Red Sox extend qualifying offer to closer Craig Kimbrel

The Red Sox gave free agent Craig Kimbrel a qualifying offer for 2019, ensuring that, at the very least, they'll get a compensatory draft pick for the reliever should Kimbrel sign elsewhere.

The qualifying offer is worth $17.9 million. Kimbrel, one of seven major league free agents who received an offer, has 10 days to accept or reject the offer.

Should he accept it -- and there's virtually no chance of this happening -- he would immediately become property of the Red Sox and forfeit his free agent status. The two sides could also continue negotiating toward a long-term deal.

If he rejects the offer -- as all but five free agents out of 73 have since the system was put in place six seasons ago -- the Sox can continue negotiating with Kimbrel, as can other teams.

Under the old system, the Red Sox would have received a first-round pick should Kimbrel sign elsewhere. But under the current collective bargaining agreement, the compensation system is far more complicated, taking into account -- among other factors -- market size and the size of the contract signed.

Trumping all of that, in this case, is the fact that the Red Sox were one of two teams -- the Washington Nationals were the other -- to go over the luxury tax threshold this season. That means the Red Sox will only collect a fourth-round pick should Kimbrel sign with another team.