As expected, the Atlanta Braves issued a qualifying offer to free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson on Monday. The offer is a one-year, $17.8 million deal that Donaldson will assuredly turn down so that he can seek a multi-year deal after re-establishing his value during his one season in Atlanta. By rejecting the qualifying offer, the Braves will in turn receive draft pick compensation should Donaldson sign elsewhere.
Atlanta is expected to try and keep Donaldson so issuing the qualifying offer may not be much more than a formality. However, you need look no further that last offseason to see how much of a deterrent draft pick compensation can be in free agency as it left both Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel without a deal until June.