Complete Yankees history of qualifying offer decisions, signings and departures

Who knows if the qualifying offer will exist after this year's collective bargaining negotiations, but it's been alive and well in MLB since 2012. The New York Yankees have utilized the tactic (for better or worse) after sitting on the sidelines from 2014-2019.

This year, they had two players eligible to receive the QO in Jazz Chisholm Jr. and David Bednar. After last year's mistake with Trent Grisham, it was hard to believe the Yankees would play with fire again and give it to Chisholm ... and they didn't. As for Bednar, sticking him with the qualifying offer is good business because it either nets the Yankees a draft pick, gives them another year of one of the best closers in the league, or gives them an exclusive window to negotiate a contract extension with the right-hander. They did just that, and now Bednar has 14 days to accept or reject the one-year offer.

As for the team's past endeavors with the QO, fans will be given a pleasant blast from the past with some of these names.

Complete Yankees history of qualifying offer decisions, signings and departures

2025

Not this one, though. Grisham accepted the one-year, $22.025 million after rumors suggested the Yankees were attempting to pull a fast one and steal a draft pick. It backfired, Grisham had a terrible year, the Yankees were swept in the ALDS, and Grisham finished 6-for-44 across his 12 postseason games with New York. He will not be returning.

2024

A couple years ago, the Yankees gave Juan Soto the qualifying offer ($22.05 million that offseason). As expected, the All-Star rejected it and signed with the Mets after a lengthy negotiation process with Steve Cohen and Hal Steinbrenner. Conversely, the Yankees signed Max Fried, who had been given the QO by the Atlanta Braves. Somehow, the Yankees lost a draft pick here. The compensation selection they received for Soto was taken away as a penalty for signing Fried. The Yankees sent the No. 136 overall pick to the Braves. Dumb system, right?

2022

Both Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo received qualifying offers from the Yankees in what was procedural. Both re-signed with New York and it didn't matter. But the Yanks signed pitcher Carlos Rodón, who had the QO attached to him by the Giants. New York sent the No. 69 overall pick to San Francisco, who selected pitcher Joe Whitman (now No. 23 in SF's prospect rankings). Probably would've preferred to keep the draft pick if we're being honest. Rodón cost the Yankees $162 million and his tenure has largely been bad.

2020

In another procedural move, the Yankees gave DJ LeMahieu the qualifying offer after he turned in two tremendous seasons with the Bombers in 2019 and 2020. LeMahieu famously rejected it, paving way for the regrettable six-year, $90 million contract the two sides agreed to not long after. At the time, everyone agreed it was a good deal, but LeMahieu was plagued by injuries and aged faster than anybody would've imagined. He was let go before the contract expired.

2014

Back during the Yankees' purgatory seasons after their 2009 World Series victory, the conclusion of the 2014 season represented the first time they missed the playoffs in back-to-back years since 1992-1993. In an attempt to capitalize on a departing free agent, Brian Cashman gave reliever David Robertson the qualifying offer. Houdini signed a four-year contract with the Chicago White Sox and the Yankees received the No. 30 pick in the following year's draft. They used it on Kyle Holder.

2013

This was, by far, the busiest QO offseason in Yankees history. All of the following names were presented with the offer (worth just $14.1 million!):

• 2B Robinson Cano (rejected, signed with Mariners)
• OF Curtis Granderson (rejected, signed with Mets)
• SP Hiroki Kuroda (re-signed for $16 million)

The Yankees also signed Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, and Jacoby Ellsbury that offseason (nightmare) in what essentially set them back five years and offered them no advantage in the 2014 draft. They lost the Cano draft pick for signing Beltran and they lost the Granderson pick for signing Ellsbury while surrendering picks No. 32, 33 and 34 to the Braves, Cardinals and Red Sox. The players selected were Braxton Davidson, Michael Kopech (used in a trade for Chris Sale) and Jack Flaherty (probably would've been good to have early on in his career).

2012

Can't forget about the first year of the QO! If you remember correctly, that's how the Yankees got Aaron Judge! Yes, it was Nick Swisher signed with the then-Indians for four years and $56 million. The Yankees received the No. 32 overall pick in the 2013 draft and the rest is history.

They also received the No. 33 pick in the draft when reliever Rafael Soriano signed with the Nationals. Ian Clarkin was the selection, and he was later traded to the White Sox in the deadline-saving move that brought Tommy Kahnle, Todd Frazier and David Robertson to New York. In what could be the final year of the QO, those are two good memories to sit on for a bit.

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