Report: Rasmus to become 1st MLB player ever to accept qualifying offer

Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus will accept a one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer from the club, becoming the first player in MLB history to do so, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

No player has ever accepted a qualifying offer since the system was created in 2012, so Rasmus must have thought $15.8 million was enticing enough of a salary to stay with the Astros, especially with a free-agent outfield crop that could contain Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon, and Justin Upton.

34 players have received and rejected qualifying offers since the system was put in place.

The deadline for players to accept is Friday at 5 p.m ET.

Rasmus, 29, hit .238/.314/.475 with 25 home runs and 61 RBIs in 432 at-bats in 2015, while making $8 million.