Two years after they played significant roles in a World Series championship, the Texas Rangers have cut ties with slugging outfielder Adolis García and catcher Jonah Heim.
The Rangers declined to tender contracts to the arbitration-eligible players, making them the highest-profile free agents on a day Major League Baseball teams faced a deadline to offer 2026 contracts to players on their 40-man rosters.
García and Heim were projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn $12.1 million and $6 million, respectively, in their final seasons of arbitration before they’d become free agents after the 2026 season. But both players suffered downturns in production since playing huge roles in the Rangers’ 2023 World Series championship.
Garcia, who turns 33 in March, was the American League Championship Series MVP in 2023 after scorching the Houston Astros for five home runs and 15 RBIs in the Rangers’ seven-game conquest of the defending champions. He hit a walk-off home run off Arizona’s Miguel Castro to win Game 1 of the World Series.
But Garcia faded from a 39-homer, 107-RBI man in 2023 to 25 homers and a league-average .684 OPS in 2024. This year, he batted just .227 with 19 homers and a 93 adjusted OPS.
Heim, 30, had 14 hits and three home runs in the Rangers’ postseason run, after a year in which he batted .258 with a .755 OPS and made the All-Star team. But those numbers dwindled to .213 and .602 this season, and now the Rangers will be in the market for a primary catcher to pair with veteran Kyle Higashioka.
The Rangers also non-tendered 2023 relief hero Josh Sborz, who pitched just 16⅓ innings the past two seasons due to a shoulder injury, and reliever Jacob Webb.
MLB non-tenders: Notable names
The following teams chose not to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players, making them free agents:
∎ Detroit Tigers: Utilityman Andy Ibanez, who batted .239 with a .653 OPS in 91 games; he played in nine playoff games the past two seasons.
∎ Los Angeles Dodgers: Reliever Evan Phillips, their former closer who is recovering from June Tommy John surgery.
∎ Pittsburgh Pirates: Outfielders Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon and right-handers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta.
∎ San Francisco Giants: Left-hander Joey Lucchesi, who posted a 3.76 ERA in 38⅓ innings.
∎ Cincinnati Reds: Catcher Will Banfield and right-handers Roddery Munoz and Carson Spiers.
∎ Cleveland Guardians: Outfielder Will Brennan, who underwent Tommy John surgery this year, and reliever Sam Hentges.
∎ St. Louis Cardinals: Left-hander John King, right-hander Sem Robberse and catcher Yohel Pozo.
∎ Kansas City Royals: Outfielder MJ Melendez, who had five hits in 60 at-bats this season, and reliever Taylor Clarke, who posted a 3.25 ERA in 51 appearances.
∎ Chicago White Sox: Veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman.
∎ Baltimore Orioles: Swingman Albert Suárez, who pitched in just five games before suffering a shoulder injury.
∎ Los Angeles Angels: Outfielder Gustavo Campero and catcher Sebastian Rivero.
∎ New York Yankees: Right-handed relievers Mark Leiter Jr., Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton and Michael Arias.