Ever been scrolling through MLB chatter and stumbled on the phrase “tendered” and wondered, “Wait, what does tendered mean in MLB?” You’re not alone. This baseball slang isn’t just jargon; it’s a key term that sparks hot debates and hilarious memes online. Let’s unpack this term, where it comes from, how you can flex it in conversations, and the funniest moments it generates on the internet. ⚾️🔥
Origin: How “Tendered” Entered the Baseball Lexicon
The term “tendered” in MLB comes from the phrase “tender offer,” which sounds fancy but basically means a team is offering a contract to a player, usually one who’s eligible for arbitration. Arbitration sounds scarier than it is—it’s just a process where players and teams negotiate salaries if they haven’t agreed beforehand.
When a team “tenders” a contract to a player, they are officially saying, “Hey, we want to keep you around for next season at a set price.” If they don’t tender the contract, the player becomes a free agent and can sign elsewhere.
So, “being tendered” is kind of like getting an official RSVP to the team’s next season party. 🎉
How It’s Used: The Real Deal On Being Tendered
You’ll hear baseball analysts, fans, and Twitter scouts dropping “tendered” like it’s hot. It’s mostly used around the offseason, right after the regular season wraps up and teams decide who they want back.
Here are some typical ways you’ll see it pop up:
- “The Yankees tendered that young infielder, so expect him to bounce back next year.”
- “Looks like the Dodgers didn’t tender a contract to that reliever. He’s now a free agent.”
- “Players who are non-tendered are basically getting cut loose.”
It’s straightforward but packed with meaning—being tendered usually means a team values you enough not to risk losing you or paying the arbitration price.
MLB Tendered Etiquette: What You Should Know
If you’re jumping into baseball convos, here’s a quick cheat sheet to correctly flex the word “tendered.” 👇
- Do: Use it when talking about player contracts, especially in offseason news.
- Don’t: Use it to talk about general player moves—”tendered” has a specific contract connotation.
- Do: Remember, being tendered is usually good news for the player—it means job security (at least temporarily).
- Don’t: Confuse “tendered” with being traded or cut; those are different moves.
- Do play: With phrases like “non-tendered” or “tender offer” to sound like a savvy baseball fan.
Funny Ways “Tendered” Pops Up Online
The internet loves turning sports terms into memes, and “tendered” is no exception. The term looks so serious, but online, it’s been twisted into some hilarious takes that only real MLB stans appreciate.
Check out these fan DM-style chats and tweets where “tendered” steals the show:
Fan 1: “Yo, did you hear they tendered that guy again? He’s basically uncut glue for this team.” 😂
Fan 2: “Non-tendered my heart after that bullpen implosion.”
Or the classic Twitter moment:
@MLBfann: “When your team’s CFO sends out the tender offer vs what your player stats look like: 🥲 #MLBmoneymoves”
Memes showing dramatic reactions to tendered players or comparisons to dating—”I’m tendering my feelings but I’m non-tendered in your heart”—are gold mines for baseball Twitter culture.
And sometimes it’s so deadpan it’s pure comedy. Like the tweet, “Just got tendered. Now accepting offers from first basemen who can hit. 🥲”
Wrapping It Up: Why You Should Care About “Tendered” In MLB
Knowing what “tendered” means in MLB isn’t just for the hardcore fans or fantasy baseball champs. It’s a handy term that pops up every offseason when teams decide who stays and who goes. Using it correctly will have you sounding like a pro during baseball banter or when skimming through sports news.
So next time you see “tendered” in a headline or tweet, you’ll know—it’s not just contract talk. It’s part of the emotional rollercoaster that makes MLB offseason drama so addictive. And hey, peppering your convos with it might just get you some side-eye and respect from fellow baseball nerds. 😉
Remember: When you get “tendered,” consider it the team’s way of saying, “We want you on the squad.” And when folks aren’t tendered? That’s where the Twitter lol-fests begin. Enjoy the ride!
