Definition. When a club "non-tenders" a player, it declines to give that player a contract for the upcoming season, thereby immediately making him a free agent.

What is the difference between tender and non-tender?

To tender a player a contract is to offer a contract, but non-tenders refer to a specific kind of offer: offers of arbitration. Rules and precedent shape the kind of salary a player can expect through arbitration, and players under team control usually get raises through the process.

What does tendered and non tendered mean in baseball?

It is the deadline for teams to tender their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players a contract offer for next season. They don't have to sign their players before the deadline, but they do have to make an offer. Players who do not receive a contract offer are considered "non-tendered" and become free agents.