Last season, 20 pending free agents received qualifying offers and for the first time in the four-year history of the offers, three players (Matt Wieters, Colby Rasmus, Brett Anderson) actually accepted them. Only 10 qualifying offers — which are the equivalent of one-year, $17.2 million contracts for 2017 — were extended by teams this year.
Here are those 10 players, ranked by their likelihood of accepting the offers (they have until next Monday to decide):
Absolutely no chance: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
He ranks second in the majors with 193 homers and 550 RBI since 2012, and sixth with a .912 OPS. He’ll turn 34 in January, so this is Encarnacion’s big chance for a huge pay day.
Getty ImagesTom Szczerbowski
Forget about it: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
He just opted out of nearly $48 million over the final two years of his current deal, so Cespedes clearly is thinking long-term –- or at least a deal with an even more lucrative opt-out.
Getty ImagesJim McIsaac
Been there, done that (kinda): Dexter Fowler, Cubs
He went the one-year route to return to Chicago last offseason after a multiyear deal with the Orioles fell through, and his value never will be higher after helping lead the Cubs to a World Series title.
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Not gonna happen: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
After five consecutive seasons of 25-plus saves and a K/9 ratio north of 13, Jansen is set to cash in after an outstanding postseason. He’s still just 29 and is exactly the kind of reliever teams now will drool over.
Only if it were worth $150M: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
Joey Bats has been underpaid for years but had delusions of a monstrous contract before a sub-par 2016 season that was plagued by injuries. At age 36, he isn’t thinking in terms of one year.
Looking for a long-term commitment: Mark Trumbo, Orioles
After hitting just 36 homers in the previous two seasons combined (and playing for four teams since 2013), Trumbo blasted 47 to lead the majors in 2016. And he should be confident that some team will overpay for that power revival.
MLB Photos via Getty ImagesMark Cunningham
Won't get burned again: Ian Desmond, Rangers
After rejecting the Nationals' qualifying offer last season before ultimately signing a one-year, $8 million deal, Desmond will be focused on a long-term contract. And he should get it after a 22-homer, 86-RBI, 21-steal season in Texas in which he added outfield versatility.
Thanks, but no thanks: Justin Turner, Dodgers
Coming off a career year (27 homers, 90 RBI, .493 slugging percentage) at age 31, this is Turner’s best chance to cash in, either with Los Angeles or elsewhere.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SporJayne Kamin-Oncea
It's at least a consideration: Jeremy Hellickson, Phillies
Prior to his revival in 2016, the right-hander had posted an ugly 4.86 ERA from 2013-15. But this offseason features an extremely weak free-agent market for starting pitchers, so Hellickson’s timing couldn’t have been better. Still, there was a comfort level in Philly.
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There's a real chance: Neil Walker, Mets
Because he is coming off season-ending back surgery in September, Walker could accept the $17.2 million offer and use the 2017 season to rebuild his free-agent value for next offseason.
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