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Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper were two of seven major league players to receive qualifying offers Friday.
The players who received offers have 10 days to accept a $17.9 million salary for 2019 — the mean salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players — or become a free agent.
Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed on a three-year extension worth $93 million plus incentives, keeping the greatest pitcher of his generation from venturing into the free-agent market.
The Indians did not tender a $17.9 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Brantley. After injury-plagued 2016 and 2017 seasons, Brantley hit .309 with 17 home runs in 2018.
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado clearly are at the head of the clbad, but there are plenty of big names available beyond the star duo.
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Other players to receive qualifying offers Friday include Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin and outfielder A.J. Pollock, and Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu and catcher Yasmani Grandal.
In six seasons, only five players have accepted the qualifying offers out of the 73 issued by major league teams.
Keuchel, who was 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 34 starts in 2018, made $13.2 million last season.
The Astros, however, chose not to make offers to right-hander Charlie Morton or utilityman Marwin Gonzalez. Morton should be sought after in a pitching-hungry market. The right-hander was 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 30 starts for the Astros in the regular season.
Harper, who hit .249 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Nationals last season, made more money last season ($21.625 million) than the current qualifying offer.
Players rarely take the qualifying offer, but a team that makes a claim is entitled to a compensatory pick in the draft.
Before 2017, teams got a supplementary first-round pick, but the rules now take into account market size and payroll. If Keuchel signs with another team, the Astros will be awarded a supplementary pick after the second round. And because the Nationals are over the luxury tax, they would only get a pick after the fourth round in compensation for Harper.
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