Free agency officially started on November 2. Thus, that also meant the deadline to tender qualifying offers to players who are eligible for one. For 2026, eight players received one, including some high-profile bats. Plus, two of baseball’s best relievers from last season.
Players who received a qualifying offer in 2026
| Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Arozarena | OF | Mariners |
| Jake Bauers | 1B/OF | Brewers |
| David Bednar | RP | Yankees |
| Ryan Jeffers | C | Twins |
| Brandon Lowe | 2B | Pirates |
| Adrian Morejon | RP | Padres |
| Trevor Rogers | SP | Orioles |
| Seiya Suzuki | OF | Cubs |
The three big bats available this winter all received offers.
Brandon Lowe led all second basemen in home runs this season, and his 35 home runs were tied for 10th overall in the Majors.
Randy Arozarena has been about as consistent as one can get, as far as 20-20 campaigns are concerned. Last year with Seattle, Arozarena hit 26 home runs and stole 26 bases.
Seiya Suzuki was one of the Cubs’ key run producers since his arrival in Chicago in 2022. During the 2026 campaign, Suzuki notched 58 extra-base hits, walked 81 times, and drove in 86.
Adrian Morejon and David Bednar are the two relievers on this list. Morejon was tied for third in the Majors this season in strikeouts among relievers, while Bednar finished in the top ten in total saves for the Yankees.
Jake Bauers and Ryan Jeffers, arguably, are the two likeliest to accept it. Bauers was a dynamite platoon threat for the World Series champions, hitting 26 homers for the Brewers. Jeffers hit very well in 2026 but missed significant time with a hamate bone fracture. He had 35 extra-base hits in 92 games.
There’s just one starting pitcher, Trevor Rogers, on this list. We ranked Rogers as the sixth-best starting pitcher available this winter. Many of the top starting pitchers available, including Tarik Skubal and Michael King, were ineligible for one.
What is the qualifying offer?
It’s the one-year contract that must be offered to players in order to be eligible for MLB Draft compensation. Any player can receive only one throughout their playing career, and can either accept it or turn it down.
For 2026, the exact salary would be $23.15MM.
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