NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea and Luis Severino all rejected the Mets' qualifying offers Tuesday, assuring the team Draft pick compensation should any of those players sign elsewhere.

The qualifying offer was a one-year pact worth $21.05 million.

• Tracking the qualifying offer decisions

Only Severino was a realistic candidate to accept it, given the threat of his injury history preventing him from earning a lucrative, multiyear deal on the open market. Severino could have accepted the offer, looked to build upon his 2024 campaign, then entered free agency again next offseason at age 31. That would also have allowed him to avoid negotiating with teams wary of ceding a Draft pick.

But Severino did not go that route, choosing instead to seek his full value on the open market this winter after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA over 31 starts.

Even if Severino does land a rich contract, he’ll have a tough time topping Manaea, who will also be looking for a long-term deal after going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. Manaea’s midseason drop in arm angle, which resulted in a 3.09 ERA over his final 12 starts, could help him convince teams he’s worthy of megabucks.

Alonso is also seeking a long-term deal and was never going to accept a one-year qualifying offer. The Mets extended it to him solely to recoup Draft pick compensation if he doesn’t return.

The fact that those three rejected their qualifying offers won’t prevent the Mets from continuing to negotiate with them. President of baseball operations David Stearns is likely to do so at least with Alonso, a homegrown Met who has expressed at least some desire to stay in Flushing. Stearns has also spoken openly of his desire to add multiple starting pitchers this winter, either via free agency or trade. To that end, Severino and Manaea remain candidates to return.