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Colby Rasmus accepts Astros' one year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, per report

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Colby Rasmus will be the first player in MLB history to accept a qualifying offer.

By Ryan Dunsmore
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Outfielder Colby Rasmus plans to accept the Astros qualifying offer of one year, $15.8 million dollars to return to Houston, per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Rasmus had until Friday, Nov. 13, to accept or reject the offer and become a free agent. If Rasmus did in fact sign elsewhere, the Astros would have received compensation in the form of a draft pick.

Qualifying offers had become a hindrance for free agents or a big roll of the dice as the team signing a player with a qualifying offer would lose a draft pick (outside of the top ten picks) -- not every player is equal to a first or second round pick as often the case. Thus forcing some players to sit waiting in qualifying offer purgatory until after the draft so a team could pick them up without the loss of a pick.

That could have been the case for Rasmus if he hadn't signed the qualifying offer, there isn't always a team like the Mets who were willing to lose a draft for the Michael Cuddyer last season.

Rasmus signed with the Astros this offseason after spending four season with the Toronto Blue Jays -- Jeff Luhnow was part of the Cardinals' front office that drafted Colby Rasmus in 2005. Rasmus signed a one year, $8 million contract.

Rasmus batted .238 (103x432) with 28 doubles, 25 home runs, and 61 RBIs while playing all three outfield positions. He exploded in the postseason,  batting .412 (7x17) with a double, four home runs, seven walks, six RBIs, and 1.760 OPS.

If Rasmus does infact accept the offer, the Astros outfield will be set with George Springer in right, Carlos Gomez in center, and Rasmus in left.

UPDATE:

Houston Chronicle's confirms that Rasmus has already accepted the offer:


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