Bumgarner, Smith receive qualifying offers
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants took care of a bit of offseason housekeeping on Monday, tendering one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offers to left-hander Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith.
The decision to extend a qualifying offer to Bumgarner was a fairly obvious one, though he will almost certainly decline it and test free agency, where he is likely to receive more lucrative multi-year offers.
• These 10 free agents got a qualifying offer
Smith will face a tougher call, as accepting the offer would guarantee him a significant raise from the $4.225 million he earned in 2019. Only six players have ever accepted a qualifying offer, however, and Smith would likely become one of the most sought-after relievers if he opts to become a free agent this offseason.
Bumgarner and Smith will have 10 days to decide whether to accept or reject the offer. If they decline and sign elsewhere, the Giants will receive 2020 Draft compensation in the form of a selection after Competitive Balance Round B.
Even if they choose to become unrestricted free agents, the Giants will likely continue to have dialogue with Bumgarner and Smith. The Draft compensation could actually also help bolster the Giants’ bids to retain the two left-handers, as they would be the only team who could sign them without giving up Draft picks this offseason.
The qualifying offer is worth the average salary of Major League Baseball’s 125 highest-paid players. For the first time since its inception, it decreased in value this offseason, from $17.9 million to $17.8 million.
The Giants also announced that they’ve outrighted infielders Zach Green and Cristhian Adames to Triple-A Sacramento. Both have agreed to return on Minor League contracts. The moves cleared a pair of spots on the 40-man roster and helped alleviate the roster crunch created by the elimination of the 60-day injured list, which will not return until next season.
Tyler Anderson, Steven Duggar, Trevor Gott, Reyes Moronta, and Tony Watson were reinstated from the 60-day IL on Monday, leaving 39 players on the Giants’ 40-man roster.