Mets have qualifying offer candidates, no one we should expect to accept it

MLB’s qualifying offer is what helped keep Neil Walker on the New York Mets for another year. The same thing happened with Marcus Stroman from 2020 to 2021. It’s still around with some differences in the outcome for players who receive the offer and turn it down. Turning down a QO is no longer as big of a detriment for most free agents.

The qualifying offer figures for 2023 have already been set. Players who accept it will earn $19.65 million to stay with their current team for another season.

It’s the largest figure in the history of the qualifying offer and up over a million more than it was last year. The Mets will likely extend the QO to many of their upcoming first-time free agents. We shouldn’t expect anyone to accept it.

The qualifying offer is a moot point for the Mets this offseason

Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo will undoubtedly get qualifying offers. While they may not receive a new deal worth an AAV of $19.65 million or higher, it’s the years that they’ll get which will make turning it down easy.

A few other possible Mets free agents would be in line for a qualifying offer once their options are declined. Jacob deGrom, for instance, would be a no-brainer candidate. His opt-out clause is worth far more and already gets in the way of the team extending one to him. The same goes for Chris Bassitt who would only make slightly more from the QO than he would if the mutual option is picked up.

Last winter, you probably recall the Mets extending the qualifying offer to two players who turned it down. Noah Syndergaard fled to the Los Angeles Angels instead on a more lucrative one-year contract. Michael Conforto turned his down and ended up hung out to dry in free agency until an injury stole away any chance of a new contract.

For the 2022-2023 offseason, there are qualifying offers to hand out with the expectations of everyone turning it down. It’s best for players who have more to prove and are worth at least close to the high AAV of what will be just under $20 million next year. Given this, the simply don’t have players who fall into this category. There will be weeks in November wondering if anyone will accept it. No one will.