13 Players Receive Qualifying Offers: A Breakdown
Thirteen players have received a qualifying offer this year, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The list includes:
- Kyle Tucker (Cubs)
- Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
- Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)
- Framber Valdez (Astros)
- Dylan Cease (Padres)
- Ranger Suarez (Phillies)
- Edwin Diaz (Mets)
- Zac Gallen (D-backs)
- Shota Imanaga (Cubs)
- Michael King (Padres)
- Trent Grisham (Yankees)
- Gleyber Torres (Tigers)
- Brandon Woodruff (Brewers)
The qualifying offer (QO) is valued at $22.025MM this year. Players have until November 18 to decide whether to accept the one-year offer or decline and become free agents. If a player accepts, they'll be treated as a free agent signing and ineligible to be traded without consent until June 15 next year. If they decline, any team signing them will face draft and/or international bonus forfeitures.
The list was generally expected, with most recipients pegged as likely to receive the QO on MLBTR's annual lists. However, Torres and Imanaga were viewed as long shots. Torres struggled in a poor finish, possibly due to injury, and wasn't hit with a QO last offseason. Imanaga declined a three-year, $57MM option and a $15MM player option, opting out of a remaining two years and $30MM. The Cubs are banking on him turning down a one-year deal at just over $22MM.
The QO is determined by the average of the 125 highest-paid players. Penalties for signing a qualified free agent and compensation for losing one have been covered.
Notable free agents not receiving a QO include Lucas Giolito, Robert Suarez, Devin Williams, and Jorge Polanco. Giolito might have received one had he not ended his season due to a late elbow issue. Suarez, 35, opted out of a remaining contract, and the Padres reduced payroll. Williams struggled early in the season, and Polanco, 32, was limited to DH work due to injuries.
Players like Tucker, Bichette, Schwarber, Valdez, Cease, Suarez, and Diaz are likely to see larger salaries on multi-year deals. Even Grisham, who probably won't land a $22MM annual value, is likely to reject the QO. Major league free agents typically prioritize long-term earning over short-term, higher-AAV pacts.
Declining the QO carries risk. Teams are reluctant to sign players who'll cost them valuable draft picks and/or international bonus pool reductions. Some free agents' markets are weighed down by the burden of draft pick compensation, typically affecting the 'lower end' of QO recipients. For top stars, draft/international forfeitures are considered the cost of doing business.
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