As anticipated, the Houston Astros extended a qualifying offer to star third baseman Alex Bregman as he approaches free agency. Bregman has now made his decision regarding whether to accept the offer.
In a move that wasn’t surprising, Bregman declined the one-year, $21.05 million offer before the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday, as reported by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. As a result, Bregman will remain a free agent and is free to sign with any of the 30 Major League teams.
Represented by renowned agent Scott Boras, Bregman is reportedly seeking a contract similar to the 11-year, $350 million deal signed by Manny Machado with the San Diego Padres. Given his aspirations, it was clear that Bregman would not entertain accepting the Astros’ qualifying offer.
In 2023, Bregman posted a .260/.315/.453 slash line, hitting 26 home runs and earning his first Gold Glove award. Over the course of his career, Bregman has been named an All-Star twice, won a Silver Slugger, and played a pivotal role in the Astros’ World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.
While securing a contract like Machado’s massive deal might not be realistic, Bregman is expected to land a shorter-term agreement, potentially something similar to the six-year, $151 million deal Matt Chapman received from the San Francisco Giants.
Understanding the Qualifying Offer in Major League Baseball
The qualifying offer system in MLB is designed to give teams potential draft pick compensation when a free agent departs. Teams can extend a one-year “qualifying offer” to their free agents, which is based on the average salary of the top 125 highest-paid players. This year, the qualifying offer was set at $21.05 million.
The compensatory draft pick a team receives if their free agent declines the offer depends on the team’s competitive balance tax status. Since the Astros are currently over the threshold and pay the competitive balance tax, they would receive a draft pick after the fourth round of the 2025 draft if Bregman signs elsewhere.
This offseason, 13 players were extended a qualifying offer, with only one—Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez—accepting it. Since the system’s inception in 2012, only 14 players have ever accepted the qualifying offer. For most players like Bregman, the qualifying offer is a formality that allows their former team to gain some value before they depart for free agency.
