The Mariners extended a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to “Randy Arozarena” putting a concrete figure on the table before the Cuban outfielder decides his future in free agency.
The native of Pinar del Río, Cuba had one of his most complete years slashing .281/.381/.484/.865 with 161 hits, 34 doubles, 2 triples, 26 homeruns, 79 runs batted in and 26 stolen bases. Arozarena also had an OPS+ of 148 and his sixth consecutive 20-20 in the majors.
Arozarena is one of eight players who received the offer on Monday, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He will have until November 17 at 4 p.m. Miami time to accept or reject it.
For Seattle, the decision keeps open the possibility of retaining the outfielder for 2027 and provides a path to compensation if he signs with another organization. For Randy, it begins a period in which he can weigh that one-year salary against the terms of a potential multiyear contract.
The qualifying offer carries the same value for all eligible players. Its amount is calculated using the average salaries of the 125 highest-paid players in Major League Baseball. Teams can extend it to players who spent the entire season with them before entering free agency and have never previously received one.
In Arozarena’s case, Seattle chose to take on the possibility of paying him $23.15 million if he accepts. The offer does not require him to stay or prevent the two sides from negotiating a different agreement.
In the case of Adrián Morejón the San Diego Padres extended a one-year, $23.15 million offer to him as well. For the Cuban left-hander, the decision comes after three years of establishing himself in the bullpen and presents an important crossroads in his career. Accepting would guarantee him a substantial salary in 2027; rejecting it would also allow him to pursue a multiyear contract in free agency.
Morejón was one of eight players who received a qualifying offer on Monday, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The other reliever in the group is the Yankees’ David Bednar, underscoring how unusual this level of financial commitment is for bullpen pitchers.
The Cuban finished the season with a 9-3 record, a 2.83 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 86 innings. He also recorded 28 holds and a 1.08 WHIP, numbers that reflect his importance to San Diego in protecting leads.
His recent production helps explain the Padres’ investment. From 2024 through 2026, Morejón earned 25 wins as a reliever, ahead of Cade Smith and Orion Kerkering, who each had 20. During that span, he made 211 appearances and pitched 223⅓ innings with a 2.58 ERA.
Accepting by either player would mean returning to their respective on a one-year contract. Rejecting would keep open the pursuit of a longer deal, including the possibility of negotiating a return to their teams themselves.
Draft compensation would come into play only if the player rejects the offer and signs with another organization. In that scenario, their ballclubs would receive a compensatory draft pick, and Arozarena’s new team would face the applicable penalties.
For interested clubs, the cost of signing them would then include both their contracts and the loss of draft capital. Depending on the organization’s circumstances, its international signing bonus pool could also be affected. That factor could influence negotiations, although it would not prevent them from exploring his options.
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