The Rangers extended a qualifying offer to Josh Hamilton, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports. The free agent outfielder now has one week to accept or decline the offer. Mike Napoli did not get a qualifying offer from Texas.
If Hamilton accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. Assuming he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. Napoli won't be linked to draft pick compensation, which should help his free agent stock. Hamilton ranks second on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents while Napoli ranks 14th.
