Cano, Granderson, Kuroda Reject Yankees' Qualifying Offers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Second baseman Robinson Cano, outfielder Curtis Granderson and starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda have declined the Yankees' qualifying offers.
The qualifying offers were for one year at $14.1 million.
Each player had until Monday to decide if he wanted to accept the offer. Cano, Granderson and Kuroda can still re-sign with the Yankees despite rejecting the offers. However, if any of those players sign with another team, the Yankees will receive compensatory draft pick(s) from the team(s) who signed the ex-Yankee(s).
The Yankees received draft picks last offseason when Rafael Soriano and Nick Swisher signed with the Nationals and Indians, respectively.
Cano, Granderson and Kuroda were all expected to turn down the offers, as all three can earn more than $14.1 million on the open market. The only player who reportedly considered accepting the offer was Granderson.
Cano, the most coveted free agent on the market, batted .314 with 27 homers and 107 RBIs in 2013. He has reportedly asked for more than $300 million over the next 10 years, but many believe he'll likely cost closer to $200 million over a shorter term.
Granderson had a nightmarish season, with injuries limiting him to just 61 games. The 32-year-old struggled, batting just .229 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs. The Mets are rumored to have interest in the left-handed hitter.
Kuroda was New York's undisputed ace last season, although he floundered down the stretch. In 32 starts he went 11-13 with a 3.31 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 201 1/3 innings. If he doesn't re-sign with the Yankees, he might retire or return to Japan to finish his career.
The Yankees declined to extend qualifying offers to Joba Chamberlain, Travis Hafner, Phil Hughes, Lyle Overbay, Mark Reynolds, Brendan Ryan and Kevin Youkilis.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
