Astros get their answer on qualifying offer, Justin Verlander
VERDICT ON VERLANDER
17 November 2021
Verlander rejects the qualifying offer. Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Editor's note: Justin Verlander has agreed to a deal with the Astros after rejecting the qualifying offer, click here to learn more.
Jon Heyman is reporting that Brandon Belt is the only player to accept the qualifying offer, which means Justin Verlander has declined the 1-year 18.4 million dollar qualifying offer from the Astros.
Brandon Belt is the only player to accept qualifying offer
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 17, 2021
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise based on the interest level in Verlander. According to reports, Justin Verlander has several teams interested in signing him. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Braves are just a few of the teams rumored to have interest.
Yankees are among teams in on future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, who's expected to have a decision fairly soon, perhaps even this week. Jays and many others are interested as well. He has multiyear and 1-year options.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 17, 2021
Jon Heyman is hearing Verlander may not have to settle on a one-year deal, so teams will have to weigh the risk of injury for a player approaching 39 years of age coming off Tommy John surgery. The last time JV pitched a full season, he won the Cy Young Award in 2019 with the Astros.
Jeff Passan also reported on Verlander's rejection of the offer. The good news for Astros fans is that Houston will receive two compensation draft picks in 2022 if the team is unable to sign Verlander and Carlos Correa long-term.
Final tally for the one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer, per sources:
Accepted: Brandon Belt.
Rejected: Nick Castellanos, Michael Conforto, Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Raisel Iglesias, Robbie Ray, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, Chris Taylor, Justin Verlander.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 17, 2021
Alex Bregman’s Red Sox deal contains some mind-blowing details
Feb 18, 2025, 4:37 pm
Alex Bregman could receive the final payment of his $120 million, three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox in 2046.
His deal, announced Saturday, calls for the $5 million signing bonus to be paid on Jan. 15, 2028, according to contract details obtained by The Associated Press.
He gets salaries of $35 million this year and $40 million in each of the next two years, and $60 million will be deferred: $20 million annually. The deferrals are due by June 15 in each year from 2035-46.
Bregman can opt out after the 2025 and 2026 seasons to become a free agent again.
Boston owes $2 million in deferred money in 2035, $4 million in 2036, $6 million annually from 2037-44, $4 million in 2045 and $2 million in 2046.
By deferring the money, the Red Sox lower the contract's average annual value for Major League Baseball's luxury tax.
Now 30, Bregman is a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during nine years with the Houston Astros. He hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs in the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract, also winning his first Gold Glove.
Bregman's position with Boston is unclear, though second base appears possible. Rafael Devers has been at third for the Red Sox since 2017.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
