The World Series will be over this time next week and so begins the MLB offseason. Once the final opt-out is made, teams have five days to make a number of roster decisions, including whether or not to offer qualifying offers to players ready to become free agents.

THE Red Sox it’s realistic to have two candidates for the one-year, $21.05 million deal – Nick Pivetta And Tyler O’Neill.

Among their other free agents, reliever Chris Martin is eligible but probably not worth this contract. Closer Kenley Jansen is not eligible because he was already offered one and all three players were traded at the deadline – relievers Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims and receiver Danny Jansen – are also not eligible because they were traded during the season.

One thing to keep in mind: If the Red Sox extend a QO to any player and the player declines and signs elsewhere, the Red Sox will receive an additional draft pick after the second round in 2025.

Another note: The five-day window before free agency opens is also an exclusive negotiation period with the team and its free agents. The Red Sox could opt not to extend QOs to Pivetta or O’Neill and instead strike longer deals for one or the other. Both players have expressed interest in returning to Boston, but it seems likely they will first want to see what offers are available on the open market.

With that in mind, let’s look at the arguments for and against offering Pivetta and O’Neill one-year contracts.

Nick Pivetta, RHP

Pivetta turns 32 in February and has been a durable part of the rotation since the Red Sox traded him at the deadline in 2020 for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. This was one of former baseball executive Chaim Bloom’s most successful trades, as Pivetta posted a 4.29 ERA in 131 games, 107 starts, with a strikeout rate of 27 percent in Boston.

After bouncing between the rotation and bullpen last season, Pivetta solidified his position in the rotation this year and had his best season as a starter, posting a 4.14 ERA with a strikeout rate. batting 28.9 percent over 27 games, 26 starts.

NICK PIVETTA WITH HIS 8TH RIGHT TAKEDOWN!

TIES ROGER CLEMENS FOR FRANCHISE RECORD! pic.twitter.com/LV4yyy23DX

-Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) May 30, 2024

Why the Red Sox should give him a QO

On the open market, it’s likely Pivetta could land a two- or three-year deal in the $30 million to $45 million range. Given the Red Sox’s need for pitching depth, retaining a familiar, durable pitcher who knows how to handle the Boston market on a one-year deal could be a smart move. If Pivetta rejected the deal in hopes of finding a longer-term deal elsewhere, the Red Sox could choose a draft pick.

Why the Red Sox should NOT give him a QO

The Red Sox need to prioritize a top-notch starter, not to mention a right-handed bat and bullpen. They could find some of those pieces via trade, but giving $21 million of their payroll to Pivetta significantly reduces the roughly $60 million they have to spend this winter before reaching the first tier of the tax threshold luxury of $241 million.

Tyler O’Neill, OF

Baseball chief Craig Breslow traded for O’Neill last winter, shortly after the Alex Verdugo the trade and acquisition of O’Neill was one of his shrewdest transactions. The Red Sox sent minor league pitchers Victor Santos And Nick Robertson in St. Louis as part of the deal. At the time, O’Neill was a leading candidate for a “change of scenery” for the Cardinalsafter dealing with injuries and inconsistency during his time in St. Louis.

In Boston, O’Neill, who turns 30 in June, showed the type of player he can be, hitting .241 with an .847 OPS and leading the team with 31 home runs in just 113 games. He hit a career-high 34 home runs in 2021, but did so in 138 games. He continued to struggle with injuries in Boston, including a concussion early in the season and a leg infection late in the year, and his strikeout rate was far too high, sitting at 33. 6 percent. But he also gave the club a right-handed bat and the pulling power they needed.

Tyler O’Neill sends a #departure HR way above the monster! pic.twitter.com/nRtMZdBOo1

– MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2024

Why the Red Sox should give him a QO

The Red Sox are in dire need of more right-handed power. Signing O’Neill to a one-year deal would strengthen the offense, but also keep the door open for prospects and other young outfielders in the system. Signing another free agent outfielder as Teoscar Hernández That would likely require a multi-year deal and could worsen the impasse in the outfield.

O’Neill made $5.85 million in his final year of arbitration last year, so the QO deal would represent a significant increase, but he could look to capitalize on a strong year by seeking a more long. Athletics Jim Bowden suggests O’Neill could land two-year, $32 million contract on the free market. If that’s the case and the Red Sox offered the QO, they would get an additional draft pick if he signed elsewhere.

Why the Red Sox should NOT give him a QO

O’Neill powered the offense for long stretches, but he also had immensely streaky stretches where strikeouts piled up. During that time, he missed 49 games. His defense wasn’t on par with the Gold Gloves he won in 2020 and 2021. He was minus-4 above average this year. The Red Sox could look for right-handed power at another position with an outfield already crowded with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu And Ceddanne RafaelaAnd Romain Antoine and utility Christian Campbell on the horizon. While O’Neill has provided a spark to the lineup on several occasions, the Red Sox could use that money to find a better fit elsewhere.

(Top illustration photo by Tyler O’Neill and Nick Pivetta / David Butler II / Imagn Images)