The MLB offseason’s getting interesting with thirteen players receiving the $22.025 million qualifying offer. Some of baseball’s brightest stars are on this list, and now they’ve got until November 18 to decide: take the one-year deal or jump into free agency.
The qualifying offer system, which has been around in recent collective bargaining agreements, really shakes things up for both players and clubs. It affects free agency, draft picks, and how teams plan their budgets for 2025.
MLB’s High-Profile Qualifying Offer Recipients
Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies headline this year’s group. Both have put up big numbers for their teams, so it’s easy to imagine them drawing multi-year offers from other clubs.
The Complete List of 2024 Qualifying Offer Players
Besides Tucker and Schwarber, here are the other eleven players with qualifying offers:
Understanding the Qualifying Offer System
MLB calculates the qualifying offer by averaging the top 125 player salaries, which lands at $22.025 million for 2024. If a player accepts, they sign a one-year contract for that amount. If they turn it down, they can test free agency, but their old team gets draft-pick compensation.
The Impact on Teams and Draft Picks
When a qualifying offer player signs elsewhere, the new team pays a penalty. The penalty depends on payroll and whether the team gets revenue-sharing money.
Here’s how the system breaks down:
Potential Gains for Original Teams
The qualifying offer can benefit the team losing the player, too. For example, Chicago and Houston would get a compensation pick after the competitive balance round B if they lose a tagged player. Revenue-sharing teams like Milwaukee, Detroit, and Arizona would get a pick after the first round, which could really boost their prospect pools.
Strategic Considerations for Players
Players have a tough call to make—accepting means elite pay for one year, but no long-term security. Rejecting the offer opens up the chance at a multi-year deal, though draft-pick compensation can scare off some teams. It’s a tricky spot, especially for guys right at their peak, where the risk might be worth it for a bigger payday down the road.
Looking Ahead to November 18
The deadline’s creeping up, and front offices everywhere are keeping a close eye on each player’s next move. For the big names, demand’s guaranteed, but draft-pick penalties might scare off a few teams.
The qualifying offer system feels like a weird mix of safety net and high-stakes chess. Timing, player value, and the ever-shifting market—those’ll shape every decision.
This window usually kicks off all kinds of wild winter moves in MLB. This year’s group has All-Stars, top pitchers, and some serious power bats.
Fans can probably count on plenty of action in both free agency and the trade market, maybe even before spring training gets rolling.
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Here is the source article for this story: Sources: OF Tucker among 13 to get $22M offer
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