Outfielder Justin Upton and right-hander Ian Kennedy were extended qualifying offers of $15.8 million by the San Diego Padres Friday.
By extending the qualifying offer, the Padres would receive draft pick compensations if one, or both, of the players decided to depart in free agency.
A record 20 players were extended qualifying offers by their teams this off-season, however no players has ever accepted a qualifying offer in MLB history.
While Upton’s offer doesn’t come as a surprise, the team went down to the wire on Friday’s deadline to extend an offer for Kennedy.
Kennedy went 9-15 last year with a 4.28 ERA while surrendering a career-high 31 home runs. He has been a staple in the Padres rotation the last two seasons with 63 starts, trailing only right-hander Tyson Ross over that span.
Players have until 2:30 p.m. next Friday to either reject or accept the qualifying offer.
Upton is not expected to accept his, and Kennedy’s agent Scott Boras is one of the top agents in the sport, so there’s a chance Kennedy might reject his as well and test free agency.
