Imanaga, Woodruff, Grisham, Torres among record 4 to accept qualifying
offers
[November 19, 2025] NEW
YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, Milwaukee
right-hander Brandon Woodruff, New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham
and Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres were among a record four
players who accepted $22,025,000 qualifying offers from their former
teams before the deadline Tuesday, removing themselves from the
free-agent market. |
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the
first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series
against the Milwaukee Brewers, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP
Photo/Kayla Wolf, File) |
|
Nine players turned down the one-year deals and decided to
remain free.
Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette and
Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber said no along with
San Diego right-handers Dylan Cease and Michael King, New York
Mets closer Edwin Díaz, Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen,
Philadelphia pitcher Ranger Suárez and Houston left-hander
Framber Valdez.
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.
Players can be given a qualifying offer only once, so Imanaga,
Woodruff, Grisham and Torres can become free agents after next
season without draft-pick compensation being attached to them.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 18 of
157 offers have been accepted. The previous high of three
players was in 2015, when Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters, Los
Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson and Houston outfielder
Colby Rasmus accepted at $15.8 million for 2016.
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.
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