Headed for free agency Ray rejected the Blue Jays' $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022 prior to Wednesday's deadline, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Impact Ray provided an excellent return on the Jays' one-year, $8 million investment this past season, and he'll pocket an additional $150,000 if he's named the American League Cy Young Award winner later Wednesday. Though the qualifying offer would more than double his salary for 2022, Ray shouldn't have trouble securing a multi-year deal at a higher annual average value coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he submitted a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248 strikeouts over 193.1 innings. Toronto will receive a compensatory draft pick if Ray heads elsewhere, but expect the Blue Jays to at least make an effort to retain him, even if another team ultimately outbids them for his services.
NOVEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE