First baseman Jose Abreu has 10 days to accept or reject a one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer extended by the White Sox Monday.
Both the Sox and Abreu, who declared free agency Thursday, have expressed interest in working out a deal that would bring the American League RBI leader back for at least another season. With a multiyear contract talks possibly in the works, the qualifying offer is insurance for the Sox should Abreu surprise by rejecting it and signing elsewhere. The Sox would receive draft pick compensation if he does.
If Abreu rejects the offer, he’d be a free agent in a market that could be limited for a 33-year-old first baseman, his consistent offensive productivity over six years in the majors nothwithstanding.
Abreu earned $16 million in 2019. He was one of 10 free agents to receive qualifying offers along with Josh Donaldson, Gerrit Cole, Marcell Ozuna, Jake Odorizzi, Zack Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg.
