Despite some consternation from players over its impact on free agency, the MLB qualifying offer remained part of the collective bargaining agreement that was agreed to by the league and Players Association for the 2022-2026 seasons.
The qualifying offer was first incorporated with MLB free agency in 2012. Teams annually have the option to extend the one-year contract to eligible free agents within five days of the completion of the World Series.
Players who receive a qualifying offer then have 10 days to accept or decline the deal. Players who changed teams during the preceding season are not eligible to be tendered a qualifying offer, and those who were previously extended one are ineligible as well.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the MLB qualifying offer value for the 2025 season is expected to be just north of $21 million:
The qualifying offer — almost certain to be extended to looming free-agent stars such as Pete Alonso and Juan Soto — currently projects at $21.2 million, The Post has learned.
The exact value for the 2025 qualifying offer will not be set until October.
The initial projection for the 2024 season was that the qualifying offer was going to be worth $20.5 million. However, it wound up being just shy of that at $20.325 million.
That nevertheless represented a 4.3% increase from the year prior and set a new record for highest qualifying offer value. Shohei Ohtani was among the players who rejected the one-year contract, which wound up impacting the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 MLB Draft because of their signing the superstar.
MLB qualifying offer value details
What the MLB qualifying offer will be is calculated by averaging the salaries of the 125 highest-paid players in the league.
A total of 131 players have been extended the qualifying offer in free agency history with only 13 accepting it. In addition to Ohtani, six other players rejected the one-year pact for the 2024 season.
Dodgers qualifying offer decisions
As it currently stands, Teoscar Hernández is the only impending Dodgers free agent who is likely to be extended a qualifying offer after the 2024 season.
Interestingly enough, Hernández’s salary this year of $23.5 million already is more lucrative than the projected qualifying offer value. He’s expressed interest in remaining with the Dodgers and re-signing on a multi-year contract.
Brett Anderson (signed for 2016) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019) are the only players who have ever accepted a qualifying offer from the Dodgers.
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