Advertisement

Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista among players extended qualifying offers

mike oz
Yoenis Cespedes won't be taking a one-year deal worth $17.2 million from the Mets, you can bet on that. (Getty Images)
Yoenis Cespedes won't be taking a one-year deal worth $17.2 million from the Mets, you can bet on that. (Getty Images)

Before baseball’s free agency opens Tuesday, teams have one final shot to keep impact free agents around or get a future draft pick in return if they leave.

That’s the crux of Major League Baseball’s qualifying-offer system, with offers would-be free agents a one-year deal that’s worth $17.2 million this year. The deadline for teams to offer players qualifying offers was 5 p.m. ET Monday and the list of players extended a qualifying offer includes Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Dexter Fowler and Kenley Jansen.

In most cases, this is just a formality. The players have much more to gain on the open market than they do in a one-year deal, even if $17.2 million is a nice payday. That’s especially true this year, as the free-agent class is particularly weak.

The qualifying-offer system is similar to the NFL’s franchise-tag system with one key difference: Players have a choice to select or decline the offer. The deadline to make that decision is Nov. 14.

Before last season, no player had ever accepted a qualifying offer, but Matt Wieters, Colby Rasmus and Brett Anderson did. For the players who don’t accept, their new teams will have to forfeit next year’s first-round draft pick (as long as it’s not in the top 10; if so, they lose the next one). The old teams get a compensatory draft pick between rounds one and two.

Got it? Here are the players who were extended qualifying offers Monday, according to various media reports:

The Blue Jays extended qualifying offers to both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. (AP)
The Blue Jays extended qualifying offers to both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. (AP)

Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets: He opted out of his contract with the Mets, so again, this is a formality and all about potentially getting a draft pick in return. First reported by ESPN’s Adam Rubin.

Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays slugger will be another of the biggest bats on the free-agent market and should be able to make a lot more than $17.2 million. First reported by FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman.

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays: He already turned down an extension with the Blue Jays and at age 36, Bautista is looking for his last big payday. It’s not $17 million. First reported by FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman.

Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs: Fowler declined a $9 million mutal option for 2017 with the Cubs and he’ll probably decline this too. After a strong World Series, he could be in line for a big payday. First reported by Heyman.

Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles: Trumbo surprised everyone with 47 homers last season in Baltimore. For 47 homers, he’ll get more than 17 million, book it. First reported by Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers closer is looking at a lot of zeroes in his new salary, especially after the postseason showed us the value of back-end bullpen arms. First reported by Bill Punkett of the O.C. Register.

Justin Turner, Dodgers: Turner, 31, went from being non-tendered by the Mets to the top free-agent third baseman in just three years. Not bad — and he should be able to fetch a nice deal on the open market. First reported by Bill Punkett of the O.C. Register.

Ian Desmond, Texas Rangers: The Rangers took on Desmond as a one-year reclamation project. It worked out for both sides: The Rangers got a lineup boost and Desmond reinvented himself as an outfielder. It will be interesting to see whether he gets more than that $107 million contract extension he famously turned down from the Washington Nationals. First reported by TR Sullivan of MLB.com.

Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies: He had a decent season in 2016, with a 3.71 ERA. Again, given the weak free-agent market, Hellickson and his agent might think there’s something better out there, but $17.2 million for one year isn’t bad if you’re Jeremy Hellickson. First reported by Heyman.

Neil Walker, Mets: Walker, 31, had a nice season with the Mets after being traded from the Pirates. He hit .282 with 23 homers. He did, however, undergo season-ending back surgery, which will scare away some teams. Because of that, you could make a good case for Walker taking the Mets’ $17.2 million and returning in 2017. First reported by ESPN’s Adam Rubin.

One more important note: Players were traded midseason — for example: Aroldis Chapman, Rich Hill, Josh Reddick — are not eligible for qualifying offers.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!