What happened: Major League Baseball clubs face a 5 p.m. ET deadline on Monday to issue qualifying offers to eligible free agents. Jake Bauers, Adrian Morejon and Ian Happ are among the players under evaluation for the one-year tender, per Jon Morosi.

Why it matters: A qualifying offer ties draft-pick compensation to departing free agents if they sign elsewhere on the open market. Extending the offer carries an immediate financial commitment if accepted, making bubble decisions critical for team payroll flexibility.

What to watch: Teams must formally submit all qualifying offer decisions before the 5 p.m. ET cutoff. Players who receive offers will then have until mid-November to accept or decline.