The 2025 World Series only just ended, but baseball doesn't really stop. The 2026 MLB season starts immediately, believe it or not, with decisions to be made about which free agents will receive a qualifying offer – and which, of those who do, will choose to accept or reject it.

We run this fun exercise each year , so let’s catch you up on the background you need to know. The qualifying offer is a one-year offer that can be extended to eligible free agents, at a salary that changes slightly each year. (This year is to be $22.025 million for the 2026 season.) Teams have just five days following the World Series to decide to extend the offer, with this year's deadline coming on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET; players have until Nov. 18 to decide whether to accept it. Those who do accept will retu

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