If the outfielder declines, the team he signs with will be docked a draft pick.
The Rockies have announced today that Michael Cuddyer is getting a qualifying offer worth $15.3 million. If the veteran accepts, he'll stay with the Rockies on a one-year deal. If he declines, the team he eventually signs with will lose its top unprotected pick in this June's draft.
Colorado would also get a compensatory draft pick if Cuddyer declines the qualifying offer and then signs elsewhere.
Since the Mets are in need of a corner outfielder this winter, the team has been linked to Cuddyer, but now signing the outfielder will cost the Mets their unprotected first-round draft pick, which is No. 15 overall. With that, Marc Carig of Newsday says, the Mets are no longer interested in Cuddyer.
Cuddyer will be 36 years old when the 2015 season begins, and he's coming off of an injury-plagued season. On the other hand, he did managed to accumulate 1.5 fWAR in just 49 games in 2014 due to a .332/.376/.579 slash line. In 2013, Cuddyer hit .331/.389/.530 and was worth 2.4 fWAR in 130 games. He's also valued because of his leadership skills.