Elephant Rumblings: Non-tender deadline today

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

MLB offseason activities are purring along as expected. The Big Awards were handed out this week, with Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal both earning their first Cy Young Award, and monster mashers Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge taking MVP honors yesterday. Ohtani’s MVP trophy is his third in four years, and he became the first full-time designated hitter to win the award.

Less desirable distinctions are due to be made today, which is the deadline to non-tender arbitration-eligible or pre-arbitration players. Matt Swartz at MLB Trade Rumors compiled a list of non-tender candidates deemed “at least 10-20% likely” to be cut loose.

Seth Brown was identified as worthy of the list, but the A’s veteran was excluded by merit of the one-year agreement reached with the team on Wednesday. That leaves two Athletics on the list: outfielder Miguel Andujar and relief pitcher Dany Jiménez.

Andujar was decent at the plate for the A’s in 2024 with a wRC+ of 103. But his slugging percentage was an anemic .377, the A’s are a bit overstocked on corner outfielders, and Andujar can’t fill the need for a real center fielder. His projected 2025 salary is $2.8 million.

Jiménez has looked promising at times but demonstrated an inability to consistently throw strikes throughout his career, and sunk to a hellishly bad 6.66 BB/9 through 25 appearances with the A’s in 2024. Dany’s projected 2025 salary is $1 million.

A few former Athletics made this inauspicious list, most notably starting pitcher Paul Blackburn, now with the Mets. Outfielder Ramón Laureano and shortstop Jorge Mateo were also named as candidates.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s 2024 Season in Review: Kyle Muller
• Rob Manfred says A’s are “100 percent full steam ahead” in Las Vegas
• Could the A’s target this Los Angeles Dodgers prospect in the Rule 5 Draft?

MLB News & Interest:

• It’s unanimous! Baseball’s two biggest stars win MVP awards
• 2024 Non-Tender Candidates
• Trailblazing MLB coach Alyssa Nakken leaves Giants to join Guardians ($)
• Here are the top 30 prospects from the 2024 Arizona Fall League
• Details On MLB’s Future Broadcasting Plans
• Ranking Juan Soto’s free-agent suitors: Which team will sign him? And for how much? ($)
• Roki Sasaki’s Agent Denies Rumors Of Handshake Deal With Dodgers
• Red Sox, Dodgers Have Met With Blake Snell
• Kennedy: Red Sox Willing To Pay Competitive Balance Tax In 2025
• Latest On Nolan Arenado
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Rook 10th in AL MVP voting.

Minor league deals.