Six top free agents receive qualifying offers

Six free agents have received qualifying offers from their MLB teams this offseason, giving them the opportunity to accept a oneyear deal to return or take their services to the open market.

The six represent some of the top names in this year's free-agent class — including Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer, Houston Astros outfielder George Springer and Philadelphia Phillies catcher and former Carl Albert High star J.T. Realmuto.

Also on the list: New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu, New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman and San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Players who receive the qualifying offer have 10 days to either accept and play next season on a oneyear, $18.9 million contract or decline and opt for free agency. If they do sign with another team, their former team receives a draft pick as compensation.

24 RBIs in 39 games in 2019, his first season with the Orioles.

METS: Reliever Dellin Betances exercised his $6 million player option for next season with the New York Mets on Sunday, deciding against taking a $3 million buyout and becoming a free agent. A 6-foot-8 right-hander who turns 33 on March 23, Betances signed with the Mets last December for a deal that guaranteed $10.5 million: a $5.3 million signing bonus and a $2.2 million salary plus the option for 2021. He was a four-time All-Star while playing seven seasons for the cross-town Yankees.

YANKEES: Giancarlo Stanton is keeping the remaining $218 million and seven guaranteed years in his New York Yankees contract rather than opt out after a pair of injurydecimated seasons.