Qualifying offers were issued to 12 players prior to Monday’s deadline, and those players now have a week to accept the one-year, $15.3 million offers or test the free-agent market.
Hanley Ramirez, Nelson Cruz headline 12 players given qualifying offers
Qualifying offers were issued to 12 players on Monday ahead of the start of MLB’s free agency period.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Should these players reject the offers and sign with new teams, their former clubs will each receive a draft pick following the first round of next summer’s MLB draft. You can get all your questions about the qualifying offer answered in our guide, which outlines the various rules surrounding the process.
Here is a rundown of the teams who handed out qualifying offers to their departing free agents and what to expect for each player moving forward:
Ervin Santana, SP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves chose to extend a qualifying offer to Ervin Santana despite some speculation that they would simply let the right-hander walk. After a career-best season in 2013, Santana rejected a qualifying offer from the Royals last winter before ultimately signing with Atlanta for the same price he would have received from Kansas City. Now Santana finds himself in the exact same position, although another solid (and healthy) season in 2014 likely means the 31-year-old can earn a multi-year deal from someone.
Nelson Cruz, OF, Baltimore Orioles
A year after taking advantage of Nelson Cruz’s qualifying offer situation, the Orioles gave him another QO following a monster season at the plate. Signed to just a one-year, $8 million contract, Cruz hit an MLB-best 40 home runs and helped lead Baltimore to the AL East title. This time around, Cruz shouldn’t have much trouble finding a long-term offer, even with the drawback of draft pick compensation attached to him.
Michael Cuddyer, OF, Colorado Rockies
Monday's biggest surprise came when the Rockies extended a qualifying offer to Michael Cuddyer. The 35-year-old has had two straight strong seasons in the friendly confines of Coors Field, but few expected Colorado to give him a QO. The outfielder likely could have found a two- or three-year deal under normal circumstances, yet with draft pick compensation now attached to him if he rejects the QO, Cuddyer's suitors might dry up in a manner similar to Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew last year. As a result, many think Cuddyer could become the first player to ever accept a QO.
Max Scherzer, SP, and Victor Martinez, DH, Detroit Tigers
Max Scherzer and Victor Martinez were shoo-ins to receive qualifying offers, and they are just as certain to decline the offers and test free agency. Scherzer reportedly rejected a $144 million contract extension from the Tigers last March with the intention of garnering a big deal this winter. The 2013 AL Cy Young winner will be the best pitcher on this year's free-agent market.
Despite turning 35 last December, Martinez enjoyed the best season of his career, hitting .335/.409/.565 with 32 home runs. Though he lacks much positional value (he played 115 games at DH in 2014), Martinez’s bat will be enough to make him highly sought after in free agency.
James Shields, SP, Kansas City Royals
The Royals traded for James Shields two offseasons ago knowing full well the right-hander would likely leave via free agency in 2015, and that is exactly what is expected to happen. Shields didn't pitch well in the postseason despite Kansas City's success, but he has been a model of consistency during the regular season, throwing at least 200 innings per year dating all the way back to 2007. Shields is set to receive a contract offer that the Royals will likely be unwilling to match this winter.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
Given Hanley Ramirez’s track record, his rejection of the Dodgers’ qualifying offer is a mere formality at this point. The 30-year-old will enter free agency as the best position player available despite continued questions over his defense at shortstop and ability to stay healthy. No one can question Ramirez’s skills at the plate, however, and that means some team will have to pony up plenty of cash to sign the Dominican Republic native.
David Robertson, RP, New York Yankees
David Robertson did a fine job replacing Mariano Rivera in the closer's role for the Yankees and is now in for a big payday after years of consistency in New York's bullpen. Given his status as the best reliever on the market this winter, Robertson is likely to earn a multi-year deal. It would be a mild surprise to see the Yankees let Robertson go to another team, but at the age of 29, this is the right-hander's best chance at a big contract.
Russell Martin, C, and Francisco Liriano, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Like the Tigers, the Pirates extended qualifying offers to two players in Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano. Martin has rebuilt his career in Pittsburgh and will be the most coveted catcher in free agency. His performance with the bat in 2014 was the best of his career according to OPS+, and the 31-year-old is also one of the better defenders in all of baseball behind the dish.
Liriano, too, experienced a career renaissance in Pittsburgh, though the Pirates surprised some by extending the left-hander a QO. Considering his past health problems and inconsistency, Liriano was going to be a risk for any interested club this offseason, and that becomes even more true with draft pick compensation now attached to him. At this point, a return to the Pirates wouldn’t be a huge surprise.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, San Francisco Giants
Pablo Sandoval is one of the more polarizing free-agent candidates this winter. The Panda can certainly hit and always seems to rise to the occasion in big moments, but his OPS has declined in each of the past three seasons and his weight remains a potential problem. The Giants also have a track record of keeping their players in San Francisco, although they will have to show some serious loyalty if they want to keep Sandoval with other suitors sniffing around the third baseman this offseason.
Melky Cabrera, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Cabrera had a bounce-back season in 2014 after a disappointing campaign the year prior, rebuilding his value at just the right time. Still, the outfielder has been something of an enigma his whole career, and one wonders how the specter of draft pick compensation might affect his market this winter. The Blue Jays are reportedly hoping to retain the 30-year-old, but he will certainly draw some interest from elsewhere as well.
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