NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Nick Martinez was the only free agent to accept Tuesday among 13 players given $21.05 million qualifying offers from their former clubs.
Those who declined were New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, Baltimore right-hander Corbin Burnes and outfielder Anthony Santander, Boston right-hander Nick Pivetta, Houston third baseman Alex Bregman, Arizona first baseman Christian Walker, Atlanta left-hander Max Fried, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, Milwaukee shortstop Willy Adames, and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, left-hander Sean Manaea and right-hander Luis Severino.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 14 of 144 offers have been accepted. The price is the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in the just-ended season.
A free agent can be given a qualifying offer only once, meaning Martinez could become a free agent next offseason without compensation attached.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game 2 of the baseball World Series, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)Martinez accepted the offer from the Cincinnati Reds after going 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 16 starts and 26 relief appearances while striking out 116 and walking 18 in 142 1/3 innings. He agreed in December to a $14 million, one-year contract that included a $12 million player option, which he rejected. Martinez is 37-45 with a 4.09 ERA in seven seasons with Texas (2014-17), San Diego (2022-23) and Cincinnati. Martinez spent 2018-21 pitching in Japan.