Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano declined their $15.3 million qualifying offers Monday, ensuring the Pirates receive compensation if either – or both – of them sign elsewhere.
Declining the offer was a sure thing for Martin, the top free-agent catcher on the market. By turning down the offer, Liriano and his representatives signaled their belief that being attached to draft pick compensation will not do too much damage to Liriano’s market value.
The Pirates can continue to negotiate with Martin and Liriano.
“We remain open to a potential return to Pittsburgh for each player,” general manager Neal Huntington said.
Teams can receive draft picks after the end of the first round by offering a one-year contract to free agents who have played the entire season for their club. The contracts are worth the average of the top 125 biggest contracts in baseball in the just-finished season, which this year totals $15.3 million.
Each of the other 10 players who received qualifying offers this year also declined them, meaning all 34 players given qualifying offers in the three years of the new system rejected them. In addition to providing compensation for losing a player in free agency, qualifying offers saddle free agents with draft-pick compensation that lowers their value on the market.
The Pirates moved up one spot, to No. 22, in the 2015 draft order after the New York Mets signed outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who turned down a qualifying offer from the Colorado Rockies. The Mets lost the No. 15 overall draft pick. If both Martin and Liriano sign with other teams, the Pirates will have three picks in the top 40.
Martin, who will be 32 on opening day, hit .290 with a .402 on-base percentage last season while playing excellent defense and working well with the Pirates’ pitching staff. He could seek a deal in the range of those signed by Brian McCann, Miguel Montero and Yadier Molina, which were all for five years and between $60 million and $85 million.
The Chicago Cubs met with Martin and his agent, according to ESPN Chicago. The Cubs have money to spend, just hired Joe Maddon as manager and according to reports are interested in the top free-agent starting pitchers on the market. The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly interested in Martin, in addition to the Pirates, who want to bring him back.
Liriano, 31, had 3.38 ERA in 1621/3 innings. His strikeout and ground-ball rate improved in 2014, but his walk rate also climbed. Liriano and Edinson Volquez are both free agents and the Pirates would like both to return. Their rotation will be thin if both depart, especially because of the uncertainty regarding when Charlie Morton will return from his hip surgery.
First Published: March 24, 2016, 5:06 p.m.