Report: MLB qualifying offer will rise to $17.2M

Major League Baseball's qualifying offer will rise to $17.2 million in the offseason, a source told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

The figure represents an increase from last year's sum of $15.8 million, which was offered to a record-breaking 20 players last fall. For the first time ever, three players (Matt Wieters, Colby Rasmus, and Brett Anderson) accepted the qualifying offer, which ensures teams a pick in the compensation round of the draft should the players elect to sign with another club.

Rosenthal notes the current qualifying offer system is expected to remain in place under terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, though "possible adjustments" could be made.

This year's free-agent class is expected to include Toronto Blue Jays sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, both of whom will likely receive qualifying offers following the conclusion of the World Series.