Major League Baseball’s non-tender deadline is tomorrow meaning that whichever arbitration-eligible players don’t receive a contract will officially become free agents.

The Texas Rangers have five arbitration-eligible players this offseason.

1B Nathaniel Lowe (projected over $10 million)
C Jonah Heim (projected $4 million)
CF Leody Taveras (projected $4 million)
RHP Dane Dunning (projected $4 million)
RHP Josh Sborz (projected $1 million)

Of those five players, Dane Dunning seems to be the most on the hot seat after a down year in 2024.

Dunning was named the Rangers pitcher of the year in 2023 after posting a 3.70 ERA in 172.2 IP throughout the rotation and bullpen.

However, 2024 was not anywhere near the same for Dunning who struggled in both the rotation and the bullpen finishing with a 5.31 ERA while pitching just 95 innings.

In September Dunning was sent down for the first time as a Ranger after a long stint of slowed velocity and less effective stuff.

Flash forward to this offseason and Dunning is projected to make around $4 million next season with a role on the team that would be quite unclear.

Normally, $4 million is nothing in Major League Baseball but when you’re trying to fit below the luxury tax, every little bit counts.

Rangers ownership reportedly would like to get the team below the $241 million luxury tax to avoid paying the 50% tax for being above the threshold in three consecutive seasons.

In this offseason’s dynamic $4 million could be the difference between Texas resigning Nathan Eovaldi or Kirby Yates or potentially having the extra cash to add a much-needed bat.

Dunning’s 2024 struggles combined with his potential to open up some finances fuel the case for him to be non-tendered.

Non-tendering Dunning wouldn’t create any holes in the Rangers starting rotation which has plenty of options.

However, there is certainly a case to keep Dunning around for another season.

Getting rid of Dunning would give the Rangers one less bullpen arm which is an area that Texas desperately needs to fulfill this offseason.

Not only that but it would force Texas to rely more on inexperienced starters such as Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter to fill in the rotation if needed.

We all know that Chris Young loves pitching depth and Dunning could be the definition of that once again in 2025.

No matter what the Rangers decide to do with Dane Dunning it will have to be done by 5:00 PM CST today.