Earlier this week, eight players received a qualifying offer worth $23.15MM. Arguably, Jake Bauers was the most surprising name on the list. Whether he will accept that QO or not is one of the most interesting stories of the early offseason. Arguments can be made in either direction.
Two years ago, Bauers had one foot out the door of baseball. From 2018 to 2024, he bounced around the league, playing for the Rays, Guardians, Mariners, Yankees and Brewers. Teams clearly saw the talent but Bauers couldn’t put it all together. After the 2024 season, he had a career line of .