Report: Odorizzi strongly considering accepting Twins' qualifying offer

Jake Odorizzi is strongly considering accepting the one-year, $17.8-million qualifying offer tendered to him by the Minnesota Twins, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Odorizzi is one of ten MLB players who've been tendered qualifying offers this winter. He has until Thursday at 5 p.m. ET to make a decision.

Any player who accepts a qualifying offer is ineligible to receive another the following year. If Odorizzi accepts the one-year deal to stay with Minnesota, he'd join a free-agent class led by starters Trevor Bauer, Robbie Ray, and James Paxton next offseason.

If Odorizzi rejects the deal, he'd be attached to draft-pick compensation and have to compete for employment in a stronger pitching market this winter that's set to include Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Madison Bumgarner.

Odorizzi, 29, enjoyed somewhat of a breakout in his second season with the Twins in 2019. The right-hander authored a 3.51 ERA and a 3.36 FIP over 30 starts, posting a career-best 27.1% strikeout rate and making his first All-Star Game.