MLB free agency opens: eight players get $23.15 million qualifying offers as the Red Sox weigh the cost

Major League Baseball's free agency period opened on Monday, Nov. 2, and eight players received qualifying offers, one-year deals worth $23.15 million, Roundtable Sports reported on Yahoo Sports. Players have until Nov. 17 to accept or decline.

Who got offers

Closer David Bednar, reliever Adrian Morejon, starter Trevor Rogers, catcher Ryan Jeffers, outfielder Randy Arozarena, outfielder Seiya Suzuki, second baseman Brandon Lowe and first baseman Jake Bauers, the 2026 NLCS MVP.

The Red Sox angle

Roundtable Sports named Arozarena, Suzuki, Lowe and Bauers as possible Boston targets. Because the Red Sox finished in the second luxury-tax bracket, signing one of them would cost Boston its second- and fifth-round picks in the 2027 draft and $1 million in international bonus pool money. Boston already gave up a pick to sign Ranger Suarez.

The Red Sox have already made their own decisions, NESN reported:

• They declined Sonny Gray's $30 million mutual option for 2027, paying a $10 million buyout. Gray went 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 29 starts.
• They exercised Garrett Whitlock's $8.25 million club option after he posted a 1.72 ERA in 54 games.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Patrick Sandoval are also free agents.