Choo Shin-soo gets $14.1 million qualifying offer from Reds

The Cincinnati Reds made a $14.1 million qualifying offer to leadoff hitter Choo Shin-soo on Monday, but decided against the same approach for right-hander Bronson Arroyo and four others.

They chose not to make qualifying offers to infielder Cesar Izturis, right-handed reliever Nick Masset and left-handed relievers Manny Parra and Zach Duke. All could re-sign with the Reds as free agents.

Choo was one of the top leadoff hitters in the majors with a .423 on-base percentage, a .285 batting average, 21 homers, 54 RBIs, 20 steals and 107 runs scored. He avoided arbitration last season by agreeing to a one-year, $7,375,000 deal.

If Choo accepts the offer, he stays for another season at $14.1 million. If he declines the offer and signs with another team, the Reds will get compensation in next June’s amateur draft. He has until Monday to make up his mind. He’s expected to seek a multiyear deal.

Arroyo went 14-12 with a 3.79 ERA last season, the final year on his two-year, $23.5 million extension. He had base salaries of $7 million in 2012 and $6.5 million this year. The deal included $15 million deferred, paid out through 2021.

Arroyo joined the Reds in 2006 and has a streak of nine straight seasons with at least 30 starts, making him a dependable part of any rotation.

Izturis was a reserve infielder who batted .209 in 63 games with no homers and 11 RBIs.

Parra was 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 57 games, filling the role of left-handed set-up man while Sean Marshall missed most of the season with shoulder tendinitis. Duke started the season with Washington, made 14 appearances for the Reds at the end of the season and was 1-2 with a 6.03 ERA overall. Masset has been limited by shoulder problems the last two seasons.

Free agents can start negotiating contracts with all teams on Tuesday.

The amount of the qualifying offer, which increased by $800,000 this year, is set by baseball’s collective bargaining agreement as the average of the 125 highest contracts. The World Series champion Boston Red Sox made $14.1 million qualifying offers to free agents Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew on Monday, the first deadline day of baseball’s offseason.

Thirteen free agents received the offers, up from nine last year. The Yankees also extended offers to a trio of players: second baseman Robinson Cano, outfielder Curtis Granderson and pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Others receiving the offers included Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, Cleveland pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and Kansas City pitcher Ervin Santana. AP