Qualifying-Offer Deadline Arrives With Rule 5 Roster Crunch, Torres Seen as Likeliest to Accept

Overview

• Thirteen free agents face a 6 p.m. ET decision on the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.
• Most recipients are expected to decline, with MLB Trade Rumors and its reader poll identifying Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres as the most likely to accept.
• Torres’ call would set Detroit’s path, as acceptance keeps him on a one-year deal while a decline yields the Tigers a compensation pick and wider flexibility.
• The deadline coincides with teams finalizing 40-man rosters for Rule 5 protection, prompting prospect adds, trades, and other moves to manage roster space.
• Seattle finalized Josh Naylor’s five-year contract and scheduled an introductory press conference featuring team leadership later today.