Major League Baseball teams submitted qualifying offers to 13 free agents on Thursday, highlighted by Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, giving players until Nov. 18 to accept or reject their one-year, $22.025 million one-year proposals.
The other players extended qualifying offers were:
- Shortstop Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
- Starter Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres
- Closer Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
- Starter Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Outfielder Trent Grisham, New York Yankees
- Starter Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs
- Starter Michael King, Padres
- Starter Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies
- DH Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
- Infielder Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
- Starter Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
- Starter Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers
Just 14 of the 144 players who have been extended qualifying offers have accepted, including pitcher Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds a year ago.
While most of the players will automatically reject the qualifying offer, those with intriguing decisions will be Grisham, Woodruff and King. Grisham earned just $5 million last year with the Yankees.
Woodruff rejected a $20 million club option in 2026 but received a $10 million buyout, so he could earn a total of $32 million by accepting the qualifying offer and staying in Milwaukee. And after the Cubs rejected the three-year, $57 million club option for Imanaga, he turned down a $15.5 million player option, but could accept the qualifying offer and delay his free agency by one year.
Teams who lose free agent players with qualifying offers could receive draft compensation after the first round if their players receives a free agent contract of at least $50,000 by a team who isn’t receiving revenue-sharing money.
Tucker is expected to easily be the highest-paid free agent in the class, receiving a deal of at least $350 million if not $400 million.
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