Shocking Developments As 4 Players Turn Down Free Agency, Accept Qualifying Offers
Some big news on Wednesday as the deadline arrived for potential pending free agents to accept their $22 million qualifying offers from their incumbent teams. Several big names who were expected to hit free agency have instead chosen to accept their QOs to stay with their teams and pass on the open market.
- Trent Grisham, NY Yankees
- Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs
- Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
- Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers
Final accounting on qualifying offers, per sources:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 18, 2025
Trent Grisham (Yankees), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) and Shota Imanaga (Cubs) all accepted the one-year, $22.025 million contract to return for 2026.
The nine other players offered rejected the deal.
The four players accepting their qualifying offers is a record for one year, and in fact there have been only 14 players in total until this year who had accepted it and turned down the opportunity to become a free agent.
The Cubs had turned down a three-year, $57.75 million option on Imanaga, now he’ll have to settle for one year, and Grisham was expected to take his career year to the market for a potential big payday. Woodruff made a tremendous comeback this season after missing a year and a half due to shoulder surgery, but he’ll try to get a full season of health under his belt before hitting free agency.
Nine other players rejected their qualifying offers, including the top free agents Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs, the top pitcher, Framber Valdez, and Zac Galen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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