Free agents shun former teams; Abreu is top rookie

NEW YORK—For the third straight year, baseball’s free agents shunned qualifying offers from their former teams and chose to test the market.

All 12 free agents who were given the $15.3 million offers last week chose not to accept by Monday’s deadline.

One of the dozen, Colorado outfielder Michael Cuddyer, became the first major free agent to switch teams when he agreed to a $21 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets.

World Series star Pablo Sandoval (San Francisco) also let the deadline pass, as did pitcher Max Scherzer and first baseman-designated hitter Victor Martinez (Detroit), left-hander Francisco Liriano and catcher Russell Martin (Pittsburgh).

The others were shortstop Hanley Ramirez (Los Angeles Dodgers), outfielder Nelson Cruz (Baltimore), right-hander James Shields (Kansas City), closer David Robertson (New York Yankees), outfielder Melky Cabrera (Toronto) and pitcher Ervin Santana (Atlanta).

In the three offseasons of the current collective bargaining agreement, none of the 34 qualifying offers have been accepted.

Meanwhile, Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was a unanimous winner of the AL Rookie of the Year award, culminating a season in which the Cuban defector became one of baseball’s top stars.

The 27-year-old received all 30 first place votes for 150 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.  AP