The deadline to accept qualifying offers has passed. Four players – Trent Grisham, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruffand Shota Imaga — Opted to accept a one-year, $22.02MM contract and stay with his current club. The remaining nine players rejected the deal. They are: Cubs outfielders Kyle Tuckerphillies Kyle Schwarberblue jays infielder Beau Bichetteastros lefty Framber Valdezclergy right Dylan Sethphillies lefty rangers suarezMetropolis is closer Edwin Diazrattlesnake right wing Zach Gallenand the clerical right Michael King. All nine are now free agents.
None of the nine players who declined were surprised. Tucker, Schwarber, Bichette, Valdez, Seth, Suarez and Diaz are all locks. Gallen may have briefly considered taking it after a poor showing in 2025, but he’s coming off a strong season and has a track record as a high-end starter with multiple top-five finishes in NL Cy Young voting. King was hobbled by nerve and knee injuries in a strange season but was dominant in 2023-24 and the first two months of this season. He returned to health later in the year and struck out three runs in the only inning of the postseason. He will also test the waters for a multi-year contract.
Now that Nonette has declined a qualifying offer, they will both be subject to draft compensation. Interested teams would need to give up a draft pick (or multiple picks) and, in some cases, space from the international amateur player’s bonus pool to sign anyone in the group. The extent of draft compensation depends on the new team’s revenue sharing and luxury tax status. MLBTR broke down what draft picks each club would give up last month to sign an “eligible” free agent.
Likewise, each player’s former club’s compensation depends on revenue sharing and luxury tax status, as well as the size of the contract signed by the player in question. MLBTR also details the compensation each team would receive if an eligible free agent rejects an offer and signs elsewhere.
There will be more to come.
