Today marked the deadline for players to receive one-year qualifying offers at this year’s rate of $17.9MM. This year, a record-low seven players were issued qualifying offers.
In past years, no fewer than nine players have received qualifying offers. That’s how many were extended offers in the first (2012) and most recent (2017) seasons under the system. On the high side, twenty players received qualifying offers in 2015. But that was also the first year in which any players accepted the one-year offer, which may itself have had an impact on future teams deciding whether to issue it. At the end of the day, of course, the actual players and teams involved matter most, and that can vary quite a bit from year to year based on a wide variety of factors.
New rules went into effect last winter, so you’ll want to review those to understand how the process works. Those rules likely will continue to dampen the use of the QO on the margins, both through the reduction of draft compensation for issuing teams and by the prohibition on multiple QOs for the same player. Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that every free agent class is different — and that every team situation is as well.
Here are this year’s free agents who were extended a qualifying offer by their teams (in alphabetical order):
- Patrick Corbin, SP, Diamondbacks (announced)
- Yasmani Grandal, C, Dodgers (post)
- Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (link)
- Dallas Keuchel, SP, Astros (link)
- Craig Kimbrel, RP, Red Sox (link)
- A.J. Pollock, OF, Diamondbacks (announced)
- Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Dodgers (post)
Several players that were discussed as QO candidates ended up being bypassed — which, generally, is a good thing for their earning power in free agency. Charlie Morton (Astros; post) is the most surprising, with Michael Brantley (Indians; post) and DJ LeMahieu (Rockies; post) among the other conceivable candidates who won’t be weighing offers. Of course, several other prominent players are ineligible to receive a QO because they were traded mid-season (e.g., Manny Machado) or had previously received one (e.g., Nelson Cruz).
Ryu is the only one for sure who would accept. Ambivalent on Pollock. His profile kind of reminds me of Brantley….
Sounds reasonable.
Not for sure for sure, what if he is offered more years from another team?
I don’t think you can negotiate with other teams before accepting or rejecting the QO
It’s been done in the past but I’m not up to date on this years dates. I remember a player signing with the Mets before being offered a QO.
No way pollock accepts
Good call X.
Grandal might take it
He might, but I imagine Atlanta would at least make an offer to him for 2-3 years
That #9 pick from failing to sign Stewart last year would be protected. As would the mid-20s pick from this year, so they’d still have two top-30 picks and would only lose out on a 2nd rounder. Seems like a reasonable forfeiture to me.
Very little chance that happens, but anything is possible. This is Yasmani’s first (and maybe his last?) opportunity to score a big contract.
I agree,he is still young enough and there is enough possible takers at the Catching position this year even with a Draft Pick attached
@restingmitchface is 17.8m for 1x season not a big contract?
Should take it. It clears the way for next season. If he’s consistent, bingo. If he falters takes a pillow contract and tries again.
First world problems lol
No way. Lots of teams need catcher help and he’s the best on the market.
Best FA on the market. Realmuto is the best available.
If Pollock and Corbin both accepted the Dbacks might be forced to move Goldy.
Like someone who has had TJS would take a QO when he easily is going to get 100 million as a free agent
I didnt say he would. I said if. Learn to read. It’s a funny what if scenario.
I think theyd keep goldy if Corbin and pollock came back for another year. Why wouldn’t you go for it??? Also 0.0 chance Corbin accepts
More likely that they would have to try to just give away Greinke to a team with money to spend. A couple of one-year QO’s won’t prevent a Goldy extension
Corbin is not accepting, Yanks are giving him over $100 million
I very surprised the Astros didn’t go give the QO to Morton. It seemed like a good deal for both sides. If nothing else, it would make it would deter other teams from signing him. I wonder how his shoulder looks?
I was curious about an offer for Marwin. For sure, it would be an overpay, but for only one year if he accepted. He’s so valuable, I thought it might happen.
I wonder if the Astros are pinching pennies to go after Harper?
Agreed with everything you said until you mentioned the Astros going after Harper.
Why in the world would the dodgers give Grandal a QO? Of course he is going to take a 10 million dollar raise. Now we have to keep him for another year??? Omg.
There’s a plethora of bad takes in the comment section for this article. This is by far the worst one.
Fans opinions on catchers in particular are always way off. For whatever reason every team fans hates the their back up catcher, probably because everyone is very ignorant and just looks at Batting avg.
For some reason everyone thinks they’re 30 catchers who can bat .300 and still play great defence, when in reality maybe one possibly two guys do that every year.
I predict no one accepts the QO. There’s lots of money to spend this offseason.
Think the idea for the teams issuing these is that they decline so they can receive a pick? Like do they genuinely want these players back on that deal?
I highly doubt that they’d want to pay some of these guys almost 20 mil next season but they for sure would like to have them back. It used to be that everyone would get one if they had a somewhat respectable season until players started to accept these deals.
Probably not. It’s pretty much just for the draft pick in case they sign elsewhere
The Dodgers front office has not been keen to sign players to lengthy deals. So why would they give Harper 14 years? I don’t see that happening. I actually don’t see anyone giving him that many years. That would take him to age 40. That’s risky, even for someone as talented as Harper. I see Harper getting 10-12 years. As for Machado, I don’t see him getting 13 years either and I don’t think he would do well in Philadelphia with his lack of hustle. He would get torn to shreds bu the fans & media. I do think his recent antics will hurt his market some. Yes, he will get paid & get a big contract, but I think some teams will back off of their pursuit of him & I think those antics might cost him some years on the contract.
Even 10-12 is too many for Harper given his injury history. I wouldn’t go more than 8. He will break down guaranteed.
Kimbrel has been a pretty solid closer for the Sox since being acquired. However, his constant control issues in the post season this year are a huge concern. Possibly for what’s to come.
Anyone think Harper does the imaginable and take a one year for contender just to get the ring and then get paid? Longshot and I think he takes the longest contract available. But stranger things have happened.
So tell me which contender will win the world series next year? That would have to be the team.
I dont think anyone thinks that. He will have numerous contenders to choose multi year hundreds of millions of dollars contract from and get a ring or multiple rings from.
So why on earth would he choose a one year deal, turn down hundreds of guaranteed dollars, to get a ring he can try to get without a one year deal, and risk it all with potential injury,to just try to “get paid” next year, if he does not get hurt??
What if he does this stupid thing and does not get the ring and gets hurt?
Harper cares more about his hair than chasing a ring w/a 1 yr deal
17.9, and only one maybe two will accept, that is a lot of dough just to say no……..