NEW YORK — Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan — both former All-Stars — and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents Friday when their teams failed to offer them 2025 contracts.
Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielder Mike Tauchman also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration.
Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions.
More than 20 players agreed to contracts ahead of the deadline, including San Francisco outfielder Mike Yastrzemski ($9.25 million), Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol ($5.4 million) and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham ($5 million).
Hays, 29, was an All-Star in 2023, when he hit .275 with 16 homers and 67 RBI for Baltimore. He was traded to the Phillies last July 26 and batted .256 with two homers and six RBI in 22 games while dealing with a kidney infection.
The 33-year-old Finnegan was an All-Star this year for Washington and finished with 38 saves.
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. The flurry of cuts and contracts left 167 players eligible to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with their teams on Jan. 9.
Among players reaching one-year deals were Dodgers right-hander Dustin May ($2,135,000), Chicago Cubs catcher Matt Thaiss ($1 million in majors, $400,000 in minors), Colorado left-hander Lucas Gilbreath ($785,000) and Washington right-hander Mason Thompson ($770,000 in majors, $374,600 in minors).
San Diego infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract that includes an $850,000 salary this year and a $1 million team option for 2026 with a $50,000 buyout. Wade can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses each year for plate appearances: $25,000 each for 100 and 150, and $50,000 apiece for 200 and 250.
In addition, the Mets agreed to minor league contracts with first baseman Joey Meneses and catcher Jakson Reetz.