MLB Qualifying Offer Rises 5.1% to $23.15 Million for Free Agents

The price for a major league qualifying offer increased to $23.15 million this year, up from $22,025,000 in 2025.

Major League Baseball’s qualifying offer for this year's free agents has risen to $23.15 million, a 5.1% increase from the $22,025,000 mark set in 2025. According to the Associated Press, the figure is calculated by averaging the top 125 MLB contracts from the current season. This valuation follows a steady climb from $19.65 million in 2022, $20,325,000 in 2023, and $21.05 million in 2024.

Teams have until the fifth day following the World Series to issue these offers to eligible players. To qualify, a player must have remained with the same club continuously since opening day and never previously received a qualifying offer. Once an offer is extended, the athlete has one week to accept or reject the one-year deal. Since the system's inception after the 2012 season, only 18 of 157 offers have been accepted, though a record four players—Shota Imanaga, Brandon Woodruff, Trent Grisham, and Gleyber Torres—accepted offers last year.

Eligible players who could receive the $23.15 million offer this offseason include Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena, Yankees left-hander David Bednar, Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, and Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Other eligible candidates include Brandon Lowe, Adrian Morejon, and Trevor Rogers. Conversely, players such as Luis Arraez, Chris Bassitt, Zac Gallen, and Tarik Skubal are among those ineligible for the offer this year.

If a player rejects the offer and signs a major league contract with a new team before the amateur draft, the original club receives draft pick compensation. This pick is awarded at the end of the first round or following competitive balance round B, depending on the player's new contract value and the former team's revenue-sharing and luxury tax status.