MLB Extends 23.15 Million Qualifying Offers to Eight Players

Eight Major League Baseball players have received one-year qualifying offers worth $23.15 million as their teams prepare for the 2026-27 offseason. The offers, reported by Joel Sherman of The New York Post on November 2, include players from eight different franchises who must decide whether to accept or reject the contracts by November 17.

The recipients are Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners, Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers, David Bednar of the New York Yankees, Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins, Brandon Lowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Adrián Morejón of the San Diego Padres, Trevor Rogers of the Baltimore Orioles and Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs.

Under MLB rules, teams can extend qualifying offers to eligible pending free agents who spent the entire preceding season with the club and have never received a qualifying offer during their careers. The $23.15 million value is calculated using the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in the league.

Players have until 3 p.m. Central on November 17 to make their decisions. During that period, they can negotiate with other teams to evaluate their potential free-agent market.

Players who reject their offers and sign with another franchise can generate draft-pick compensation for their former teams. Their new clubs also face penalties, including the loss of draft picks and potentially international bonus pool money.

Most selections matched expectations outlined in MLB Trade Rumors' September analysis. Rogers, Arozarena and Suzuki were considered strong candidates, while Jeffers and Lowe were also expected to receive offers despite questions about their teams' spending histories.

Bednar and Morejón were less certain candidates because relief pitchers historically receive qualifying offers less frequently than players at other positions. Both ultimately made the list.

Bednar overcame inconsistent stretches in his career with strong recent performances. Morejón's selection came despite an injury history and a shoulder problem that kept him unavailable during San Diego's final playoff games.

The Padres' decision to offer Morejón $23.15 million also comes during the franchise's first offseason under new ownership. The Seidler family sold the organization to José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones in August, following years of apparent financial constraints after Peter Seidler's death in late 2023.

Bauers represents the most unexpected selection among the eight players. His outstanding 2026 campaign with Milwaukee followed a difficult career period that included stops with the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, Mariners and Yankees.

At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Bauers had a career batting average of .208, an on-base percentage of .302 and a slugging percentage of .361. MLB Trade Rumors contributor Matt Swartz projected his arbitration salary at $2.3 million, but Milwaukee instead placed him on outright waivers, where all 29 other teams passed on him.

Bauers subsequently became a free agent and considered retiring from baseball. He later told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he had planned to step away from the sport while his wife returned to full-time teaching. Her pregnancy, however, influenced his decision to continue playing because the family needed health insurance.

He returned to Milwaukee on a minor league contract, earned a place on the Opening Day roster and delivered a productive finish to the season. The Brewers subsequently signed him to a $2.7 million contract for 2026 to avoid arbitration.

Bauers rewarded the organization with 26 home runs and a 16.3% walk rate during an exceptional season. According to the reported statistics, he posted a .266/.389/.484 batting line and a 143 wRC+, with only six qualified hitters recording a higher figure.

His improved performance against left-handed pitching also represented a significant development. Bauers earned National League Championship Series MVP honors, although his production declined during the World Series.

Despite his strong season, the qualifying offer represents a substantial financial increase from his previous $2.7 million salary. Accepting it would provide a guaranteed $23.15 million for another season in Milwaukee, while rejecting it would allow him to pursue a potentially longer contract elsewhere.

The Brewers could retain Bauers at first base for another season as prospect Andrew Fischer potentially develops into a major league option. Milwaukee is also entering the offseason after winning the World Series, with its roster not facing major vacancies elsewhere.

However, Bauers could attract interest from other franchises because the upcoming free-agent market has a limited supply of impact hitters. Any team signing him after he rejects the qualifying offer would also have to account for the associated draft-pick penalties.

Meanwhile, Jazz Chisholm Jr. did not receive a qualifying offer from the Yankees. Although MLB Trade Rumors previously considered him a borderline candidate, recent reports indicated that New York intended to extend the offer to Bednar instead.

Chisholm's exclusion means interested teams can pursue him in free agency without facing the additional penalties associated with signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer.