Nov. 17 (UPI) -- San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt accepted an $18.4 million qualifying offer from the club Wednesday that will keep him with the franchise for the 2022 season.
Belt opted to accept the qualifying offer instead of pursuing bidders as a free agent. He was the only player to accept the offer among the 14 free agents who received one from their former clubs Nov. 7.
Players who rejected qualifying offers included Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Raisel Iglesias, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander and 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager.
Shortly after Wednesday's deadline for players to accept the offers, Astros pitcher Justin Verlander -- who previously declined the team's qualifying offer -- agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with Houston. The pact includes a player option for a second season.
Meanwhile, two of the players who received offers have already finalized contracts with new clubs. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez left the Boston Red Sox for a five-year, $77 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, while right-hander Noah Syndergaard departed the New York Mets for a one-year, $21 million contract with the Angels.
The 33-year-old Belt totaled a career-high 29 home runs for the Giants this past season. He also had a .274 batting average with 59 RBIs over 97 games with San Francisco.