Here are this year's top qualifying offer candidates

40 minutes ago

Teams can extend a qualifying offer to select free agents each offseason. Players who accept are signed to a one-year deal for the next season at the designated value ($23.15 million for 2027). Those who don't accept remain free agents, and if a new team signs them, their old team receives Draft pick compensation.

From the time the system was implemented in 2012, 18 of the 157 players to receive a QO have accepted it.

Here’s a breakdown of the free agents who could receive qualifying offers this offseason, along with a list of notable players who aren’t eligible for a QO and information on the Draft compensation and penalties tied to the QO.

^ = Player has a 2027 option

TOP QO CANDIDATES

Players listed in order of 2026 WAR (per FanGraphs)

, OF (Mariners)
2026 fWAR: 5.5

After bursting onto the scene with a postseason performance for the ages in 2020, Arozarena has built a career defined by durability and consistent power-speed production. The outfielder has produced six consecutive 20-20 seasons while appearing in more games (913) than all but six players in that span. He also went to another level at the plate in his walk year, notching the highest full-season OPS+ of his career (148). That ranked fifth among qualifiers and was up from 121 across 2019-25.

, 2B (Pirates)
2026 fWAR: 4.9

The Pirates’ trade for Lowe last offseason proved to be a huge success, with the second baseman producing 35 homers, 96 RBIs, 94 runs scored and an .824 OPS over 150 games. As a bonus, Lowe had the best season of his career on defense, notching a Fielding Run Value of +12 -- a 22-run improvement over his -10 mark with the Rays in 2025. Add it all up and Lowe was worth 4.9 fWAR, a personal best.

OF (Cubs)
2026 fWAR: 4.5

Suzuki consistently ranked well above average with the bat during his five-year, $85 million deal with the Cubs, posting a 128 OPS+ with 113 home runs in that span. Suzuki also made significant improvements on the defensive end in 2026, recording +5 Outs Above Average and a +7 Fielding Run Value. He had -5 OAA and a -8 FRV from 2022-25.

, SP (Orioles)
2026 fWAR: 4.0

Rogers predictably faced regression after posting a 1.81 ERA in 2025, but he was quite good for much of ’26. A rough seven-start stretch (33 ER in 29 2/3 IP) early in the season put a dent in Rogers’ overall numbers, but the left-hander allowed only 43 earned runs over 140 innings (2.76 ERA) spanning his other 23 starts on the year.

, 1B (Brewers)
2026 fWAR: 3.7

The qualifying offer would represent a substantial raise over the $2.7 million Bauers earned in 2026, but his performance this past season may well justify it as far as the Brewers are concerned. The veteran had a career year, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers over 144 games in the regular season before earning NLCS MVP honors as the Brewers won it all.

, 2B (Yankees)
2026 fWAR: 3.5

Chisholm set extremely high expectations for his walk year when he said before the season that he was chasing a 50-50 campaign, something only Shohei Ohtani has accomplished. Although he fell well short in both categories and finished with a disappointing 97 OPS+, his all-around game still gave him ample value. The biggest question is whether the Yankees' experience with Trent Grisham, who accepted a qualifying offer before posting just 0.7 fWAR in 2026, will make them think twice about extending one to Chisholm.

, RP (Padres)
2026 fWAR: 2.8

The select few relievers to receive qualifying offers all have been closers, but Morejon's stuff is good enough that the Friars could consider bucking that trend. The lefty setup man has been one of baseball’s most valuable bullpen arms over the past three years, recording a 2.58 ERA with 248 strikeouts over 223 1/3 innings.

, OF (Cubs)
2026 fWAR: 2.6

Happ just finished up a three-year, $61 million contract, over which he produced a cumulative total of 9.1 fWAR while hitting at least 23 homers in each season. The four-time Gold Glove winner and 2026 finalist owns a lifetime .243/.341/.442 slash with 197 homers over 10 seasons, all with the Cubs.

, C (Twins)
2026 fWAR: 2.6

Jeffers was a popular trade candidate during the summer, but the Twins opted to hold onto him in hopes of landing a postseason spot. Minnesota’s push fell short, but the club could extend a qualifying offer to the veteran catcher. Jeffers quietly has been one of the best hitters at his position for several years, ranking sixth among primary catchers (minimum 1,000 plate appearances) with a 116 OPS+ since the beginning of 2023.

, RP (Yankees)
2026 fWAR: 1.9

His outlier 2024 season aside, Bednar has been one of MLB’s top closers since he assumed the role for the Pirates in ’22. The right-hander recorded a 2.47 ERA with 35 saves in 39 chances for the Bronx Bombers this past season.

, SP (Cubs)^
2026 fWAR: 1.6

The Cubs clearly got their money’s worth out of their two-year, $29 million deal with Boyd, as the left-hander earned his first All-Star selection in 2025 and posted a 3.50 ERA over 53 starts during the life of the contract. However, considering he regressed in 2026 and will turn 36 in February, it’s not a given he’ll receive a qualifying offer from a Chicago team with several QO candidates.

INELIGIBLE FOR QO

Not every free agent can receive a QO. Players who have previously received a QO are ineligible, which means these upcoming free agents (including those with pending option decisions) are not eligible to receive one:

Players who weren't continuously with an organization, either in the Minors or Majors, from Opening Day until the end of the regular season are also ineligible. Notable free agents in this category who weren’t mentioned above include:

COMPENSATION AND PENALTIES

If a team gives a qualifying offer to a player who then signs elsewhere, the club that lost the player is eligible for Draft pick compensation the following year.

Meanwhile, any team that signs a player who has rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of one or more Draft picks, though a team's highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture. 

(Players who are unsigned after the start of the MLB Draft in the year that follows the rejection of their qualifying offer are no longer tied to Draft pick compensation and can be signed without their new club needing to forfeit a Draft pick.)

For details on how compensation and penalties are determined for qualified free agents, click here.