DeShields, Schwarber, Almora among those non-tendered

Former Texas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields was non-tendered today by the Cleveland Indians, making him a free agent.

DeShields was sent to the Indians by the Rangers a year ago, along with reliever Emmanuel Clase, for starting pitcher Corey Kluber. Kluber pitched one inning for the Rangers before landing on the injured list with a torn muscle that kept him out for the rest of the season, and is now a free agent. Clase was suspended for PEDs, causing him to miss all of 2020 as well as the early part of 2021. DeShields put up a 628 OPS and a negative bWAR in 2020 and has now been cut loose. Not a trade anyone is happy with right now.

Also being non-tendered were Chicago Cubs outfielders Albert Almora and Kyle Schwarber. They were both high first round draft picks by the Cubs, one year apart, but each has been average, at best, in the majors, and neither was good in 2020. The pair are two of the bigger names to be let go today.

The Colorado Rockies, meanwhile, included among their non-tenders former Ranger pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez and outfielder David Dahl. Gonzalez isn’t particularly surprising, and I make note of him just because he’s a former Ranger. Dahl, however, is surprising. Like DeShields, he was a #10 overall pick in the MLB draft — Dahl was selected four picks after Almora in 2012. Dahl can play all three outfield positions and has tremendous ability, but has been unable to stay healthy. The Rangers aren’t hurting for lefthanded hitting outfielders, but given Dahl’s upside, and the fact he has two years of team control remaining, he’s someone I’d like to see them take a look at and see if they can keep on the field for a full season.

UPDATE 1 — A couple of other noteworthy nontenders that just came across the wire...

Former University of Texas and Texas Rangers reliever Corey Knebel has been non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers. Knebel was acquired by Texas in the Joakim Soria deal, then traded to Milwaukee as part of the package for Yovani Gallardo. Knebel had success as Milwaukee’s closer in 2017 and 2018, then had Tommy John surgery, missed 2019, and was bad in 2020.

Ed Note — While initial reports indicated Knebel was non-tendered, he was actually traded to the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash.

Former Arizona Diamondbacks first rounder Archie Bradley — taken between Anthony Rendon and Francisco Lindor in the 2011 draft — was non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds acquired Bradley at the trade deadline in 2020. Bradley was great in 2017 but has otherwise just been okay, and this was his final year of team control. The Rangers were regularly rumored to have interest in him early in his career in Arizona, so maybe he is someone they look at bringing in.

UPDATE II — The Baltimore Orioles have non-tendered former Ranger infielder Hanser Alberto. He had a 3 win season in 2019 and was decent in 2020, but I guess they figure he’s Hanser Alberto and they aren’t interested in paying him 7 figures next year.

And the New York Mets non-tendered pitcher Ariel Jurado, who the Rangers DFA’d this summer, then traded to the Mets for a player to be named later. The PTBNL ended up being minor league reliever Steve Villines.