Complete list of players’ decisions on the 2018 MLB free agency qualifying offer, set at $17.9 million.
Below is a complete list of the decisions of the seven players who were eligible to receive a qualifying offer from their respective teams in MLB free agency. Those who declined will now hit the open market as free agents.
Bryce Harper – Declined
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Harper, 26, will decline the qualifying offer and become a free agent. After slashing a robust .249/.393/.496 in 2018, Harper is arguably the most exciting free agent this year.
Patrick Corbin – Declined
Corbin, 29, has himself obviously declined the qualifying offer, as was largely speculated. The southpaw tossed exactly 200 innings in 2018 with an ERA of 3.15 and 246 strikeouts.
A.J. Pollock – Declined
Corbin’s teammate, the always dangerous A.J. Pollock, 30, will also become a free agent after slashing .257/.316/.484 with 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 21 doubles and 13 stolen bases this year with Arizona.
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Yasmani Grandal – Declined
Arguably the most attractive catcher available on this year’s market, the 30-year-old Grandal slashed .241/.349/.466 with the Dodgers this year while adding 24 homers, 23 doubles and 65 runs scored.
Dallas Keuchel – Declined
Keuchel, 30, who won the Cy Young Award in 2015, will also become a free agent after declining the offer. He pitched to an ERA of 3.74 this season with the AL West champion Astros, striking out 153 over 204.2 innings.
Craig Kimbrel – Declined
A prime mover behind Boston’s 2018 World Series victory, the former Atlanta Brave and San Diego Padre became the sixth player to decline the offer Monday. In 63 games for the Sox, he notched 42 saves in 62.1 innings, striking out 96 and walking just 31.
Hyun-Jin Ryu – Accepted
The lone player to accept the offer, Ryu, 31, was excellent in limited action this season for the Dodgers, pitching to an ERA of 1.97 in 82.1 frames spread across 15 starts. With only 557.2 major league innings under his belt, it was likely the right move for the native of South Korea.
Ryu becomes just the sixth player to reject a qualifying offer of the 80 players who have received the offer since it was collectively bargained into MLB free agency seven seasons ago.