13 MLB players tagged with $22M qualifying offer: Bo Bichette, Kyle Schwarber, Framber Valdez and more
The deadline for players to accept or decline the QO is Nov. 18
Major League Baseball's offseason calendar cleared an important deadline on Thursday: the qualifying offer deadline. In total, 13 free agents were extended a one-year tender that, if declined, could fetch their old teams draft-pick compensation. That group includes some of the biggest names in this class: like Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker and Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, or two of CBS Sports' top three free agents.
Each offseason, certain free agents are eligible for the qualifying offer (QO). Those eligible free agents are ones who have never before received the QO and who spent the prior season with only one team (e.g., players traded during the season cannot receive the QO). The QO is set as the average of the top 125 salaries for a given year, and for the 2025-26 offseason it's $22.205 million.
Eligible players who accept the QO will play the 2026 season under that salary and those who turn it down become free agents, albeit with the QO attached. That attachment means that the free agent's former team is entitled to compensation in the form of an additional draft pick. The position of that draft pick depends upon the team's status when it comes to the luxury tax and revenue-sharing debits or credits.
On the other side, a team that signs a free agent with a QO attached is penalized with the loss of a draft pick, and just as the compensation format the position of that draft pick depends upon the signing team's classification when it comes to the luxury tax and revenue sharing.
Most QO decisions are obvious. Premium free agents receive one without much thought, just as the much less coveted class of free agents do not. It's in the middle ground that interesting decisions lie -- first on the club side and then, if offered, on the player side. Players presented with a QO this offseason will have until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18 to accept or reject the offer. Those who accept in essence agree to a one-year contract for 2026 and those who reject proceed into free agency.
Before this year, 144 players had been tagged with the QO. Of those, only 14 have accepted.
Below you'll find a rundown of all 13 players who received a QO before Thursday's deadline. Do note the players are listed in order of their free-agent ranking.
Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs
Even with a lousy second half, Tucker is clearly the best free agent on the market. He's a reliable All Star-caliber performer with a broad skill set. He's certain to fetch a lucrative long-term contract, so his rejection of the qualifying offer is simply a formality.
- Will he accept? No
Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays
Bichette enjoyed a strong rebound season in 2025 after a down year in 2024. For his career, Bichette boasts an OPS+ of 121 and a WAR of 21.0 across parts of seven MLB seasons. There are fair questions about where he ends up positionally, but there's no chance he's taking the one-year tender.
- Will he accept? No
Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Valdez has been a reliable left-handed workhorse who would seem to be in line for a contract similar to what Max Fried signed with the Yankees last winter. If he returns to the Astros, it won't be on a one-year arrangement.
- Will he accept? No
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
It's fair to wonder how much teams will offer to Schwarber, a very good hitter but just a hitter. At the same time, there's zero threat that he takes the QO.
Will he accept? No
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Cubs
Imanaga was a recent addition to the free-agent class after he and the Cubs declined their ends of a convoluted option structure. Given that Imanaga just turned down what amounted to a two-year pact worth $30 million (in the form of two one-year player options), it's hard to see him taking the QO now.
- Will he accept? No
Ranger Suárez, LHP, Phillies
Suárez may suffer this winter in comparison to Valdez. It won't matter here. He's not going to take the deal.
- Will he accept? No
Dylan Cease, RHP, Padres
Cease had a worse-than-expected walk year, but his arsenal grades so well that teams will likely overlook his results and hand him a lucrative multi-year contract all the same.
- Will he accept? No
Edwin Díaz, RHP, Mets
Díaz is far more likely to sign another $100 million contract than he is to settle for one year. Much like when it comes to him converting a save opportunity, this one is automatic.
- Will he accept? No
Trent Grisham, OF, Yankees
In the last three offseasons, only four outfielders have signed for more than $22 million annually: Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Teoscar Hernandez. Grisham should go ahead and let the Yankees know tonight he's coming back.
- Will he accept? Yes
Michael King, RHP, Padres
King declined his side of a $15 million option, suggesting that he's probably set his sights on a multi-year pact. He should get it unless his medicals are a complete mess.
- Will he accept? No
Zac Gallen, RHP, Diamondbacks
Gallen had a dreadful walk year, only salvaging some of his numbers late in the season. He was probably looking at a pillow contract -- a one-year deal to reestablish his value -- anyway so why not just stick around Arizona, where he's had better days?
- Will he accept? Probably
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Brewers
This one comes down to the medicals. Woodruff had an outstanding return to the mound following a lost year, but his stuff was diminished and his season ended early because of a lat injury. It shouldn't come as a surprise if he does accept.
- Will he accept? Decent chance
Gleyber Torres, 2B, Tigers
Torres settled for a one-year pact worth $15 million last winter, when he was coming off a worse year. His market is likely to be harmed by having the QO attached to him, and so while he may prefer a mult-year pact, it's possible he has to again play for one year first.
- Will he accept? Probably
