NEW YORK (AP) — Two-way star Shohei Ohtani was among seven players who received $20,325,000 qualifying offers from their former teams Monday as the free agent market opened.
All seven players are likely to turn down the offers by the Nov. 14 deadline to accept in favor of multiyear contracts on the open market.
In addition to the Los Angeles Angels’ offer to Ohtani, the others to receive qualifying offers were outfielder Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), pitchers Josh Hader and Blake Snell (San Diego), Aaron Nola (Philadelphia), Sonny Gray (Minnesota) and third baseman Matt Chapman (Toronto).
By making a qualifying offer — the average of the top 125 contracts by average annual value — a team would receive an additional selection in next July’s amateur draft if a player signs elsewhere before then. A team signing the player could lose one or two draft picks.
In a sign of the relative weakness of the free agent class, half as many players received qualifying offers as last year. Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and 10 of 124 offers have been accepted.
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Ohtani heads a free agent class that also includes starting pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery, along with Nola, Snell, Gray and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is not attached to draft-pick compensation.
Among the 169 players who became free agents, Milwaukee’s Colin Rea was the only one to re-sign during the five-day period for exclusive negotiations with a former club. He agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract.
On the last day to resolve contract options, Atlanta exercised a $20 million option on right-hander Charlie Morton, who went 14-12 with a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts and turns 40 on Nov. 12. The Braves declined options on outfielder Eddie Rosario ($9 million) and right-handers Collin McHugh ($6 million) and Kirby Yates ($5.75 million). Rosario gets a $1 million buyout and Yates $1.25 million.
Mark Canha’s $11.5 million option for 2024 was exercised by Detroit, two days after the outfielder was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Blake Holub. Milwaukee could have paid a $2 million buyout and allowed Canha to become a free agent.
Right-hander Michael Wacha went free after San Diego declined to exercise $16.5 million options for 2024 and ’25 and the pitcher turned down player options at $6.5 million for 2024 and $6 million for each of the following two years.
Miami declined options on right-handers Johnny Cueto ($10.5 million) and Matt Barnes ($9 million). Cueto gets a $2.5 million buyout and Barnes $2.75 million.
Other players whose options were exercised were San Francisco right-hander Alex Cobb ($10 million), Mets left-hander Brooks Raley ($6.5 million) and Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen ($1 million).
Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, Giants outfielder Michael Conforto and right-hander Ross Stripling, Miami first baseman Josh Bell and Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly decided not to opt out.
Báez kept salaries of $25 million in each of the next two seasons and $24 million apiece in 2026 and ’27 after slumping to a .222 average, nine homers and 59 RBIs in his second season with Detroit.
Conforto retained an $18 million salary for next season after hitting .232 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs, and Bell kept a $16.5 million salary after batting .247 with 22 homers and 75 RBI for Cleveland and the Marlins, who acquired him on Aug. 1. Stripling kept a $12.5 million salary after going 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA in 11 starts and 11 relief appearances.
Smyly kept a $10.5 million salary. He went 11-11 with a 5.00 ERA in 41 appearances last season, including 23 starts.
Mets right-hander Adam Ottavino declined a $6.75 million player option. He was 1-7 with a 3.21 ERA in 66 relief appearances.
Arizona Diamondbacks (4): Lourdes Gurriel, Evan Longoria, Mark Melancon, Tommy Pham
Atlanta Braves (6): Jesse Chavez, Brad Hand, Collin McHugh, Kevin Pillar, Eddie Rosario, Kirby Yates
Baltimore Orioles (5): Jack Flaherty, Adam Frazier, Shintaro Fujinami, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Hicks
Boston Red Sox (6): Adam Duvall, Corey Kluber, Adalberto Mondesí, James Paxton, Joely Rodríguez. Justin Turner
Chicago Cubs (7): Cody Bellinger, Brad Boxberger, Jeimer Candelario, Tyler Duffey, Michael Fulmer, Shane Greene, Marcus Stroman
Chicago White Sox (7): Tim Anderson, Elvis Andrus, Mike Clevinger, Yasmani Grandal, Liam Hendriks, Bryan Shaw, José Ureña
Cincinnati Reds (4): Harrison Bader, Curt Casali, Buck Farmer, Joey Votto
Cleveland Guardians (3): Kole Calhoun, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López
Colorado Rockies (3): Chase Anderson, Chris Flexen, Brent Suter
Detroit Tigers (4): Matt Boyd, Miguel Cabrera, José Cisnero, Eduardo Rodríguez
Houston Astros (5): Michael Brantley, Martín Maldonado, Phil Maton, Héctor Neris, Ryne Stanek
Kansas City Royals (3): Matt M. Duffy, Zack Greinke, Brad Keller
Los Angeles Angels (7): C.J. Cron, Eduardo Escobar, Randal Grichuk, Aaron Loup, Mike Moustakas, Shohei Ohtani, Giovanny Urshela
Los Angeles Dodgers (16): Ryan Brasier, Kiké Hernández, Jason Heyward, Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, Jake Marisnick, J.D. Martinez, Shelby Miller, Jimmy Nelson, David Peralta, Alex Reyes, Amed Rosario, Julio Urías, Kolten Wong
Miami Marlins (6): Matt Barnes, Johnny Cueto, Yulieski Gurriel, David Robertson, Jorge Soler, Joey Wendle
Milwaukee Brewers (9): Víctor Caratini, Andrew Chafin, Josh Donaldson, Wade Miley, Colin Rea, Darin Ruf, Carlos Santana, Jesse Winker, Justin Wilson
Minnesota Twins (8): Joey Gallo, Sonny Gray, Dallas Keuchel, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle, Emilio Pagán, Donovan Solano, Michael A. Taylor
New York Mets (2): Carlos Carrasco, Adam Ottavino
New York Yankees (7): Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Zach McAllister, Keynan Middleton, Frankie Montas, Wandy Peralta, Luis Severino, Luke Weaver
Oakland A’s (3): Tony Kemp, Trevor May, Drew Rucinski
Philadelphia Phillies (4): Rhys Hoskins, Craig Kimbrel, Michael Lorenzen, Aaron Nola
Pittsburgh Pirates (3): Jarlín García, Andrew McCutchen, Vincent Velasquez
St. Louis Cardinals (1): Drew VerHagen
San Diego Padres (12): Ji-Man Choi, Garrett Cooper, Luis Am. García, Josh Hader, Rich Hill, Seth Lugo, Nick Martinez, Drew Pomeranz, Jurickson Profar, Gary Sánchez, Blake Snell, Michael Wacha
San Francisco Giants (8): Scott Alexander, John Brebbia, Brandon Crawford, Jake Junis, Sean Manaea, Joc Pederson, Roberto Pérez, Alex Wood
Seattle Mariners (3): Teoscar Hernández, Dominic Leone, Tom Murphy
Tampa Bay Rays (3): Chris Devenski, Jacob Diekman, Robert Stephenson
Texas Rangers (12): Aroldis Chapman, Mitch Garver, Robbie Grossman, Austin Hedges, Travis Jankowski, Ian Kennedy, Brad Miller, Jordan Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi, Martín Pérez, Will M. Smith, Chris Stratton
Toronto Blue Jays (7): Brandon Belt, Matt Chapman, Jordan Hicks, Jay Jackson, Kevin Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield, Hyun-Jin Ryu
Washington Nationals (1): C.J. Edwards
