This off-season, free agents that are extended qualifying offers by their current teams will be in store for a paycheck worth $15.3 million should they accept their offers.
The figure was arrived at by averaging the 125 highest-paid players in a given season. The qualifying offer enables a team to either bring back a player that has spent the year on that team, or receive a bonus draft pick in the first-year player draft.
The $15.3 million is a 8.5% increase over last years number of $14.1 million.
This can impact the Mets in a number of ways. Mainly, if a free agent to-be is extended an offer and declines it, the Mets will forfeit their unprotected first round pick in the upcoming draft in June.
However, Sandy Alderson has stated a few times that there will be no significant additions via free agency this off-season, and payroll is expected to remain at current levels.
