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Colby Rasmus reportedly accepts qualifying offer from Houston Astros
HOUSTON -- A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that outfielder Colby Rasmus has accepted the Astros' one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, making him the first free agent to agree to such a deal.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the team hasn't announced the move.
All 34 qualifying offers were turned down in the first three years of baseball's current collective bargaining agreement. When a player rejects the deal to test the market, his former team receives an additional high selection in the June draft.
There were 20 qualifying offers made to free agents this year. The deadline to accept or reject the offer is Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Rasmus, 29, hit .238 with a career-high 25 home runs and 61 RBIs in his first season with the Astros. He had four homers in six postseason games, including one in the American League wild-card game against the New York Yankees.
Rasmus is a career .245 hitter in seven major league seasons.
The deal was first reported by Fox Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the team hasn't announced the move.
All 34 qualifying offers were turned down in the first three years of baseball's current collective bargaining agreement. When a player rejects the deal to test the market, his former team receives an additional high selection in the June draft.
There were 20 qualifying offers made to free agents this year. The deadline to accept or reject the offer is Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Rasmus, 29, hit .238 with a career-high 25 home runs and 61 RBIs in his first season with the Astros. He had four homers in six postseason games, including one in the American League wild-card game against the New York Yankees.
Rasmus is a career .245 hitter in seven major league seasons.
The deal was first reported by Fox Sports.