Midnight ET Wednesday night was a rather significant offseason deadline. It was the deadline for clubs to tender contract offers to their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players. Any players who were not tendered contracts are now free agents.
In most cases the tender is a mere formality. However, there are also instances in which teams cut ties and non-tender a player because his salary -- usually through the arbitration system -- exceeds his on-field value. More than a few recognizable names became free agents Wednesday.
Here is a recap of Wednesday's hot stove news, starting with the 40 non-tendered players.
NON-TENDERS (these players are now free agents)
Angels: Non-tendered LHP Cesar Ramos, the club announced.
Astros: Non-tendered 1B/DH Chris Carter. (USA Today)
Athletics: Non-tendered 1B Ike Davis, the team announced.
Blue Jays: Non-tendered C Josh Thole, the club announced.
Braves: Non-tendered LHP Mike Minor and IF Pedro Ciriaco, the team announced.
Brewers: Non-tendered UTIL Elian Herrera, the club announced.
Cardinals: Non-tendered RHP Steve Cishek and C Cody Stanley, the team announced.
Cubs: Non-tendered RHP Ryan Cook and LHP Jack Leathersich, the team announced.
Dodgers: Non-tendered RHP Juan Nicasio and RHP Lisalverto Bonilla, the club announced.
Giants: Non-tendered RHP Yusmeiro Petit and C Hector Sanchez. (Andrew Baggarly)
Marlins: Non-tendered RHP Henderson Alvarez. Also non-tendered RHP Aaron Crow, the club announced.
Nationals: Non-tendered RHP Craig Stammen, the team announced.
Orioles: Non-tendered IF Paul Janish, RHP Steve Johnson and OF David Lough, the club announced.
Padres: Non-tendered 3B Will Middlebrooks, C Rocky Gale and LHP Frank Garces, the team announced.
Pirates: Non-tendered 1B Pedro Alvarez. Also non-tendered OF Jaff Decker, the club announced.
Rangers: Non-tendered RHP Nick Tepesch and OF James Jones, the team announced.
Reds: Non-tendered OF Ryan LaMarre, RHP Ryan Mattheus and RHP Pedro Villarreal, the team announced.
Rockies: Non-tendered OF Rosell Herrera, LHP Yohan Flande and LHP Jason Gurka, the team announced.
Royals: Non-tendered RHP Greg Holland. Also non-tendered IF Orlando Calixte, the club announced.
Tigers: Non-tendered RHP Neftali Feliz and RHP Al Alburquerque, the club announced.
White Sox: Non-tendered C Tyler Flowers and RHP Jacob Turner. (Chicago Tribune)
ROSTER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
Athletics: Acquired 1B Yonder Alonso and LHP Marc Rzepczynski from the Padres for LHP Drew Pomeranz, minor league LHP Jose Torres and a player to be named later, both teams announced ... OF Craig Gentry elected free agency after clearing waivers and being outrighted off the 40-man roster. (MLB.com)
Braves: Signed IF Gordon Beckham to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
Indians: Acquired OF Collin Cowgill from the Angels for cash considerations, the team announced. LHP Nick Hagadone was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Mariners: Signed OF Nori Aoki to a one-year contract with an option. Financial terms are unknown (Jon Heyman) ... Signed RHP Justin De Fratus to a one-year contract worth $750,000, plus incentives (Jon Heyman) ... Claimed 1B Andy Wilkins off waivers from the Orioles, the team announced. LHP Edgar Olmos was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Marlins: Claimed RHP Nefi Ogando off waivers from the Phillies, the team announced.
Orioles: Officially acquired 1B Mark Trumbo and LHP C.J. Riefenhauser from the Mariners for C Steve Clevenger, the team announced ... Acquired C Francisco Pena from the Royals for cash considerations, the club announced.
Phillies: Claimed OF Peter Bourjos off waivers from the Cardinals, the club announced.
Rangers: Acquired minor league UTIL Patrick Kivlehan from the Mariners as the player to be named later in last month's trade that sent OF Leonys Martin to Seattle, the club announced.
Rays: Acquired C Hank Conger from the Astros for cash. (Tampa Bay Times)
Red Sox: Designated RHP Roman Mendez for assignment, the team announced. The move clears a 40-man roster spot for the recently signed OF Chris Young.
Royals: Acquired C Tony Cruz from the Cardinals for minor league IF Jose Martinez, the team announced.
Twins: Claimed C John Hicks off waivers from the Mariners, the club announced.
AVOIDED ARBITRATION
Athletics: Agreed to terms with LHP Felix Doubront, 1B/OF Andrew Lambo, OF Sam Fuld and the just acquired LHP Marc Rzepczynski, the club announced ... Signed IF Eric Sogard to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. (Yahoo! Sports)
Blue Jays: Agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with 1B Justin Smoak, the team announced.
Cubs: Agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with LHP Clayton Richard (MLB.com) ... Signed LHP Rex Brothers to a one-year, $1.42 million deal. (Jon Heyman)
Dodgers: Signed C A.J. Ellis to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million. (Jon Heyman)
Indians: Signed the just acquired OF Collin Cowgill to a one-year, $1 million contract. (MLB.com)
Nationals: Signed C Jose Lobaton to a one-year, $1.38 million deal (Washington Post) ... Signed 1B/OF Tyler Moore to a one-year contract worth $900,000. (Jon Heyman)
Orioles: Signed RHP Vance Worley to a one-year, $2.6 million contract (Jon Heyman) ... Agreed to terms with OF Nolan Reimold, the club announced.
Padres: Agreed to terms with 1B Brett Wallace, the team announced.
Phillies: Agreed to one-year contracts with IF Andres Blanco and the just acquired OF Peter Bourjos, the team announced. Blanco received $1.45 million and Bourjos received $2 million. (Yahoo! Sports)
Rangers: Signed C Chris Gimenez to a one-year deal. He'll earn $975,000 at the major league level. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Rockies: Signed RHP Jordan Lyles to a one-year, $2.975 million contract. (Yahoo! Sports)
FRONT OFFICE & COACHING STAFF NEWS
Dodgers: Will name Mets bench coach Bob Geren their new bench coach (Fox Sports) ... Will hire former Diamondbacks hitting coach Turner Ward to be their new hitting coach (ESPN) ... Gabe Kapler, who was a finalist for the team's managerial job, will join the coaching staff in some capacity. (Fox Sports)
Padres: Officially named former Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire their new bench coach, the team announced.
RUMORS & NEWS
2B Jose Miguel Fernandez: Fernandez, a 27-year-old second baseman from Cuba, has defected and will seek a major league contract. He must first be cleared by MLB and the Office of Foreign Assets Control before he can sign, a process that may take months. (Baseball America)
RHP Zack Greinke: Likely to top the $31 million average annual value of LHP David Price's contract with the Red Sox. Greinke is expected to pick between the Dodgers and Giants. (Jon Heyman)
SS Jimmy Rollins: Drawing interest as a shortstop and also as a utility player. (ESPN)
RHP Jeff Samardzija: Samardzija is telling interested clubs he has a $100 million offer on the table.
RHP Joakim Soria: The Blue Jays and Royals are among the teams monitoring Soria. The Tigers and Red Sox are no longer pursuing the free agent right-hander, however. (ESPN & Boston Herald)
OF Will Venable: The Indians and Orioles have both expressed interest in Venable. (ESPN)
IF/OF Ben Zobrist: The Mets, Nationals, Dodgers and Giants are all in the mix for Zobrist. The Braves have shown some interest and the Angels were involved early, but not so much lately. (ESPN)
Astros: Recently discussed RHP Ken Giles with the Phillies. Philadelphia in turn mentioned RHP Lance McCullers Jr. and RHP Vincent Velasquez as a possible return (ESPN) ... Have been "engaged" with the Rays about RHP Brad Boxberger and LHP Jake McGee. (ESPN)
Braves: Listening to offers for RHP Julio Teheran. (ESPN)
Mets: Have some interest in free agent CF Dexter Fowler, however free agent IF/OF Ben Zobrist remains their No. 1 target. (ESPN)
Padres: 1B/OF Wil Myers said he feels "a lot stronger" following wrist surgery. (San Diego Union Tribune)
Rangers: Working to acquire a backup catcher. (MLB.com)
Twins: GM Terry Ryan said the team is planning to keep 3B Trevor Plouffe. He also confirmed they're "going to move" 3B Miguel Sano to the outfield. (Star Tribune)