Yankees Closer and Cubs Outfielder Lead Group of Eight Players Targeted by $23.15 Million Qualifying Offers
Eight major league free agents, including David Bednar and Seiya Suzuki, must decide by mid-November whether to accept the one-year deal or risk their former teams gaining draft compensation.
By Megan Parker ·
David Bednar, Seiya Suzuki, and Randy Arozarena found themselves at the center of a high-stakes negotiation on Monday as they joined seven other players in receiving $23.15 million qualifying offers from their former teams. The offers force the athletes to choose between a guaranteed one-year salary and entering the free agent market where their previous clubs could gain extra draft picks if the player signs elsewhere.
The eight players targeted for the offers include Milwaukee first baseman Jake Bauers, Baltimore left-hander Trevor Rogers, Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe, and San Diego left-hander Adrian Morejon. According to the rules, a player must have been with one team continuously since opening day and never have received a qualifying offer before to be eligible for the proposal.
Free agents have until November 17 to accept the offer. If a player accepts, they play for that team in 2027. If a player rejects the offer and signs a major league contract with another club before the next amateur draft, the original team receives compensation in the form of draft picks. The specific placement of those picks depends on the size of the new contract and the financial status of the team losing the player.
Historically, players rarely accept these offers. Since the system began after the 2012 season, only 18 of 157 previous offers have been accepted. The $23.15 million figure is calculated based on the average of the top 125 major league contracts from the current year.
Not every eligible player received the offer. Philadelphia third baseman Alex Bohm was notably excluded from the group of eight. Meanwhile, 28 additional players became free agents on Monday, bringing the total number of available free agents to 183. Negotiations between players and teams officially began at 5 p.m. Eastern time.
The timing of these moves coincides with an impending labor dispute. Major League Baseball is expected to impose a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1. This deadline is likely to accelerate signing activity in the weeks leading up to the stoppage.
Other contract decisions shaped the landscape of the free agent pool. Baltimore declined a $7.5 million option on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and a $3.5 million option on left-hander Dietrich Enns. Corbin Burnes and José Berríos both chose not to opt out of their respective long-term deals with Arizona and Toronto, while Luis Severino exercised a $22 million player option for 2027.
Several teams also made moves regarding arbitration-eligible players. Milwaukee exercised a $14.5 million option on catcher William Contreras, while Tampa Bay exercised a $3.1 million option on shortstop Taylor Walls and Houston exercised a $13.35 million option on Isaac Paredes. These decisions finalize their 2027 salaries and remove them from the arbitration process.
Source: Stamford Advocate
