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At the beginning of the offseason, teams can make qualifying offers to certain players. To receive one, a player must never have had one in the past, must become a free agent, and must have spent the entire season with the same team.
The offer was $22.025 million this season, and players who decline it force their new team (chosen as a free agent) to pay a draft pick to their former club. Players who accept it get a one-year contract.
This year, no fewer than four out of 13 players said yes: Gleyber Torres, Shota Imanaga, Brandon Woodruff, and Trent Grisham. Nine players said no.
We agree that for the Kyle Tuckers, Bo Bichettes, and Dylan Ceases of this world, the pick is not a factor when it comes time to sign elsewhere. But for guys whose market is more… fragile, like Zac Gallen, there was a huge risk.
In Major League Baseball news:
Accepted a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer:
Trent Grisham NYY (accepted) Gleyber Torres DET (accepted) Brandon Woodruff MIL (accepted)
Shota Imanaga CHC (accepted)The other nine players declined the offer, including Edwin Díaz NYM pic.twitter.com/DlYjWWQx5q
— LuisAlfredoAlvarez®️ (@LuisAlvarez_1) November 18, 2025
Clearly, Gallen (who did not dominate in 2025) was a victim of the qualifying offer hanging over his head this winter. Clubs were unwilling to pay a draft pick to the DBacks for a one-year contract with a pitcher who is not dominant.
That completely handcuffed Gallen and made a return to Arizona always likely. And now, that's what's happening: the pitcher recently said yes to a one-year deal.
The Diamondbacks offered him $22.025 million, the value of the qualifying offer he turned down a few months ago. However, $14 million of the deal will be deferred over the next five years.
In present value, the contract will be around $12 or $13 million. So the club has come out ahead on that front.
The Diamondbacks said all along they'd take Gallen back if they could be creative, and with the deferred money, he fit into their budget https://t.co/AOOxXsAXGd
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 14, 2026
Gallen, who has been in Arizona since 2019, has had some great years there. And if he pitches well in 2026, he'll be in position to hit the jackpot next winter… without worrying about his qualifying offer.
Merrill Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Corbin Burnes (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery) are the other starters in the Arizona lineup. Michael Soroka is there for depth.
- Who are the best players still available?
Zac Gallen coming off the board means just 5 of @TheAthleticMLB's top 50 free agents are unsigned, including none of the top 25.
30. Lucas Giolito
37. Zack Littell
41. Max Scherzer
43. Rhys Hoskins
50. Michael KopechFull big board, covering every deal: https://t.co/a6wfQyiFHi
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 14, 2026
- Minor league contract in Toronto.
#BlueJays announce they've signed RHP Jesse Hahn to a Minor League deal with an invitation to MLB camp.
Hahn, 36, spent most of 2025 in AAA and owns a career 4.24 ERA in the big leagues.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 14, 2026
- Kazuma Okamoto has arrived in town.
Welcome, Kazuma!
和真、ようこそ！ pic.twitter.com/CJ3dDHJO0J
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 14, 2026
- Joey Gallo: a showcase in front of scouts.
Joey Gallo, right-handed pitcher, is starting to throw for teams now. Been working out in Florida.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 14, 2026
This content was created with the help of AI.
