Reports: Colby Rasmus to accept qualifying offer from Astros

Colby Rasmus will accept the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Astros.

Colby Rasmus will accept the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Astros, according to multiple reports. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal was first to report the news. 

Rasmus will be the first player to accept a qualifying offer since the system was introduced four years ago. 

In order for a team to receive draft pick compensation if a player leaves in free agency, it must extend a qualifying offer to the player. Qualifying offers are identical across the league—one year at a rate calculated by averaging the 125 highest salaries in the majors from the previous season. 

Rasmus, 29, signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Houston prior to this season. He batted .238 with a .789 OPS and hit 25 home runs in 137 games. He played at least 43 games at each outfield position but spent the most time in leftfield. 

- Dan Gartland