CINCINNATI -- Reds free agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer had until Wednesday to accept or reject the club¡¯s qualifying offer and remain a part of the organization. According to his agent last week, Bauer decided he didn¡¯t need that extra time and rejected the offer, and the decision became official after Wednesday's deadline passed.

¡°Trevor Bauer has rejected the QO but not the Reds, and he looks forward to speaking with them and all other interested teams through free agency,¡± agent Rachel Luba tweeted last week.

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On Nov. 1, Cincinnati tendered the $18.9 million qualifying offer to Bauer, who won the 2020 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday. The qualifying offer, established in 2012, is tied to MLB Draft pick compensation and is rarely accepted by players.

If Bauer signs with another club for $50 million or more, the Reds will receive a compensation pick before Competitive Balance Round A. If he signs somewhere else for less than $50 million, the club will get a pick after Compensation Round B.

Bauer, 29, was 5-4 with an NL-best 1.73 ERA, 276 ERA+ and 100 strikeouts in 11 starts and a National League-leading 73 innings during the shortened 2020 season. In Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, which resulted in a no-decision and 1-0 Reds loss to Atlanta in 13 innings, the right-hander pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.