MLB released the qualifying offer figure for the 2025 season on the afternoon of Oct. 10. Teams have until five days after the World Series ends to offer $21.05 million to their impending free agents to see if they'll bite and stick it out in their city for another year.
The Boston Red Sox should extend a qualifying offer to free agent outfielder Tyler O'Neill. There's no telling if he'll accept after his breakout season, but he expressed interest in staying with Boston, and it wouldn't hurt to try.
O'Neill slashed .241/.336/.511 over 113 games with the Red Sox, the second-most he's played over his seven-year career and the most since 2021. The 29-year-old posted 18 doubles, a team-leading 31 homers and 61 RBI with Boston.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said the team would be open to another deal with O'Neill after his best season in years. However, the outfielder was known to be frequently injured during his six years with the Cardinals. He's never played more than 138 games in a season, and a pricey new contract could be risky for Boston, which needs right-handed help in the batting order on a daily basis next year.
The Red Sox should extend a qualifying offer to Tyler O'Neill
"I really hope Boston (takes) interest in me... I've made a lot of good relationships and friendships here, really enjoyed the city."
— NESN (@NESN) September 18, 2024
Tyler O'Neill on his upcoming free agency@WebsterOnTV | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/EkwvgD6lTL
If the Sox extend O'Neill a qualifying offer and he accepts, they'll get another year to evaluate his production and see if he can stay healthy long enough to warrant the longer-term deal he hopes for. The $21.05 million offer is a significant raise from the $5,850,000 O'Neill made in 2024, but the one, pricey year could be better than a multi-year extension if his injury issues resurface.
When O'Neill was on, he gave the Sox a much-needed right-handed power surge. Another 31-homer season would help Boston keep up with the slugging Yankees and Orioles in the division race next year. If O'Neill can deliver again, he'll have an easier time getting the long-term contract free agents hope for. If he doesn't meet expectations, the Red Sox will have dodged a bullet on an extension.