Tigers with Opening Day roster upside. At his peak, he finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, behind only Justin Verlander (Astros) and Dylan Cease (Chicago White Sox). Manoah is still talented, but whether any team can help him reach his potential again is uncertain.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers MLB free agency: 5 new players to target this offseason
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