Wieters accepts Orioles’ $15.8 million qualifying offer to return in 2016

Of the 34 players extended qualifying offers since 2012, Rasmus is the only one to accept. For Rasmus, it appears that the process worked. Fox Sports reported that Rasmus was the first player ever to accept the qualifying offer when he officially agreed to sign the Houston Astros today.

The O’s likely expected Wieters, the most high-profile catcher on the free agent market, would reject the one-year qualifying offer and pursue a multi-year contract elsewhere – especially with Scott Boras as his agent.

Anderson, Rasmus and Wieters will be returning to the Dodgers, Astros and Orioles, respectively, and all three will hope to build on their 2015 seasons to make a bigger splash in next winter’s thinner free agent market.

This is uncharted territory, and it could dramatically change the dynamic of the qualifying offer process, forcing teams that once viewed it as an easy, automatic path to a pick to rethink their strategy.

Murphy, despite his impressive postseason for the Mets, is a poor defensive second baseman who has averaged 1.6 bWAR over the last four seasons.

Anderson, a 27-year-old left-hander, was 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA.

For now, Wieters will reclaim his role as the Orioles’ starting catcher, while the O’s will need to adjust their offseason plans with an unexpected $15.8 million contract on the books.

Rasmus’ salary will become the third-highest for a position player in Houston history. If the player declines the qualifying offer, he hits the open market, but whichever team signs him then has to give draft-pick compensation to the team with the qualifying offer.

Rasmus the first free agent to agree to such a deal.

“When it came down to it, there’s no other organization or city from my experience in the major leagues where I’d rather play, especially on a one-year deal, than Baltimore”, Wieters said. Until today that would have been enough for a player to decline the offer and risk free agency. Would another team really be willing to cough up its first-round draft pick for such a questionable player? He hit. 267 with eight homers and 25 RBIs.

For now, three players who could have tested free agency are instead inked to one-year deals.

And what’s a postseason home run without a postseason bat flip?

“He’s comfortable in the clubhouse, he’s got an excellent relationship with several of the players, the veteran players, and of course Buck Showalter”.