MLB RUMORS: Houston Astros OF Colby Rasmus Becomes First Player to Accept Qualifying Offer

UPDATE: Rasmus has officially accepted the qualifying offer.

OF Colby Rasmus has accepted the #Astros qualifying offer and will return to the club for the 2016 season, GM Jeff Luhnow announced today.
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 13, 2015

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The qualifying offer has been around for over three years now. No player has ever accepted the one-year deal, but that will change as the latest rumors suggest Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus plans to do so.

Earlier this evening FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Rasmus would be accepting the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Astros, which is now MLB history.

Sources: Free-agent outfielder Colby Rasmus will accept qualifying offer and return to the Astros for one year, $15.8 million. Story coming.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 12, 2015

"Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, in his previous job with the Cardinals, made Rasmus the 28th overall selection for St. Louis in the 2005 draft," Rosenthal wrote. "Rasmus went on to play for the Cardinals and Blue Jays, but he enjoyed a comfort level with the Astros that eluded him earlier in his career.

"During the regular season, he hit a career-high 25 homers with a .789 OPS. He then added four home runs in six postseason games. It is reasonable for him to expect to be as good or even better next season."

And let's not forget about his postseason heroics. Rasmus batted .429/.600/1.143 with three runs scored, three home runs and five RBI in six playoff games with the Astros this season.

The deadline to accept the qualifying offer is Friday at 5 p.m. ET. The MLB also witnessed another record this offseason when 20 free agents were presented with the offer. In the previous three seasons 34 players were given the one-year offer.

Here are the rest of those waiting to make a decision on the QO:

Brett Anderson, SP, LAD

Wei-Yin Chen, SP, BAL

Chris Davis, 1B, BAL

Ian Desmond, SS, WSH

Marco Estrada, SP, TOR

Dexter Fowler, OF, CHC

Yovani Gallardo, SP, TEX

Alex Gordon, OF, KC

Zack Greinke, SP, LAD

Jason Heyward, OF, STL

Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA