MLB Players Receive Record $23.15 Million Qualifying Offers

Eight Major League Baseball players received a record $23.15 million qualifying offer on Monday, including Yankees closer David Bednar and Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena. Players have until November 17 to accept or reject the one-year contracts, a deadline arriving shortly before an expected management lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires December 1.

Eight Players Receiving Qualifying Offers

The qualifying offer, a one-year deal valued at the average of the top 125 major league salaries, rose to $23.15 million this year.

• David Bednar (New York Yankees, RHP)
• Randy Arozarena (Seattle Mariners, OF)
• Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs, OF)
• Jake Bauers (Milwaukee Brewers, 1B/OF)
• Trevor Rogers (Baltimore Orioles, LHP)
• Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota Twins, C)
• Brandon Lowe (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2B)
• Adrian Morejon (San Diego Padres, LHP)

According to the New York Post, the group of eight is smaller than the 13 players who received offers last offseason. Qualifying offers can only be extended to impending free agents who spent the entire regular season with their organization and have never received a qualifying offer previously. The qualifying offer system itself originated following the conclusion of the 2012 season. Historical data indicates that only 18 out of 157 prior qualifying offers have ever been accepted by players.

Decision Deadline and Market Implications

David Bednar has until November 17 to decide whether to accept the one-year qualifying offer or enter free agency. If a player declines the offer and signs with another team, their former club is entitled to draft-pick compensation. The value and placement of that pick depend on the team’s revenue-sharing status and luxury tax position, with compensatory selections awarded either at the end of the first round or at the end of competitive balance round B. Meanwhile, approximately 28 additional players became free agents on Monday, pushing the overall pool of free agents to roughly 183 players. Major League Baseball owners plan to enforce a lockout if both sides fail to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement before the December 1 expiration date, with official league outlets scheduled to remove player images and videos and all communication between team staff and players severely restricted during any such work stoppage.

Team-Specific Strategy for Bednar and Arozarena

For the New York Yankees, extending the qualifying offer to closer David Bednar was described as a no-brainer decision. Bednar converted 35 of 39 save opportunities this season. While the Yankees could attempt to negotiate a multi-year extension, the qualifying offer provides a mechanism to receive draft compensation should he depart. A contract extension for Bednar could potentially land in the vicinity of the three-year deals secured last offseason by Robert Suárez at $45 million with the Atlanta Braves and Devin Williams at $51 million with the New York Mets.

In Seattle, the Mariners extended the offer to Randy Arozarena following his career-best season. Arozarena slashed .281/.381/.484 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI. As Lookout Landing noted, it has been over a decade since the Mariners last extended a qualifying offer—the previous instance was Hisashi Iwakuma in 2015. Unlike previous years where he focused on pulling the ball, Arozarena’s 2026 approach relied on using the entire field, resulting in a career-low strikeout rate.

Options and Departures Among Other Free Agents

While the qualifying offer group was finalized Monday, other roster decisions shaped the broader free-agent pool, which now stands at approximately 183 players. Notable financial decisions across the league included Corbin Burnes opting not to exercise an opt-out clause, remaining tied to the final four seasons of his $210 million, six-year contract with Arizona, which carries annual salaries of $35 million including $11 million in deferred money each year.

Conversely, some players became free agents after their 2027 options were declined. The Chicago Cubs declined options on right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey, and Colin Rea, as well as left-hander Caleb Thielbar. Arizona's right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka opted out of his $10 million mutual option for 2027, resulting in a $1 million buyout. Other teams also had significant option decisions: the Orioles rejected a $3.5 million option for catcher Dietrich Enns, which required a $125,000 buyout; the World Series-winning Milwaukee Brewers declined an $8.5 million mutual option on catcher Gary Sanchez, who received a $250,000 buyout for a one-year contract worth $1.75 million; the Brewers also passed on a $14 million option for right-hander Antonio Senzatela.

For players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., who did not receive a qualifying offer from the New York Yankees following a season featuring a strikeout rate approaching 30 percent, the lack of a QO removes draft-pick penalties for any prospective team looking to sign him in free agency.

With free agency officially open and teams managing upcoming payroll and roster choices, the remaining weeks before the December deadline will dictate the shape of major league rosters for 2027.

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