On Monday, eight players around Major League Baseball received a qualifying offer before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.

Those players were Randy Arozarena (Seattle Mariners), Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs), Brandon Lowe (Pittsburgh Pirates), Adrian Morejon (San Diego Padres), David Bednar (New York Yankees), Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota Twins), Jake Bauers (Milwaukee Brewers) and Trevor Rogers (Baltimore Orioles).

The Toronto Blue Jays did not use the qualifying offer on starting pitcher Shane Bieber, though those other decisions will have a big impact on how the Jays conduct business this offseason.

By being given the qualifying offer, each of the above eight players received a one-year contract worth about $23 million. 

Those players have until Nov. 17 to accept or reject the deal. If they accept, they will return to their 2026 teams on that one-year deal. If they reject and sign elsewhere, then the original team will get draft pick compensation and the signing team will be penalized as well.

If the Blue Jays are to sign any of the players above, they will have to pay the player a contract, obviously. But as a high-spending team that paid the competitive balance tax this season, the Jays would also need to forfeit their second and fifth-highest selections in the 2027 MLB Draft, as well as $1 million in international bonus money (MLBTradeRumors).

And after getting heavily penalized last season for signing Dylan Cease in free agency, will the Blue Jays be eager to pay this penalty again?

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for me, it would be worth it - in certain spots.

After finishing last in the major leagues in runs scored in 2026, and last in home runs, I think the Blue Jays are in desperate need of power. I also think they are in need of a right-handed hitting outfielder to pair with Brett Bateman, Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes.

For me, signing Arozarena or Suzuki would be worth the penalty. However, I don't believe signing Lowe at second base would be worth the penalty and I'd rather the Jays look to Jazz Chisholm if they are going to upgrade over Ernie Clement.

The team will proceed with business as usual, and the general managers meetings will take place from Nov. 9-12 in Las Vegas.