As expected, the Red Sox didn’t extend any Qualifying Offers before Monday’s deadline, so Adam Duvall and James Paxton are officially on the free agent market with no strings attached.

The Qualifying Offer is a one-year contract specifically for a team’s free agents, but only those who spent the entire season on said team’s roster. The accompanying salary is calculated by averaging the league’s 125 highest-paid players, and this year’s rings up at $20.5 million. It’s the first time the QO salary has cleared $20 million.

Extending a QO is typically just a formality. Players who merit receiving one are likely to do better on the open market. Jacob Ellsbury, for example, rejected Boston’s in November 2013 and signed a seven-year deal with the New York Yankees barely two weeks later.

It’s largely strategic. If a player rejects the QO and signs elsewhere, their original team receives compensation in the form of an additional draft pick. When Eduardo Rodriguez rejected the Red Sox in November 2021, they parlayed that into selecting outfielder Roman Anthony, who earned the organization’s Minor League Hitter of the Year this season.

Justin Turner wasn’t eligible, as he received one from the Dodgers in 2016. Even though he rejected said offer (he later re-signed on a multi-year deal), a player may only receive one QO in their career, regardless of whether or not they accept.

Shohei Ohtani (Angels), Aaron Nola (Phillies), Blake Snell (Padres), Cody Bellinger (Cubs), Josh Hader (Padres), Matt Chapman (Blue Jays), and Sonny Gray (Reds) are the only players who received a QO. Teoscar Hernandez, Jorge Soler, Rhys Hoskins, and Mitch Garver were eligible but did not receive one.

They have until 4 p.m. ET on November 14 to accept or reject.

Making moves

The Red Sox reinstated Jarren Duran and right-hander Wyatt Mills – who didn’t pitch for the major league club at all in 2023 – from the 60-day injured list on Monday. They also outrighted righty Justin Garza from the Major League roster and he elected free agency, putting the 40-man roster at 37.

In other news

While Chaim Bloom declined to interview with the Miami Marlins, citing family reasons, he is in talks with other clubs.

The Chicago Cubs not only replaced David Ross – in whom the Padres are interested for their own managerial vacancy – with longtime Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, but also made Counsell the highest-paid manager in MLB history. He’s signing on the dotted line for a whopping five years and $40 million.

To get him, the Cubs outbid the New York Mets, who are seeking a replacement for Buck Showalter. By a wide margin, according to The Athletic.

Instead, the Mets are making longtime Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza their manager. He’d also been interviewing with Cleveland before they chose Stephen Vogt to succeed Terry Francona’s successor. Vogt, a two-time All-Star catcher, retired after the 2022 season, and spent this year coaching for Seattle. He has a three-year contract.

Javy Baez opted into the remaining four years and $98 million remaining on his six-year, $140 million Detroit Tigers contract. Given his struggles since signing, he wouldn’t have gotten more in free agency. Before arriving in Motor City as a free agent, Baez had back-to-back All-Star seasons in 2018-19, and led the National League with 111 RBI in the former. He’s hit just .230 with a .633 OPS over 280 games across his first two Tigers seasons in Motor City.