Five Non-Tendered MLB Pitchers to Watch This Winter

The non-tender deadline has quietly become one of the most intriguing dates on the MLB calendar. This winter, it’s no exception.

Several quality arms hit the market—not because they can’t pitch, but because their projected arbitration prices didn’t fit their teams’ payroll math. That’s how five interesting relievers—Jason Foley, Mark Leiter Jr., Evan Phillips, Gregory Santos, and Jacob Webb—suddenly landed on the 2026 free agent market as potential bullpen bargains for analytically savvy front offices.

Why Non-Tendered Relievers Matter in Today’s Bullpen Economy

In this era, bullpens often decide entire seasons. Non-tendered relievers might be the sneakiest way to find value.

Teams usually walk away from them for financial or roster reasons, not because their talent has vanished. For contenders trying to patch late-inning holes without paying top dollar, these arms could be the difference between an October run and an early winter.

Each pitcher brings something different—groundball specialists, strikeout artists, swingman veterans. But they all have one thing in common: upside at a discount.

The trick is figuring out the risk-reward balance for each arm. Sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Jason Foley: Groundball Machine with Closer Upside

Jason Foley is the classic high-upside health play. At 30, he’s already notched a career 3.16 ERA and has closed games for the Detroit Tigers.

He generates an elite groundball rate that pitching coaches drool over. Foley’s sinker-heavy arsenal fits perfectly with clubs that have strong infield defense and ballparks that punish fly-ball pitchers.

The catch? Foley recently had shoulder surgery that cost him the entire 2025 season. Shoulder injuries are always a wild card in pitching.

But if a team’s comfortable with the medicals, there’s real appeal. Foley isn’t just a short-term flier—he’s got arbitration control potentially through 2028, so a club could lock in multiple prime years at below free-agent prices if he bounces back.

Mark Leiter Jr.: Advanced Metrics Darling and Lefty Neutralizer

Mark Leiter Jr. doesn’t jump off the page at first. At 35, his traditional numbers are more “solid” than spectacular, and that’s usually where most people stop looking.

But inside front offices, his profile is anything but boring. Leiter’s become an analytics department favorite thanks to metrics like SIERA that paint a much brighter picture.

He pairs strong strikeout rates with a healthy dose of groundballs. He’s also been especially tough on left-handed hitters—something teams crave as lineups lean into platoon advantages.

For teams seeking matchup flexibility, Leiter can function as:

Evan Phillips: Elite Closer Talent, Delayed Gratification

Among this group, Evan Phillips has the real late-inning star power. Since 2021, the former Dodgers righty has put up a dominant 2.22 ERA with 45 saves.

He’s become one of the most reliable closers in the game. His pitch mix and command drive that success—not luck—so teams will wait on him.

Phillips landed on the market for one reason: Tommy John surgery. That recovery timeline forced the Dodgers into a business decision, not a talent judgment.

Given his track record, Phillips is the likeliest of this group to land a multi-year deal that bakes in his rehab and projects him as a late-inning force once he’s healthy again.

Gregory Santos: Young Power Arm with Rebound Potential

Gregory Santos might be the most intriguing upside play here. At just 26 years old, he’s far from a finished product and already flashed a breakout hint on his résumé.

With the Chicago White Sox in 2023, Santos showed late-inning stuff and poise. He looked like a long-term setup man or even a future closer.

The move to Seattle didn’t go as planned. Injuries and uneven performance derailed his momentum in 2024–25, leading to his non-tender.

Still, the raw ingredients—velocity, movement, and age—are all there. Like Foley, Santos comes with potential team control through 2028, making him a prime target for clubs that trust their player development and pitching labs to restore his form.

Jacob Webb: Quiet Workhorse with Stable Results

While others in this class offer more sizzle, Jacob Webb brings something contenders always want: reliability. At 32, he’s carved out a career as a steady middle reliever, posting sub-4.00 ERAs in recent seasons.

He’s not overpowering, and his velocity has ticked down a bit. But he makes up for it with command and sequencing.

Webb profiles as:

Which Teams Should Pounce on These Bullpen Bargains?

The 2026 free agent market isn’t exactly overflowing with affordable relief help. Still, five non-tendered arms stand out as strategic targets.

They won’t command Edwin Díaz money. But they can deliver outs that matter in September and beyond—especially if clubs are willing to gamble on some injury risk for a shot at upside.

If you’re running a front office and need bullpen solutions without gutting your payroll, this is where the smart money looks. Health discounts, underlying metrics, and team-control upside are all in play.

Foley, Leiter, Phillips, Santos, and Webb didn’t exactly leave their former clubs by choice. Now, though, they might just be the savviest shopping aisle in this winter’s pitching market.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Five Non-Tendered Pitchers To Keep An Eye On This Winter