Cruz receives qualifying offer

The Orioles made the expected move this afternoon and extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz. The deadline was 5 p.m.

Cruz will turn it down, of course, and continue to seek a four- or five-year deal in free agency. The Orioles will continue to negotiate with his agent, Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports, but so can every other team.

The Orioles will receive a compensatory draft pick at the end of the first round if Cruz signs with another club.

The qualifying offer has risen from $13.3 million to $14.1 million to $15.3 million over the past three years.

Cruz settled for a one-year, $8 million deal in spring training and led the majors with 40 home runs. He hit two more in the American League Division Series.

Overall, Cruz batted .271/.333/.525 with 32 doubles, 40 homers and 108 RBIs in 159 games during the regular season.

The Orioles have held discussions with Bentz, but the sides are far apart. Cruz, who turns 35 in July, is seeking a four- or five-year deal and the Orioles won't venture into that territory.

Right fielder Nick Markakis did not receive a qualifying offer. His agent remains in negotiations with the Orioles and the discussions have centered on a four-year deal.

The Orioles also reinstated catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado from the 60-day disabled list today, giving them 33 players on the 40-man roster.

Machado, 22, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 2 with a right knee sprain. He had surgery on Aug. 27 and batted .278/.324/.431 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs in 82 games.

Wieters, 28, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 13 and had ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on June 17. He batted .308/.339/.500 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in 26 games.

Both players are expected to be full-go at the start of spring training, but the Orioles will have a better sense of their respective recoveries at the January minicamp in Sarasota.