With this year’s trade deadline having passed, we have a better idea of which pending free agents could receive qualifying offers in the offseason. Yasiel Puig and Nicholas Castellanos were both dealt, so we know they’ll reach free agency unfettered once the season ends. But there are several other position players who are on track to have the QO weighing them down once they reach the open market in a few months. The offer was valued at $17.9MM last offseason, so teams will be judicious when doling it out. Here’s where things stand…
Catchers
- None. The Brewers’ Yasmani Grandal is the most appealing catcher who’s heading for free agency, but because the Dodgers slapped him with a QO last winter, he’s not eligible to get one again.
First Basemen
- None. It’s not a great class for first basemen. As explained on Thursday, the White Sox’s Jose Abreu hasn’t performed well enough this year to put himself in QO consideration.
Second Basemen
- None. Longtime third baseman and newly minted second basemen Mike Moustakas, yet another Brewer, would be a possible candidate had the Royals not given him a QO a couple offseasons ago.
Shortstops
- Elvis Andrus, Rangers: This is a borderline-at-best case, and it depends in part on whether Andrus decides to opt out of the remaining three years and $43MM left on his contract once the season ends. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Andrus hasn’t been much of an offensive threat dating back to last season, having hit .269/.313/.388 (80 wRC+) with 14 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 852 plate appearances. He could stick with his current deal as a result.
- Didi Gregorius, Yankees: Although Gregorius has missed a large chunk of this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall, he’s a strong bet to collect a QO from the Yankees. The 29-year-old has been among the majors’ most productive shortstops in recent campaigns, though this season’s .271/.305/.465 line (98 wRC+) with seven HRs in 164 PA represents a notable step down compared to the career-best numbers Gregorius managed in 2018.
Third Basemen
- Anthony Rendon, Nationals: This will be a no-brainer for the Nationals, as Rendon’s the premier position player without a contract for 2020. A consistently excellent producer since he broke out in 2014, the 29-year-old Rendon’s amid his top season at the perfect time. He has slashed .317/.404/.609 (155 wRC+) with 23 home runs and 4.4 fWAR in 411 trips to the plate.
- Josh Donaldson, Braves: Because the Blue Jays traded him last summer, Donaldson was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer when he entered free agency at the conclusion of the season. He then signed a one-year, $23MM deal with the Braves, and has since raked to the tune of .256/.367/.520 (128 wRC+) with 25 HRs and 3.0 fWAR over 447 PA. Age isn’t on the side of Donaldson, who will turn 34 in December, but the Braves are sure to stick the former AL MVP with a QO.
Outfielders
- J.D. Martinez, Red Sox: As with Andrus, whether Martinez gets a QO will depend on if he opts out of what’s left of his contract. Martinez has three years and $62.5MM remaining, and walking away from that would be quite risky for a defensively challenged soon-to-be 32-year-old. But Martinez is enjoying his sixth straight high-end season at the plate, where he has teed off on pitchers for a .297/.369/.544 line (132 wRC+) and smashed 24 dingers through 451 PA. Martinez is still far from certain to opt out, but if he does, Boston will qualify him.
- Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals: Ozuna, who will turn 29 in November, hasn’t played in over a month because of finger injuries. Before that, the ex-Marlin was on track for his fourth straight above-average season. Ozuna has hit .259/.331/.515 (118 wRC+) with 20 homers and a personal-high .256 ISO in 326 tries. He may not be a slam dunk to earn a QO, but it’s more likely than not.
There’s a part of me that thinks if the Redbirds give Ozuna a QO, he may very well get the Kimbrel/Keuchel treatment which I would kinda get if it went down that way…
Someone will sign Ozuna for 2 or 3 years for alot of lower AAV then the QO.
I would tell Ozuna, “don’t let the door hit you in the azz on the way out.”
Calhoun is third on Angels in rWAR. 110 OPS plus, left-handed hitter. Hitting only .234 and wasn’t great last year but could easily get one if he finishes year strong.
why doesn’t abreu deserve a QA? his numbers look solid enough for one.
sub .300 OBP. he’s not a good first baseman. his power has trended downward the last few years. basically why should the White Sox extend a qualifying offer when they have Zach Collins, Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, in the minors, along with cheaper 1B options on the free agent market?
But I thought he was a leader in the club house?
They’d be open to bringing him back, just not for 17-18 million a year that the QO costs.
No, the leader is Jon Jay. He’ll command 5/$100M.
Uh, no.
Yep, Jose beat Philly last night with his early HR and game-winning hit in the 15th.
He will be extended 2-3 years.
I would only go 2 with him. 3 is pushing it.
I would bet Elvis and JD will not opt out. They seem happy where they are and they are making very good money. Could they maybe make more, possibly, but I don’t think they’d make much more.
Rendon would definitely turn down a QO and no one will worry about losing a draft pick to sign him. (Angels ?)
Donaldson would most likely turn down a QO and have no problem getting a contract for the next 3 or 4 years. He would be competing with Rendon in the 3B market, but I think he would find someone to pay the $ and lose a draft pick. (Phillies ?)
Ozuna would probably accept the QO. If he went to free agency, he would have a hard time getting interest with the QO.
If the Yankees offered Didi a QO I think he would accept. He’s coming off a season that was marred by injury. He might accept it and get the QO removed for next year. If he turned it down he’d have to sell himself as healthy and find a team that would invest $ at short. Most of the big money teams are set at short. I think Didi will probably get a multi year offer from the Yankees and no need for a QO.
You think someone has 3/60-4/100 in them for Donaldson? 33 years old isn’t exactly prime anymore.
I’d think a 2/40 offer from the Braves would be forthcoming, otherwise the QO (1/18).
The guy has very solid numbers for a 33 year old. 3 year offer from a team that has some solid hitters in the lineup around him. He would do great getting stupid money in Philly.
I don’t think the Braves are really interested in him. They have Riley ready for 3B.
He’s also extremely injury prone. I am surprised he stayed healthy this year so far. I could see a team going 2/35 but 3 years would be incredibly stupid.
I think what we’ve seen is anyone with any ? marks or red flags whatsoever on their resume should take a real long look at accepting that QO. The list of guys who have gotten burned overplaying their hand after a QO recently is a lot longer than the guys who got paid.
Honestly Cole and Rendon are the only two guys in next years class that I am 100% confident the QO compensation won’t severely depress their market value.
He’s not extremely injury prone. That’s a stupid narrative by people who think one major injury speaks for an entire career.
Expect the Mets to make a move for Didi in the off-season
Elvis would be a fool to leave the building…..
Grandal is exactly what I thought he was, a streaky hitter. Good in April & parts of July/August. And a K machine the rest of the season. Great job on the Dodgers part on recognizing that!
He’s what pretty much everyone thought he was… solid defensively and a .863 OPS. One of the best in the game.
we’ve just entered August and September is coming up. expect that ops to drop 50-100 points
Grandal ops in sept in his career .759. Pretty sure most catchers ops dips the last 1/3 of season given the wear and tear from the position. But continue on with the ridiculous narrative he isn’t good.
so my expectation of his ops dropping 50-100 points is correct according to you. and a little research would also show that his only good months are April & July. Thanks for clarifying!
White Sox have to either extend or QO Abreu. Otherwise what was the point of not trading him?
I think the White Sox will extend Abreu. Maybe a 2 year deal at 10 mil a year. His production has really dropped off.
And what is it with the White Sox hitters and walking? The team leader in walks has 31.
Poor plate discipline because they are swinging for the fences all the time. Agressive style of hitting that works for some, but not most players. This from a Sox fan.
Hope the Yankees lock up Didi with an extension before he reaches free agency. Maybe a 5 year – 80MM deal. Probably be a little higher