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MLB Free Agency Opens With Wave of $22.025 Million Qualifying Offers as Big-Market Bidding Heats Up

The next decision point is the Nov. 18 deadline for players to accept qualifying offers.

Overview

  • Teams issued qualifying offers to several marquee names, including Trent Grisham (Yankees), Edwin Díaz (Mets), Framber Valdez (Astros), and Phillies duo Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suárez.
  • Grisham’s path is split by forecasts, with MLB.com suggesting he could accept the one-year offer and MLBTradeRumors predicting a four-year, $66 million deal with the Rays as Houston interest draws cautionary analysis.
  • Díaz received a qualifying offer from the Mets and faces competing projections, with MLBTradeRumors slotting him to the Yankees on a four-year, $82 million contract and a Mets beat report characterizing his return as likely due to a cooler reliever market and draft-pick costs.
  • Valdez’s market is being pegged at the top of the rotation tier, with ESPN projecting six years and $168 million and MLBTradeRumors at five years and $150 million as the Giants are floated as a potential fit.
  • Philadelphia prepared for the possibility that Schwarber departs by extending the qualifying offer, with projections around four years and $128 million, while reports link the Yankees to a potential Cody Bellinger reunion regardless of Grisham’s decision.