Melky Cabrera has officially declined the Toronto Blue Jays’ qualifying offer, the MLB Players Association announced Monday.
Cabrera had until Monday to accept or decline the offer, which officially links him to draft pick compensation. Even though the 30-year-old declined Toronto’s $15.3-million offer, the Blue Jays can still sign him.
Teams extended qualifying offers to top free agents such as Cabrera in order to qualify for compensatory picks in the 2015 draft. The Blue Jays would get a top pick if Cabrera signs elsewhere, but they wouldn’t have to surrender their top pick to re-sign him. Most teams surrender a first-round pick to sign a free agent linked to draft-pick compensation, but the teams that finished with the worst 10 records in MLB surrender a second-rounder instead.
Cabrera, who turned 30 in August, batted .301 with an .808 OPS and 16 home runs in 2014. The Blue Jays have publicly maintained that they’d like to re-sign him.
The Blue Jays’ outfield alternatives include Andy Dirks, John Mayberry Jr., Kevin Pillar and Anthony Gose. Top prospect Dalton Pompey impressed toward the end of the 2014 season and will also be in consideration entering 2015.
The Blue Jays could also explore a free agent market that includes Norichika Aoki, Nick Markakis and others. The New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams that could seek corner outfield upgrades this off-season.
