Tucker, Bichette, Schwarber among
13 to get $22 million qualifying offers from former teams
[November 07, 2025]
By RONALD BLUM
NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, Toronto
shortstop Bo Bichette and Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle
Schwarber were among 13 players who received $22,025,000 qualifying
offers from their former teams Thursday as baseball's free agent
market opened for negotiations with all clubs.
San Diego right-handers Dylan Cease and Michael King also received
the offers, as did New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, Arizona
right-hander Zac Gallen, New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham,
Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, Philadelphia pitcher Ranger Suárez,
Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres, Houston left-hander Framber
Valdez and Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff.
Players have until Nov. 18 to accept.
Among the free agents who didn't receive qualifying offers were
Boston right-hander Lucas Giolito, Seattle infielder Jorge Polanco
and Yankees reliever Devin Williams.
If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major
league contract with another club before next July's amateur draft,
his former club receives draft pick compensation at the end of the
first round or at the end of competitive balance round B. The
placement depends on the amount of the new contract and the
revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 14 of 144
offers have been accepted.
A free agent can be given a qualifying offer only if he has been
with the same team continuously since opening day and has never
received a qualifying offer before.
Free agents ineligible for qualifying offers included New York Mets
first baseman Pete Alonso, Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, Boston
third baseman Alex Bregman, Cincinnati pitcher Nick Martinez and
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
A total of 175 players became free agents in the five days following
the World Series.
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Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette swings for a three run home run off
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani during the third inning in Game 7
of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP
Photo/Ashley Landis)
Among decisions Thursday:
— Atlanta exercised an $18 million option on left-hander Chris Sale
and a $7 million option on second baseman Ozzie Albies while
declining options on pitchers Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley;
—The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers exercised a $10
million option on third baseman Max Muncy and a $3.55 million option
on reliever Alex Vesia;
— Polanco declined a $6 million player option;
— Infielder Justin Turner became a free agent after the Cubs
declined a $10 million mutual option, and Chicago agreed to a $6.5
million, one-year contract to retain right-hander Colin Rea;
—Pitchers Paul Sewald and José Urquidy became free agents after the
Detroit Tigers declined options;
— Shortstop Trevor Story declined to exercise his right to opt out
of his contract, keeping $55 million in salary for the final two
seasons of his $140 million, six-year deal with Boston;
— Left-hander John Means’ $6 million option was declined by
Cleveland, allowing the pitcher to become a free agent as he
continues to recover from Tommy John surgery;
— Tampa Bay declined an $11 million option on Pete Fairbanks,
allowing the closer to become a free agent, and exercised an $11.5
million option on infielder Brandon Lowe.
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