MLB Rumors: Willson Contreras Declines $19.7M Cubs Qualifying Offer, Will Become FA

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Willson Contreras will become a free agent after declining the Chicago Cubs' $19.65 million Qualifying Offer.

He is a three-time All-Star who has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Cubs.

Heyman said that he should do well on the open market.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Detroit Tigers are interested in the team.

Jon Morosi @jonmorosi

#Tigers are looking at the catching market as the offseason begins. They’re interested in free agent Willson Contreras, whom Scott Harris knows from his tenure in Chicago. @MLBNetwork

The Astros were interested so much that they and the Cubs agreed to a deal that would have sent starting pitcher Jose Urquidy to the Windy City. That approval never happened.

The Post-Dispatch's Ben Frederickson wrote last month that the Cards should benefit from the loss of the Cubs' catcher.

One of the best offensive catchers in baseball will be on that team regardless of where he ends up.

Last season, only two catchers with 300 or more at-bats had a better batting average. The other was his brother. J.T. Realmuto is a catcher for the Philadelphia Phils. He did 39 times last season as a designated hitter because he was good at the dish.

It will be a lot of money to sign Contreras. In June, Heyman reported that Contreras was likely to seek a deal of more than $100 million over five years.

That could be worth it for a player of his caliber, and he will be one to watch as the hot stove season rolls on.