The non-tender deadline marks the annual decision each MLB team faces on whether to offer or "tender" a contract to the arbitration-eligible players on their roster.
If they tender a contract, the team and player can continue to negotiate a salary figure for the upcoming season in an effort to avoid an arbitration hearing. If they do not tender a contract, the player is considered to be "non-tendered" and immediately becomes a free agent.
Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger was the biggest name cut loose at the non-tender deadline last year, while Jeimer Candelario also emerged as a solid contributor and eventual trade chip after he was non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers.