Players who aren’t guaranteed contracts, but have not reached free agency, do not have to be retained by their current team. Franchises can look at their expected cost, typically in arbitration, and simply decide they’re not worth it. The player then becomes a free agent, able to sign for any team, and their previous owner is off the hook for any future salary. Last season, for example, the D-backs went that route with Taylor Clarke, who was otherwise going to be a “Super 2” player, going through his first of four years of arbitration. The team had interest in bringing him back on a minor-league deal, but he signed with the Royals and had quite a good year: 102 ERA+ over 49 IP.
To tender or not to tender: That is the question for Caleb Smith and Jordan Luplow
