The deadline for Major League Baseball players to accept or reject the qualifying offer passed with more of a whimper than a bang Tuesday afternoon. only one accepted: Cincinnati Reds Right-handed Nick Martínez. Martinez, in turn, is the 14th player to take over the QO since its inception in 2012.
The QO's compensation is based on the average of the league's top 125 salaries. Players who decline the offer remain free agents, albeit now with draft pick compensation tied to their services.
Before we explain this component, here is a list of the 12 people who declined their respective teams' offers:
- Juan SotoFROM, New York Yankees
- Corbin BurnesRHP, Baltimore Orioles
- Alex Bregman3B, Houston Astros
- Willy AdamesSS, Milwaukee Brewers
- Max FriedLHP, Atlanta Braves
- Pete Alonso1B, New York Mets
- Anthony SantanderOF, Baltimore Orioles
- Teoscar Hernández, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Christian Walker1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Nick PivettaRHP, Boston Red Sox
- Sean ManaeaLHP, New York Mets
- Luis SeverinoRHP, New York Mets
As for draft pick compensation, it is based on the revenue sharing status of both the contracting team and the former team. Here you will find the relevant information in two practical overview tables.
|
Revenue share received |
Less than $50 million |
Selection after competition balance round B (before third round) |
|
Revenue share received |
$50 million or more |
Choose after the first round |
|
Compensation tax paid |
N/A |
Choose after the fourth round |
|
All other teams |
N/A |
Selection after competition balance round B (before third round) |
And the other:
|
CBT paid |
Second and fifth highest |
1 million dollars |
|
Revenue share received |
Third highest |
none |
|
All other teams |
Second highest |
$500,000 |
The QO can only be granted to a player once in his career. It also cannot be awarded to players who changed teams in the middle of the season. That meant something like Blake Snell, Nathan EovaldiAnd Jack Flaherty were not entitled to receive it.