Major League Baseball's deadline for teams to offer qualifying contracts has passed, with 13 players being tagged with a one-year agreement worth $21.05 million. This amount reflects the average salary of the league's top 125 players. The players, including notable names like Max Fried and Teoscar Hernández, now have until November 19 to decide whether to accept or reject the offer, with only a few accepting these deals historically.

By the Numbers
  • 13 players received the qualifying offer this year.
  • Only 13 of 131 players have accepted a qualifying offer since the system was introduced in 2012.
Yes, But

The trend shows that most players tend to decline the qualifying offer, preferring to explore free agency, despite the attached draft-pick compensation for teams that sign these players.

State of Play
  • Players now face a decision on whether to accept or reject the $21.05 million offer.
  • Rejected players enter free agency with draft-pick compensation for new teams.
What's Next

Expect significant movement in free agency after November 19, as teams and players navigate the implications of rejecting the qualifying offers.

Bottom Line

This year's qualifying offers emphasize the broader trend of players valuing long-term contracts over short-term, guaranteed money, highlighting the complexities of free agency decisions in baseball.