A total of nine players received a so-called qualifying offer of 17.4 million dollars from their existing teams at the start of the Free Agency in the MLB. This would give the clubs compensation in the event of a player’s departure.
First baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and outfielder Lorenzo Cain have the option to extend the contract for 17.4 million dollars by one year.
At the Chicago Cubs, pitcher Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis received such an offer, while the Tampa Bay Rays made it to pitcher Alex Cobb, while the Colorado Rockies made it Closer Greg Holland and the St. Louis Cardinal’s starter Lance Lynn. First Baseman Carlos Santana received this offer from the Cleveland Indians.
All players have until the age of 16. November time to decide on the offer. If they accept it, if the respective one-year contract comes into force, if they reject it, they can continue to negotiate with the team about a new contract – or change to another club.
If a player who has been offered such an offer leaves his previous team, he or she may receive an extra draft pick from the new team of the player in the upcoming draft as compensation.
However, this will no longer be a first round pick as it was too expensive for the not so highly regarded Free Agents. A new system, which is also based on the amount of the player’s new contract sum, has therefore been implemented with the CBA in force since last winter.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.