The Angels did not make the qualifying offer to Jason Vargas, as expected, which means they will not get any draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
Vargas can still re-sign with the Angels, but starting on Tuesday all 30 teams can negotiate with all free agents.
This year the qualifying offer is $14.1 million, which is calculated by averaging the top 125 salaries in 2013. Players who get the qualifying offer have one week to accept it. If they do, they are signed for one year, although they can still renegotiate a multiyear deal.
The Angels have shown some interest in having Vargas back, but apparently not for the $14.1 million price tag. The Angels don’t have much room to add payroll without triggering the competitive balance tax.
Vargas, who will be 31 next season, was 9-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 150 innings with the Angels. He missed nearly two months after having surgery to have a blood clot removed.
So far Ubaldo Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda and Ervin Santana are the only starting pitchers reportedly given qualifying offers, which likely takes them out of consideration for the Angels. The Angels aren’t likely to be willing to part with their first-round draft pick considering the state of their farm system.
Bronson Arroyo, A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon, Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Phil Hughes, Josh Johnson and Scott Kazmir are among the other top free agent starters.
