The qualifying offer for 2026 has been set at $22.025M, a 4.6% increase over last year’s tag ($21.05M). This price is determined by the average of the Top 125 contracts in MLB.

Offer Eligibility

To be eligible for the offer, pending free agents must:

  1. Have never received a previous qualifying offer

  2. Have spent the entire previous season on their current roster

This excludes notable players such as Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Eugenio Suarez, etc

Notable 2026 Candidates

- Kyle Tucker (OF, Cubs)
- Bo Bichette (SS, Blue Jays)
- Framber Valdez (SP, Astros)
- Kyle Schwarber (DH/OF, Phillies)
- Ranger Suarez (SP, Phillies)
- Dylan Cease (SP, Padres)
- Michael King (P, Padres)
- Zac Gallen (SP, Diamondbacks)

What if a Player Accepts the Offer?

According to MLB data, only 14 out of the 144 offers made since the rule was enacted back in 2012 have been accepted. Generally speaking, players decline their QO and make their way to free agency.

However, if a player agrees to accept the offer, they will be signing a 1 year, $22.025M contract for the upcoming 2026 season.

Losing Team Compensation

If a player who has been QO’ed signs a free agent contract with a new team, the losing team is eligible for draft pick compensation:

  1. If the losing team was over the CBT threshold in the previous season, the compensatory draft pick will fall after the 4th round (regardless of the contract size).

  2. If the losing team is a revenue-sharing recipient and the free agent contract is more than $50M guaranteed, the compensatory draft pick will fall after the 1st Round.

  3. If the losing team is a revenue-sharing recipient and the free agent contract is less than $50M guaranteed, the compensatory draft pick will fall after the Competitive Balance B Round (right before the 3rd Round).

  4. If the losing team is not a revenue-sharing recipient, and did not exceed the CBT threshold in the previous season, the compensatory draft pick will fall after the Competitive Balance B Round (regardless of contract size).

Signing Team Draft Pick Loss

A team that signs a player in free agency who has been offered but rejected the QO is required to forfeit an upcoming draft pick. The team’s highest 1st Round pick is excluded from this formula.

  1. If the signing team was over the CBT threshold in the previous season, the team must forfeit their 2nd and 5th highest draft picks, plus $1M of International Bonus Pool. (If the team signs another QO-Free Agent, they will then forfeit their 3rd & 6th highest draft picks as well).

  2. If the signing team was a revenue-sharing recipient, the team must forfeit their 3rd highest draft pick. (If the team signs another QO-Free Agent, they will then forfeit their 4th highest pick as well).

  3. f the signing team is not a revenue-sharing recipient, and did not exceed the CBT threshold in the previous season, the team must forfeit their 2nd highest draft pick, plus $500,000 of International Bonus Pool. (If the team signs another QO-Free Agent, they will then forfeit their 3rd highest pick as well).

Usage/Devaluation

Recent trends have shown that the use of this qualifying offer has devalued a good portion of the top free agents over the past 10-12 years, with many players having to opt for shorter, option-based contracts initially, before re-entering free agency without an offer attached to them. This system will almost certainly be discussed and potentially addressed in the upcoming CBA negotiations.

RELATED: 2026 MLB Free Agents