The World Series for 2024 has wrapped up, and now the baseball offseason kicks into gear.
Over a hundred players have become free agents, and teams are busy deciding on contract options and qualifying offers. The qualifying offer (QO) allows teams to get a draft pick if they lose a player to another team. This year, the QO is worth $21.05 million, which is the highest ever.
Teams have five days after the World Series ends to give their free agents a QO. Players then have until November 19 at 4 p.m. ET to accept or reject it. If they accept, they stay with their current team; if not, they enter free agency with draft-pick compensation attached.
Compensation Rules:
In the past, losing an eligible free agent meant getting a draft pick after the first round—simple times! Now it’s more complex:
– Teams that got revenue sharing and lost a player with less than $50 million in contracts receive a pick before the third round.
– If that player’s contract was $50 million or more, they get a pick after the first round.
– Teams paying competitive balance tax (CBT) get picks after the fourth round.
– All other teams get picks before the third round.
The Athletics, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mariners, Marlins, Orioles Pirates—and others—received revenue sharing this season. Meanwhile, Astros and Yankees will pay CBT.
Fans might wonder why these rules are so complicated!
Not Eligible for QO:
Players must stay with one team all season and not have received a previous QO to be eligible this offseason. Some notable players who aren’t eligible include Jack Flaherty and Yusei Kikuchi because they changed teams during 2024.
Locks to Receive QO:
Nine players are almost certain to receive—and decline—the QO: Willy Adames (Brewers), Pete Alonso (Mets), Alex Bregman (Astros), Corbin Burnes (Orioles), Max Fried (Braves), Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers), Sean Manaea (Mets), Anthony Santander (Orioles), Juan Soto (Yankees).
These guys will likely turn down their offers since bigger paydays await them in free agency.
Likely Candidates for QO:
Jurickson Profar had an amazing comeback year with the Padres and could see himself as a strong candidate for receiving a QO this time around. Tyler O’Neill’s trade success story makes him another likely recipient of such an offer from Boston Red Sox.
Christian Walker has been exceptional at first base for D-backs but might decline due to age factors affecting future contracts significantly!
On The Bubble:
Nick Pivetta from Red Sox alongside Luis Severino of Mets plus Michael Wacha representing Royals fall under “bubble” category where decisions remain uncertain yet intriguing given potential multi-year deals awaiting them elsewhere should they refuse initial proposals made by respective clubs involved here today…
Gleyber Torres stands out among Yankees’ lineup having finished strong despite earlier struggles throughout regular season campaign itself thus becoming viable option worth considering further down line perhaps?
What do you think? Should your favorite player take or leave their offer?
