MLB free agency has officially begun as the five-day silent period following the World Series ended yesterday at 5:00 PM EST.

One of the first things to happen once the clock strikes that time every year is teams will offer free agents that year’s qualifying offer.

2024/2025’s qualifying offer is set at $21.05 million, the average annual value of Major League Baseball’s 125 biggest contracts.

Players have until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 19 to decide whether to accept the offer or test the open market.

Rarely do we see players accept the qualifying offer as doing so would eliminate them from testing their value in the free agency. Since the QO was installed in 2012 only 13 of 131 players have accepted it.

Some big names such as Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar, and Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres weren’t even extended the qualifying offer despite being eligible.

13 players were offered the qualifying offer this offseason and teams would be lucky if even two of them would accept it.

Let’s start with the players who will obviously not be accepting the qualifying offer.

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman

Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander

Right off the bat, that eliminates seven of the 13 players who received the qualifying offer.

Next, we have a group of three players who might at least consider the offer but will probably turn it down.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker

Mets left-hander Sean Manaea

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez

With ten players off the hypothetical board, there are three more who would actually benefit from taking the offer, all of which are right handed pitchers.

Boston Red Sox Nick Pivetta

New York Mets Luis Severino

Cincinnati Reds Nick Martinez