MLB players Decline Qualifying Bids, Becoming Unrestricted free Agents.

Seven MLB players received qualifying offers ahead of free agency, and unsurprisingly, all seven of them declined, officially making them free agents.

For the top free agents that are eligible, the qualifying offer is more like a formality. Teams make it in order to receive draft compensation if one of their free agents signs elsewhere.

That’s why this is notable from the Braves perspective. Several players above could interest the Braves in free agency, but in order to sign one of them, they would have to give up $1 million in international bonus pool money as well as two draft picks (their 2nd and 5th highest picks).

So, not only will the Braves have to back up the Brinks truck for any of these guys, but their farm system would also take a hit.

That is substantial for an organization like the Braves that isn’t exactly stockpiling top prospects. It’s a farm system that needs replenishing to maintain sustained success. However, given how most of their core is young and locked in for several years, it shouldn’t be their top priority.

MLB free agents for each team: A list of players with trade options

During the Major League Baseball off-season, we analyze all 30 teams’ free agents and players with 2024 options, with the Rangers as the current champions.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), there are two types of free agents:

Unrestricted Free Agents: Players who have completed a certain number of years in the MLB or fulfilled specific contractual obligations can sign with any team.
Restricted Free Agents: A player’s current team can retain their rights by making a qualifying offer. If they decline and sign with another team, the new team may forfeit draft picks as compensation.

Free agency allows players to explore opportunities with different teams and negotiate new contracts, potentially leading to changes in team rosters during the offseason.

American League West

Los Angeles Angels

1B C.J. Cron,
3B Eduardo Escobar,
OF Randal Grichuk,
LHP Aaron Loup,
3B Mike Moustakas,
RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani,
IF Gio Urshela

The focus of the Angels’ offseason, as well as the entire MLB offseason, will be on Shohei Ohtani. He is in the running for the biggest free-agent contract in baseball history. Although he’ll be off the mound until 2025 due to elbow surgery, his batting skills alone are valuable. In 2023, he hit 44 home runs and had a batting average of .304, with an on-base percentage of .412 and a slugging percentage of .654 in 599 plate appearances.

Houston Astros

OF Michael Brantley,
C Martín Maldonado,
RHP Phil Maton,
RHP Héctor Neris,
RHP Ryne Stanek

While Yainer Diaz is seen as the Astros’ catcher of the future, the team may also consider re-signing Maldonado, who has played a crucial role in Houston’s success due to his excellent defense behind the plate. Michael Brantley’s future with the team is uncertain, especially after he appeared in only 79 games over the past two seasons. Additionally, with Maton, Neris, and Stanek all eligible to become free agents, there could be some changes in the Astros’ bullpen during the upcoming offseason.

Oakland Athletics

2B Tony Kemp,
RHP Drew Rucinski

Rucinski’s $5 million option was declined after an injury-riddled season with just four appearances this season and a poor 9.00 ERA.

Seattle Mariners

OF Teoscar Hernández,
RHP Dominic Leone,
C Tom Murphy

After being traded from the Blue Jays to the Mariners in the offseason, Hernández had an impressive season with 26 homers and 93 RBIs in 160 games. However, he had a lower batting average with a 106 OPS+, compared to his previous average of 133 across 2020-22. Murphy has been a promising addition to the Seattle team since 2019, with a 116 OPS+ batting average.

Texas Rangers

LHP Aroldis Chapman,
C Mitch Garver,
OF Robbie Grossman,
C Austin Hedges,
OF Travis Jankowski,
DH Brad Miller,
LHP Jordan Montgomery,
RHP Jake Odorizzi,
LHP Martín Pérez,
LHP Will Smith,
RHP Chris Stratton

The Rangers need to decide on Montgomery, who was excellent after being traded at the Trade Deadline. Although Scherzer, Eovaldi, Gray, Dunning, and Heaney will return in 2024, they may try to re-sign Montgomery. The team’s primary objective will be to improve the backend of its bullpen after having 33 blown saves in 2023. Leclerc’s option was exercised, but both Chapman and Smith could leave in 2024.

American League East

Toronto Blue Jays

1B Brandon Belt,
3B Matt Chapman,
RHP Chad Green (club option/player option),
RP Jordan Hicks,
OF Kevin Kiermaier,
2B/OF Whit Merrifield,
LHP Hyun Jin Ryu

Key Blue Jays players, including Chapman, Kiermaier, Belt, and Ryu, are now free agents. Chapman contributed 7.9 WAR over two seasons, while Kiermaier (3.9 WAR in 2023) and Belt (2.0 WAR) played well on one-year contracts. Ryu hit the open market for the first time since signing a four-year, $80 million deal with the Blue Jays, returning from Tommy John surgery with a 3.46 ERA over 11 starts.

Baltimore Orioles

RHP Jack Flaherty,
2B Adam Frazier,
RHP Shintaro Fujinami,
RHP Kyle Gibson,
OF Aaron Hicks,
RHP Austin Voth

Gibson signed a one-year $10 million deal with Baltimore. He made 33 starts, won 15 games, and posted a 4.73 ERA. Frazier and Hicks were solid veteran additions. Flaherty struggled after being traded from the Cardinals to the Orioles, finishing the year with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP over 144 1/3 innings.

Tampa Bay Rays

RHP Chris Devenski,
LHP Jake Diekman,
RHP Robert Stephenson

In 2023, the Rays added Diekman and Stephenson to their bullpen. Diekman had a 2.18 ERA with a 10.5 K/9 in 50 appearances. Stephenson was even better with a 2.35 ERA, 14.1 K/9, and 1.9 BB/9 across 42 games.

Boston Red Sox

OF Adam Duvall,
RHP Corey Kluber,
SS Adalberto Mondesi,
LHP James Paxton,
LHP Joely Rodríguez,
1B/DH Justin Turner

Boston Red Sox’s one-year deals for players in 2021 had mixed results. Corey Kluber struggled with a 7.04 ERA, while Adam Duvall hit 21 home runs with a .834 OPS, and Trea Turner recorded 23 home runs, 96 RBIs, and an .800 OPS. Turner declined his $13.4 million player option, becoming a free agent, and accepted a $6.7 million buyout, while Boston declined Kluber’s $11 million club option.

New York Yankees

UTIL Isiah Kiner-Falefa,
RHP Keynan Middleton,
RHP Frankie Montas,
LHP Wandy Peralta,
RHP Luis Severino,
RHP Luke Weaver

The Yankees’ free-agent list is less intriguing than last year when Aaron Judge tested the market. The biggest question is whether they’ll move on from Severino, who has a history of injuries and a high ERA of 6.65 since 2020.

American League Central

Cleveland Guardians

OF Kole Calhoun,
RHP Lucas Giolito,
RHP Reynaldo López

Giolito, acquired via waiver claim in August, was a top AL starter from 2019-21, but his performance has declined with a 4.89 ERA over the past two seasons, including a 7.14 ERA in his last 11 starts in 2023. López has excelled in a full-time relief role with a 3.02 ERA and 10.0 K/9 across 129 appearances in the previous two years.

Kansas City Royals

RHP Zack Greinke,
RHP Brad Keller,
3B Matt Duffy

Greinke signed with the Royals for a second one-year deal. However, his ERA increased from 3.68 in 2022 to 5.06 in 2023, his highest since 2005.

Detroit Tigers

SS Javier Báez (opt-out),
LHP Matthew Boyd,
RHP José Cisnero,
C Carson Kelly (club option),
Eduardo Rodriguez,
OF Mark Canha (club option)

Báez is unlikely to opt out with four years left on his six-year, $140 million contract. E-Rod opted out of his $49 million, three-year contract to test the open market. Tigers are expected to pick up Canha’s $11.5 million option for the 2024 season.

Minnesota Twins

1B/OF Joey Gallo,
RHP Sonny Gray,
LHP Dallas Keuchel,
RHP Kenta Maeda,
RHP Tyler Mahle,
RHP Emilio Pagán,
IF Donovan Solano,
OF Michael A. Taylor

Gray’s 2023 season was outstanding, and now he’s a free agent. Minnesota could also lose Maeda and Mahle to free agency, so addressing the rotation is a priority. Gallo was a big addition last offseason, but Taylor and Solano had a bigger impact on the team’s position-player side.

Chicago White Sox

SS Tim Anderson,
2B Elvis Andrus,
RHP Mike Clevinger,
C Yasmani Grandal,
RHP Liam Hendriks,
RHP Bryan Shaw

The White Sox declined options on Clevinger, Hendriks, and Anderson. Anderson’s $14 million club option for 2024 seemed like a no-brainer, but his poor performance last season (-2.0 WAR) made the decision less obvious.

National League East

Atlanta Braves

RHP Jesse Chavez,
LHP Brad Hand,
RHP Collin McHugh (club option),
RHP Charlie Morton (club option),
OF Kevin Pillar,
OF Eddie Rosario (club option),
RHP Kirby Yates (club option)

Morton signed with the Braves in 2020 and agreed to one-year extensions in 2021 and 2022. He can be retained for another year if the Braves exercise his $20 million club option. The Braves bullpen may see changes next year, as four relievers – Chavez, Hand, McHugh, and Yates – may leave.

Miami Marlins

RHP Matt Barnes (club option),
RHP Johnny Cueto,
1B Yuli Gurriel,
LHP Matt Moore,
RHP David Robertson,
OF Jorge Soler,
IF Joey Wendle

Soler hit 36 home runs with a .853 OPS last season but opted out. He would’ve been the most important free agent for the Miami Marlins. The other free agents had a combined -1.2 WAR. Moore only played four games. Josh Bell stayed by exercising his player option.

New York Mets

RHP Carlos Carrasco,
RHP Adam Ottavino (player option)

David Stearn’s first offseason as the Mets’ President of Baseball Operations has a less impressive list of free agents compared to last year’s, which included Jacob deGrom, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Seth Lugo.

Washington Nationals

RHP Carl Edwards Jr.,
OF Victor Robles (club option)

The Nats face a decision on Robles’ $3.3M club option. He’s 26 but hasn’t performed as well since his exceptional 2019 season. Over the past 327 games, he’s recorded only a .614 OPS and 1.3 WAR.

Philadelphia Phillies

1B Rhys Hoskins,
RHP Craig Kimbrel,
2B Scott Kingery,
RHP Michael Lorenzen,
RHP Aaron Nola

Hoskins and Nola are Phillies veterans. Hoskins missed the 2023 season due to a torn ACL, while Nola had a 4.46 ERA despite recording 200 strikeouts. Kimbrel and Lorenzen are both free agents, with Kimbrel posting a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves and Lorenzen pitching 153 innings with a 4.18 ERA.

National League Central

Milwaukee Brewers

C Victor Caratini,
LHP Andrew Chafin,
3B Josh Donaldson,
LHP Wade Miley,
DH Darin Ruf,
1B Carlos Santana,
RHP Julio Teheran,
LHP Justin Wilson,
OF Jesse Winker

Milwaukee’s addition of Winker was unsuccessful, but they boosted their offense with Canha and Santana during the Trade Deadline. Miley’s second stint with the Brewers was impressive, recording a 3.14 ERA over 23 starts. He declined the mutual option for ‘24 to become a free agent.

St. Louis Cardinals

RHP Drew VerHagen

After trading four players before the deadline, VerHagen is the only notable free agent for the Cardinals in 2023 with a 3.98 ERA over 60 appearances.

Pittsburgh Pirates

LHP Jarlín García,
DH Andrew McCutchen,
UTIL Chris Owings,
LHP Caleb Smith,
RHP Vince Velasquez

McCutchen’s one-year return to Pittsburgh was sentimental but productive, with a .378 OBP and 113 OPS+. Velasquez also performed well, with a 3.86 ERA and 8.9 K/9 over eight starts before season-ending elbow surgery.

Cincinnati Reds

OF Harrison Bader,
C Curt Casali,
RHP Buck Farmer,
1B Joey Votto

Votto’s future with the Reds is uncertain. They declined his $20M club option but may offer him a lesser salary for a mentor role. Bader joined the Reds in August but only had a .161 batting average in 14 games.

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.,
3B Evan Longoria,
RHP Mark Melancon ,
OF Tommy Pham

Arizona’s acquisition of Gurriel and Moreno from the Blue Jays for Varsho helped them reach the World Series, but now Gurriel, Longoria, Melancon, and Pham are all free agents.

Los Angeles Dodgers

UTIL Kiké Hernández,
OF Jason Heyward,
RHP Daniel Hudson,
RHP Joe Kelly,
LHP Clayton Kershaw,
RHP Lance Lynn,
OF Jake Marisnick,
DH J.D. Martinez,
RHP Shelby Miller,
RHP Jimmy Nelson,
OF David Peralta,
RHP Alex Reyes,
SS Amed Rosario,
LHP Julio Urías,
2B Kolten Wong

Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers twice on one-year deals after becoming a free agent in 2021 and 2022. However, he underwent shoulder surgery, and his return date remains uncertain. The Dodgers may also bring back Martinez, Heyward, and Miller, who all had successful one-year deals in 2023.

San Francisco Giants

LHP Scott Alexander,
RHP John Brebbia,
RHP Alex Cobb,
OF Michael Conforto (opt-out),
SS Brandon Crawford,
RHP Jakob Junis,
LHP Sean Manaea,
OF Joc Pederson,
C Roberto Pérez,
LHP Alex Wood

Crawford’s poor performance in 2023 (-1.3 WAR) may lead to the end of his long career with the Giants at age 37. Conforto, Manaea, and Stripling signed two-year deals with opt-outs after 2023 but only combined for 1.1 WAR in Year 1. Pederson accepted the Giants’ $19.65M qualifying offer, but his performance declined from 146 OPS+ in 2022 to 111 OPS+ in 2023.

San Diego Padres

1B Ji-Man Choi,
1B Garrett Cooper,
RHP Luis García,
LHP Josh Hader,
LHP Rich Hill,
RHP Seth Lugo,
RHP Nick Martinez,
LHP Drew Pomeranz,
OF Jurickson Profar,
C Gary Sánchez,
LHP Blake Snell,
RHP Michael Wacha

Reportedly planning to cut payroll for 2024, the Padres may lose Snell and Hader. Lugo opted out for free agency after proving himself in 2023, while Wacha and Martinez had their options declined.