Every year, MLB’s non-tender deadline allows clubs to allow some players still under team control to test the open market early, whether because of rising arbitration price tags or a need for extra space on the club’s 40-man roster. In previous seasons, many high-profile players ended up going undrafted, including Kyle Schwarber, Cody Bellingerand Brandon Woodruff They both went undrafted at one point in their careers and didn’t appear on MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents list until this year.
While players of this caliber arriving via non-tender free agency are extremely rare, many others have found themselves released by clubs early only to make an impact elsewhere. That could be as a regular in the starting lineup or rotation, or just as a reliable contributor off the bench or out of the bullpen. Let’s take a look at five hitters who became free agents after last week’s non-tender deadline and who might be worth keeping an eye on this upcoming offseason. Players are listed in alphabetical order, with ages in brackets for the 2026 season.
JJ Brady (28)
Brady has quite the pedigree, having been drafted fourth overall by the Marlins back in 2019. Considered a top-50 prospect in the league before making his MLB debut in 2022, Brady struggled with the Marlins and Athletics during his first two seasons in the majors before enjoying what appeared to be a breakout season in 2024. That year, he slashed .243/.327/.437 (120 wRC+), lowered his strikeout rate to 19.5% while maintaining a solid 10.4% walk rate, and showed enough flexibility with the bat to hit 20 homers and a whopping 43 doubles. His defensive ability in the middle of the field was below average, but not catastrophic, and combined with his strong offensive ability, he had a 3.2 fWAR season.
Unfortunately, Brady, the star, returned to earth this year with a rough season that saw his strikeout rate climb back to 26.5% and his power evaporate, leaving him with a .212/.294/.404 slash line and a meager 90 wRC+. Things got so bleak that the A’s optioned Brady to the minors multiple times this season. Perhaps a change of scenery can help Brady rediscover the form he showed in 2024, and it’s not hard to imagine an outfield-needy team like the Royals or Guardians poaching him. Brady’s performance over the final two months of the season was a sign of optimism, as he hit .252/.306/.495 (115 wRC+) with six home runs and seven doubles in 111 games after being recalled to the majors on August 2.
Nathaniel Lowe (30)
Lowe is by far the most recognizable hitter on this list, having earned a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger Award and World Series ring for his work with the Rangers from 2021-24. In those four years, he slashed .274/.359/.432 with 78 home runs and a 124 wRC+. This was the performance of a high-level regular player that allowed him to excel in three WAR at first base each season. However, Lowe, who was traded to Washington, D.C., from Texas last offseason, left a lot to be desired during his time with the Nationals.
He hit just .216/.292/.373 in 119 games before being cut by the team, and while with the Red Sox he bounced back to a .280/.370/.420 slash line, closer to his past performance, 34 games in Boston only brought his season-long wRC+ back to 91. While Lowe is unlikely to garner attention like this Pete Alonso even Louis Alas Although he will be drafted this winter, he could still be upgraded to a club that needs help at first base like the Padres, Diamondbacks or Twins.
Christopher Morel (27)
The youngest player on this list at just over a year old, Morel arguably has the highest upside of any player on this list, but also has some significant flaws that could prevent him from landing a starting job somewhere. The youngster’s major league career is set to explode in 2022, as through his first two seasons with the Cubs, Morel hit 42 homers in 220 games with a 115 wRC+ and slashed .241/.311/.471. While he struck out 31.6% of the time and was a below-average outfielder anywhere on the diamond, his impressive power and walk ability are enough to make him a quality outfielder. He is a well above average hitter.
However, the past two years have been brutal for the slugger, as his production has largely disappeared. Morrell had an unusual first half with the Cubs in 2024, as while most of his peripheral numbers were trending in the right direction, his numbers dropped (91 WRC+), including a drop in strikeout rate to 24.5%, while his on-base percentage climbed to 11.1% with 18 homers. While the usual above-average production isn’t quite there, the Rays have enough interest in him to make him a returning core piece. Isaac Paredes at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, Morel’s production completely fell apart during his time with the Rays, hitting just .208/.277/.355 (79 wRC+) over 495 games over the past two years. Given Maurer’s youth and three years of team control remaining, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team try to unlock the Cubs’ upside early in his career, but his lack of defensive prowess could make him a difficult fit for many teams.
Mike Tauchman (35)
Tauchman is the oldest player on the roster and returns after also being listed in this article last year. Undrafted by the Cubs last winter, Tauchman remained in Chicago via a trade with the White Sox and generally lived up to his contract with the South Siders, hitting .263/.356/.400 (115 wRC+) in 385 games. Tauchman may no longer be the capable center fielder defender he was earlier in his career, but teams will be hard-pressed to find a player who can more reliably provide on-base ability.
This is especially true given his expected price tag, which may appeal to suitors on a tight budget this winter. Among 229 players with at least 1,000 plate appearances since the start of the 2023 season, Tauchman’s .359 OBP ranks 21st, sandwiched between Raphael Devers and Kyle Schwarber. Due to his lack of power, his performance is naturally far below those of star players, as he has not hit 10 home runs in a season since 2019. Even so, he would be a valuable addition to a team like the Royals, Astros or Rays, whether in a bench or platoon role.
Ramon Urias (32)
Urias stands out as the most valuable defender of the bunch. Brady and Tauchman were both limited to the outfield and struggled in center field, while Lowe was a defender who only played first base. Morel has experience at valuable positions like center field and third base, but he’s been very poor at those positions in terms of defensive metrics and numbers and is best suited as a DH. Urias, by contrast, is a Gold Glove winner at third base and also has extensive experience at second base and shortstop. His +5 outs in the infield this year are above average, ranking in the 88th percentile of all outfielders.
Typically, Urias pairs a solid glove with a decent bat, making him a solid B-level regular or a quality part-timer. In six seasons in the majors, Urias has a career batting average of .257/.321/.403 (104 wRC+), and until this season, he had been at or above league average. This year, however, Urias is hitting just .241/.292/.384 (87 wRC+). His production was dragged down in part by a rough patch in Houston after being dealt to the Astros at the trade deadline, but even his performance in Baltimore was below league average. While Urias’ numbers this year are questionable, his overall record and ability to provide solid infield defense should make him an attractive addition to the team, especially considering the thin infield market with few day-to-day options. The Yankees, Brewers, Mariners and Tigers are among the many teams that Urias could at least play for.
