The MLB Qualifying Offer Blues
By Fred Owens
Making History
Although he struck out 154 times in 485 PA Colby Rasmus also hit 25 homers and with the shortage of power bats and was predicted to land a lucrative multiyear contract. MLBTR said that his “blend of youth, power, and defensive capability makes Rasmus seem like a good bet to receive a three or four-year deal as a free agent.”
Rasmus and his agents however looked at the outfield market realized it looked like a long hard slog and decided that next year’s outfield market would make him one of the best – if not the best – outfielder available so he became the first player ever to accept a QO. I could close my eyes and see the Astros’ front office do a double take.
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I suggested all along that if Matt Wieters and his agent Scot Boras looked at the catching market and didn’t see the contract they liked they would accept the QO. They did just that and forced a complete rethink of the Orioles’ off season plans.
Often injured Brett Anderson had a very good year in LAS but it was his first 170 plus inning season since 2009 and only the second of his career. Instead of taking the risk that his injury history might leave him unemployed in March, he decided to stay in LA and take advantage of a weak 2017 free agent class.
As I write this MLBTR is reporting that two of the three remaining free agents that everyone feels so sorry for (Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo) are close to deals with the Orioles; both deals are expected to be multiyear with an AAV below this years QO. That would leave Ian Desmond as the only QO without a home.
Next: Bad Decisions Not a Broken System