This past Tuesday was the deadline for players to accept or decline the $19.65 million qualifying offer for the 2023 season. The Los Angeles Dodgers extended the one-year contract to free agents Trea Turner and Tyler Anderson, but both rejected it.
Turner was widely expected to decline the qualifying offer as he is set to receive a long-term deal that could exceed $300 million in total value.
As for Anderson, he was considered more likely to accept the qualifying offer, but turned it down in favor of signing a three-year, $39 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Anderson was tempted to take the qualifying offer with the Dodgers but ultimately preferred the security of a multi-year contract with the Angels, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
Anderson said it was appealing to return to the Dodgers for at least one year, at a salary higher than the $13 million per year he’s getting from the Angels, but he ultimately decided to take the security of a multi-year deal.
Anderson said the Dodgers were “a good team, a fun atmosphere, a great city,” but he added that he also feels the Angels can give him what he wants, on and off the field.
Anderson put himself in position to sign a multi-year contract after an impressive 2022 season with the Dodgers. The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $8 million contract during Spring Training and began in the bullpen before being needed in the starting rotation because of an Andrew Heaney injury.
Anderson went on to finish 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 30 games (28 starts). The left-hander earned a first career All-Star Game selection, though didn’t pitch in the exhibition at Dodger Stadium.
Because Anderson declined the qualifying offer from the Dodgers, they will receive a compensation pick after the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Dodgers were unwilling to give Tyler Anderson three-year contract
While the Dodgers had interest in re-signing Anderson, they reportedly were unwilling to add a third year to their contract offer.
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