CLEVELAND, Ohio — In an unprecedented move that sent ripples through Major League Baseball, four players – including Yankees breakout star Trent Grisham and Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres – accepted qualifying offers worth $22.025 million for the 2026 season rather than testing free agency. This unusual trend reveals growing concerns about the financial landscape in baseball with labor negotiations and a potential lockout looming in 2027.

It marks the most qualifying offers accepted since three players took the deal in 2015. the qualifying offer system began with the new collective bargaining agreement in 2012.

Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast hosts Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes expressed surprise at the number of players taking the guaranteed money instead of pursuing multi-year deals.

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