DETROIT – A qualifying offer is a one-year contract offer at a fixed salary -- for the 2025-26 offseason, it’s $22.025 million -- which equals the average salary of the leagues 125 highest-paid players.
Every player who receives a qualifying offer from their team is offered exactly the same amount for a one-year contract.
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In order for a player to be eligible for a qualifying offer, they must have spent the full season with the team and never received a qualifying offer before.
If Torres accepts the Tigers’ qualifying offer, he signs a one-year, $22.025 million dollar deal for the 2026 season and becomes a free agent again next offseason. This also restricts him from being traded until June 15, 2026.
If Torres declines the Tigers’ qualifying offer, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team. Because he rejected a qualifying offer, his new team will pay a penalty of a loss of a draft pick and international money.
The Tigers, on the other hand, would receive draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
If he were to sign for $50 million or more, Detroit gets a compensation pick between the first round and competitive balance round A (early in the draft). If he signs for less than $50 million, Detroit gets a pick after competitive balance round B (later in the draft).
Torres has until November 18, 2025 (10 days) to decide whether he will accept or decline the offer.