6 non-tender candidates Dodgers could pick up and turn into impact players

The non-tender deadline typically is about adding some chum to the bottom of the free-agent pool, but every year, a few intriguing players unexpectedly hit the market. Some are the victims of roster crunches. Others are casualties of payroll constraints. And still others are players where the production and the potential never aligned. The Los Angeles Dodgers are masters of maximizing some of these types of players.

With this injection of options on the market, expect Los Angeles to be scouring for its next rehabilitation project. The Dodgers, of course, will do most of their shopping at the top of the market, but they'll also take a look at a handful of these recent non-tenders to fill roles big and small. If they choose wisely, they'll find players whom they can mold into impact players, both as everyday options or intriguing depth pieces.

Six recent non-tender casualties that the Dodgers could turn into impact players in specific roles

Outfielder JJ Bleday

Last winter, the Dodgers paid a hefty one-year sum to Michael Conforto with eyes on plugging a powerful left-handed bat in left field. Unfortunately, the move turned out to be a waste of time for everyone.

While a reunion with Cody Bellinger or a big splash for Kyle Tucker would be the preferred ways to scratch the lefty outfield bat itch, JJ Bleday could be the cost-effective upside play. Bleday was the fourth-overall pick back in 2019, and seemed to be on the verge of breaking out after a solid 2024 campaign that saw him slash .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers while posting 3.2 fWAR. Unfortunately, his 2025 follow-up left a lot to be desired, and he got caught up in the Athletic's outfield crunch.

The 28-year-old has shown a consistent ability to draw walks, sporting an 11.5% walk rate for his career, and has the potential to be a big power threat. The Dodgers could potentially mold him into what they were hoping to get out of Conforto in 2025.

Outfielder Adolis Garcia

The most recognizable name to get cut loose, Adolis Garcia's inclusion here once would have been unfathomable. During the Texas Rangers' 2023 World Series-winning campaign, Garcia ascended to become a true force, clobbering 39 homers and posting 4.7 fWAR on the year.

Since then, Garcia has endured two nightmare seasons. A .684 OPS in 2024 gave way to a .665 mark in 2025, as his walks evaporated, tumbling from a 10.3% mark in 2023 to a 5.1% clip in 2025. Garcia still hits the ball hard, with his 2025 average exit velocity of 92.1 miles per hour coming in the 89th percentile, but the loft and consistency of contact haven't been there. Perhaps those could be unlocked with some swing tweaks and new voices in his ear, though.

Maybe most important is Garcia's resume as a playoff performer. He's only been a part of one playoff run, but it was a magical one. In the 2023 postseason, he slashed .323/.382/.726 with eight dingers, earning ALCS MVP honors, which will certainly pique the Dodgers' interest. Rumor has it the Dodgers don't want to overburden themselves with a decade-long Kyle Tucker deal. Bringing in Garcia and finding a way to maximize his production feels more reasonable (and familiar).

Reliever Gregory Santos

The Dodgers' bullpen needs an overhaul, and while they're focused on big names for the back end, 26-year-old Gregory Santos might be the perfect upside play for a role lower in the pecking order.

Santos is well-traveled, having spent time with the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago White Sox, and the Seattle Mariners in his young career. Despite the many stops, he's only gotten an extended big league run once, coming in 2023.

That 2023 season, however, showed what he is capable of if his potential is maxed out. Armed with a 98 mile per hour sinker, Santos keeps the ball in the yard and runs off the board with a 0.27 HR/9 and 3.39 ERA in 66.1 innings in 2023 with the White Sox. The real star of the show is his wipeout slider, however, which generated a 37.5% whiff rate. The run value on his slider, 13.7, was the fourth-highest in the bigs, trailing Tanner Scott, who led the league at 15.7. He also placed two spots ahead of the recently non-tendered Evan Phillips. Santos would be a dart throw, but the tools are there to turn him into a monster.

Catcher Jonah Heim

Obviously, the starting catcher role is locked down by Will Smith for the better part of the next decade, but that has put former top prospect Dalton Rushing at a crossroads. The Dodgers could look to trade the talented youngster after a .582 OPS showing in his first taste of big league action.

If that were to happen, they'd need a new backup after parting ways with Ben Rortvedt. Jonah Heim could be the best possible choice. Heim has struggled the past two seasons, but in 2023, he put up a 4.0 fWAR season on the strength of a .755 OPS paired with 95th percentile pitch framing and a stranglehold over the running game.

It would take some rejuvenation, but as we saw in 2025, Smith might miss time, and having a starting-caliber backup could be a huge win. Swapping Rushing for other assets might balance the club better for the long term, and Heim could be the guy to then fill the void.

Utility man Ramon Urías

The bench in Los Angeles might be looking at an overhaul with both Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas hitting free agency. While it's entirely possible that the Dodgers reunite with one or both of those veterans in their twilight years, there's also a chance that they look for new blood.

That's where Ramon Urías could come in. The Houston Astros cut ties with Urías for two reasons. One, he was coming off a down year in 2025, but more importantly, they don't have the budget to justify paying a utility man roughly $5 million with greater needs on their hands.

Urías can't cover short anymore, and he has no experience in the outfield, but he can play second, third, and first, and do so with an above-average bat. For his career, he owns a 104 wRC+ and posted a 114 mark with 11 homers in 301 plate appearances in 2024. Paired with Hyeseong Kim and or Alex Freeland, he could help regenerate a bench unit that has been very important for the Dodgers in recent years.

Infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel

Christopher Morel would be the lottery-ticket type of acquisition that could easily be discarded, but has the chance to pay huge dividends. In 2023, he looked like a budding star, clubbing 26 homers in just 107 games while slashing .247/.313/.508. That power potential is still there, but contact has become a problem for Morel, with a .196 batting average in 2024 and a ghastly 35.7% strikeout rate in 2025.

Still only 26 years old, Morel could be a prime buy-low candidate if the Dodgers believe they can fix the holes in his swing. The other issue with him is that his faulty glove has made it tough to find a place for him to play, bouncing around the infield and the outfield corners in his career so far.

The upside here is a right-handed four-corners masher who could morph into a potential star, but the downside is watching him flail at the plate and cutting him loose before the summer even begins. Boom-or-bust is the perfect description for him at this point in his young career.