MLB Qualifying Offer Set to Rise to $23.1 Million Amid CBA Uncertainty
The increase in the qualifying offer comes as the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players Association is set to expire.
Major League Baseball's qualifying offer is projected to increase to approximately $23.1 million for the upcoming offseason, a rise from last season's $22.03 million. The final figure and official agreement between MLB and the Players Association are still pending, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The qualifying offer, calculated based on the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in MLB, is a tool used for players nearing free agency. A player can receive this offer only once in their career. If a player accepts, they remain with their current team for the following season. If they decline, they become a free agent, and their former team receives draft pick compensation.
The deadline for teams to extend a qualifying offer is five days after the World Series concludes. Players then have 10 days to make their decision. This process continues under the current collective bargaining agreement, which is not set to expire until December 1.
The Yankees, for example, will face a decision regarding players like David Bednar and Jazz Chisholm Jr., who could be subject to this qualifying offer. Last season, the Yankees extended a qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, who accepted.