Tuesday was the deadline for MLB free agents to accept or decline qualifying offers extended to them by their teams last week. The Red Sox gave two of their pending free agents, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi QO deals, both of which were declined.
Qualifying offers involve the player opting into a one-year, $19.65 million deal instead of hitting the open market. If players decline the deal, or sign elsewhere before the deadline hits, the team that offered the QO receives draft pick compensation, sometime after the fourth round.
In Bogaerts’ case, this was always the expected outcome. The 30-year-old shortstop is a free agent for the first time this winter, and projects to land one of the top shortstop deals on the market. Not only would the deal have fallen well below what he’s expected to get paid on his new contract, it even would have been a pay cut from the previous contract he opted out of last week.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 04: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels Fenway Park on May 4, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Eovaldi’s situation was seen as more of a toss-up. The qualifying offer would have given Eovaldi a raise of just over $2 million from last year. However, the 33-year-old righty now has a chance to chase a long-term deal.
Turning down the qualifying offer doesn’t mean Eovaldi has ruled out a return to Boston entirely. He and the team can still negotiate just like any other free agent. But now, if he does end up signing elsewhere, the Red Sox will get that additional draft pick.
Bogaerts’ and Eovaldi’s decisions fall in line with the majority of players offered qualifying offers last week. Of the 14 players who did get QOs, only two accepted – Giants outfielder Joc Peterson and Rangers pitcher Martin Perez. Among those declining were Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner, Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, and Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon. Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson signed a new deal with the Los Angeles Angels before the decision deadline hit.
Qualifying offer results:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 15, 2022
Rejected: Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Jacob deGrom, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Rodón, Brandon Nimmo, Willson Contreras, Chris Bassitt, Anthony Rizzo, Nathan Eovaldi
Accepted: Joc Pederson, Martín Perez
Signed elsewhere: Tyler AndersonWith so many starting pitchers declining qualifying offers, the top of the pitching market should be a strong one. That could help the Red Sox bring back Eovaldi, as other teams spend money at the position elsewhere.
As for Bogaerts, this news likely doesn’t change his situation much. He remains one of, if not the top shortstop available. There’s already one contender reportedly interested in making a push to sign him.
Xander Bogaerts career stats
Year Age Tm G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG Awards 2013 20 BOS 18 44 11 2 0 1 5 5 13 .250 .320 .364 2014 21 BOS 144 538 129 28 1 12 46 39 138 .240 .297 .362 2015 22 BOS 156 613 196 35 3 7 81 32 101 .320 .355 .421 SS 2016 23 BOS 157 652 192 34 1 21 89 58 123 .294 .356 .446 AS,SS 2017 24 BOS 148 571 156 32 6 10 62 56 116 .273 .343 .403 2018 25 BOS 136 513 148 45 3 23 103 55 102 .288 .360 .522 MVP-13 2019 26 BOS 155 614 190 52 0 33 117 76 122 .309 .384 .555 AS,MVP-5,SS 2020 27 BOS 56 203 61 8 0 11 28 21 41 .300 .364 .502 MVP-17 2021 28 BOS 144 529 156 34 1 23 79 62 113 .295 .370 .493 AS,MVP-12,SS 2022 29 BOS 150 557 171 38 0 15 73 57 118 .307 .377 .456 AS,SS Total 1264 4834 1410 308 15 156 683 461 987 .292 .356 .458 162 avg. 162 620 181 39 2 20 88 59 126 .292 .356 .458 Nathan Eovaldi career stats
Year Age Tm W L ERA G GS IP BB SO WHIP Awards 2011 21 LAD 1 2 3.63 10 6 34.2 20 23 1.385 2012 22 TOT 4 13 4.30 22 22 119.1 47 78 1.508 2012 22 LAD 1 6 4.15 10 10 56.1 20 34 1.473 2012 22 MIA 3 7 4.43 12 12 63.0 27 44 1.540 2013 23 MIA 4 6 3.39 18 18 106.1 40 78 1.317 2014 24 MIA 6 14 4.37 33 33 199.2 43 142 1.332 2015 25 NYY 14 3 4.20 27 27 154.1 49 121 1.451 2016 26 NYY 9 8 4.76 24 21 124.2 40 97 1.307 2017 27 DNP 2018 28 TOT 6 7 3.81 22 21 111.0 20 101 1.126 2018 28 TBR 3 4 4.26 10 10 57.0 8 53 0.982 2018 28 BOS 3 3 3.33 12 11 54.0 12 48 1.278 2019 29 BOS 2 1 5.99 23 12 67.2 35 70 1.581 2020 30 BOS 4 2 3.72 9 9 48.1 7 52 1.200 2021 31 BOS 11 9 3.75 32 32 182.1 35 195 1.190 AS,CYA-4,MVP-15 2022 32 BOS 6 3 3.87 20 20 109.1 20 103 1.235 Total 67 68 4.16 240 221 1257.2 356 1060 1.322 162 avg 10 10 4.16 35 33 186 53 156 1.322 BOS 26 18 4.05 96 84 461.2 109 468 1.269 MIA 13 27 4.10 63 63 369.0 110 264 1.363 LAD 2 8 3.96 20 16 91.0 40 57 1.440 NYY 23 11 4.45 51 48 279.0 89 218 1.387 TBR 3 4 4.26 10 10 57.0 8 53 0.982 Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].
