Free agents Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon rejected their $17.8 million qualifying offers from the Washington Nationals.
Thursday was the deadline for players to accept qualifying offers. Others rejecting qualifying offers included Astros ace starter Gerrit Cole, Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson and Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
This means that the Nationals will be awarded a compensatory draft pick should Strasburg or Rendon sign with another team in free agency.
The seven players who will reject qualifying offers, sources tell ESPN, and have draft-pick and perhaps international-bonus compensation tied to their free agency: Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg, Zack Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, Josh Donaldson and Marcell Ozuna.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 14, 2019
Both players had the best seasons of their careers en route to the Nationals’ first World Series title. Strasburg went 18-6 in the regular season and became the first pitcher to finish a postseason 5-0, winning World Series MVP along the way. Rendon finished third in National League MVP voting and will be the most coveted position player on the market.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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