Red Sox 2018 Offseason: Potential non-tender candidates
By Sean Penney
Do the Boston Red Sox have any arbitration-eligible players who may not be tendered a contract for the 2019 season? A look at some potential candidates.
The November 30 deadline to tender a contract to arbitration-eligible players is approaching, leaving the Boston Red Sox short on time to determine if they intend to keep all of them on their roster.
Boston has 12 players eligible for arbitration this winter, most of whom are virtual locks to return in 2019. Their salary for next season has yet to be determined but the club will have about two months to sort that out with the players before going to arbitration hearings, if necessary.
The Red Sox having a history of wrapping up these negotiations rather effortlessly, rarely letting it get to a hearing, although they did lose their case to Mookie Betts last year. Even if they struggle to find common ground on a contract with these players, it’s not as if they are going to let a player like Betts walk away. Arbitration-eligible players don’t have the same leverage as free agents. They remain under team control unless the team decides they no longer have a spot for them and are willing to let them go.
Is there anyone on this list of arbitration eligibles who the Red Sox may elect not to tender a contract to, thus granting them free agency?
MLB Trade Rumors recently revealed their annual list of non-tender candidates. While this doesn’t assume that all of these players will be refused a contract offer, a case can be made for why a team could decide to let them walk. The only Red Sox players to appear on the list are Tyler Thornburg and Sandy Leon.