Red Sox Make Qualifying Offers to Three Free Agents
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Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images(BOSTON) — The World Series champion Boston Red Sox are already working towards fielding a winning squad for the 2014 season.
The team extended qualifying offers of $14.1 million for one year to free agent center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, first baseman Mike Napoli, and shortstop Stephen Drew, general manager Ben Cherington announced on Monday.
Each player can choose to accept the offer and play 2014 with the one-year deal, or test free agency. The Red sox did not extend an offer to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which means another team can sign him without having to give up a draft pick.
Cherington wants to retain as many players from the 2013 team as possible, even though he understands the feat will be nearly impossible to accomplish.
“With all of our free agents there’s interest in every one of them,” he said. “I also think it’s unlikely that every one of them will be back just because of the nature of the game, it’s difficult to do that.”
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