NEW YORK -- The Los Angeles Dodgers extended qualifying offers to Chris Taylor and Corey Seager, free agent All-Stars, but not Clayton Kershaw.
Taylor and Seager were among 14 players who were offered $18.4million, one-year qualifying offers deals prior to the deadline on Sunday night. Players who reject these offers and sign with another team are entitled to compensation for draft picks.
Kershaw, 33 years old, spent 14 years in Los Angeles. He won three Cy Young Awards as well as the 2020 World Series with Los Angeles. Kershaw finished his 22 regular-season seasons at 10-8, with a 3.55 ERA. He missed more than two months due to inflammation of his elbow and forearm.
Kershaw was forced to leave his Oct. 1 start due to a recurrence. He did not pitch in this season's postseason. Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager, stated at that time that Kershaw's Ulnar Collateral Ligament was intact and that he didn't need Tommy John surgery. However, the general health of Kershaw's left arm will remain unknown until he starts throwing again this offseason.
Kershaw is still being sought by the Dodgers, and they are determined to find a way to bring him back at least for the 2022 season. The decision to not extend a qualifying offer allows both sides more time to assess his health.
Atlanta slugger Freddie Freeman was offered a qualifying offer by the World Series-winning Braves. The AL champion Houston Astros also extended offers to shortstop Carlos Correa, and right-hander Justin Verlander. The 38-year old hopes to be back next season after missing 2021 due to Tommy John surgery.
The New York Mets announced Saturday that righty Noah Syndergaard and outfielder Michael Conforto were eligible for qualifying offers. The Toronto Blue Jays were also the only team to receive multiple qualifying offers. They were made to Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray, a left-handed pitcher.
Semien will be a free agent for the second consecutive season, but he did not receive a qualifying deal from Oakland last year. He instead signed a $18 million, one-year contract with Toronto. Under the collective bargaining agreement that expires at the end the month, players can only receive qualifying offers once during their career.
The qualifying offer list included Eduardo Rodriguez from Boston, Nick Castellanos of Cincinnati, Trevor Story from Colorado, Raisel Iglesias of the Los Angeles Angels, Brandon Belt, San Francisco's first baseman, and Trevor Story, a Cincinnati shortstop.
Notable free agents not receiving qualifying offers were Jon Gray from Colorado, Carlos Rodon from Chicago White Sox and Alex Wood, Giants pitchers Anthony DeSclafani or Alex Wood.
The deadline for players to accept or reject the offer is November 17. Since 2012, only 10 of the 96 eligible players have accepted a qualifying offer.
This story was contributed by Alden Gonzalez, ESPN.
