Rangers Let Go of Adolis García and Jonah Heim
Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García and catcher Jonah Heim lead the list of 66 MLB arbitration-eligible players who did not receive contracts from their respective teams this Friday. These players immediately become free agents, available to sign with any team, including those that just released them. García and Heim were fundamental in the Rangers’ victory in the 2023 World Series, but the last seasons have not been so productive. García, 32 years old, won the American League Championship Series MVP award in 2023, compiling an OPS of 1.108 in the postseason that October, but followed with consecutive years with an OPS below .700. In 2025, he batted .227 with 19 home runs and earned more than $9 million in salary. Heim, 30, batted .213 last season with 11 home runs and a .602 OPS, earning $4.57 million. Both players were due to receive raises through the arbitration system, but the Rangers, seeking to reduce costs, chose not to offer them contracts. Rangers right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz also became a free agent on Friday after not receiving a contract offer for 2026.Regardless of what happens in the future, Adolis, Jonah, and Josh will always be remembered for their contributions to the first World Series title in franchise history.
Chris Young, Rangers’ president of baseball operations
Among the players who also didn’t receive contracts on Friday are Atlanta Braves pitcher Alek Manoah; Boston Red Sox infielder Nathaniel Lowe; Chicago Cubs catcher Reese McGuire; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Carson Spiers; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Sam Hentges; Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman; Detroit Tigers reliever Jason Foley, and infielder Andy Ibanez; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips; New York Yankees pitchers Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, and Ian Hamilton; Seattle Mariners pitcher Gregory Santos; San Francisco Giants catcher Andrew Knizner; and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Christopher Morel.
All other arbitration-eligible players received contracts, meaning they are bound to their teams for the 2026 season. Their salaries will be determined through negotiation between the team and the player or, if necessary, by an arbitrator later in the offseason. The deadline marked the last time a team could drop an arbitration-eligible player without committing to at least 30 days of termination pay if the player is released.
