2012 MLB Free Agency: Michael Bourn's qualifying offer up next for Braves

The Atlanta Braves will make Michael Bourn a qualifying offer before Friday's deadline, reports Mark Bowman. Part of the new collective bargaining agreement, the offer influences what draft pick compensation the Braves would receive if Bourn signs elsewhere.

The qualifying offer from the Braves must be a one-year deal with a salary equal to the average of the top 125 salaries from the past year, meaning it would be a one-year deal with $13.3 million. Bourn could accept the deal, but if he declines it and signs elsewhere the team that signs him would forfeit a pick in the 2013 MLB draft, a first-round selection unless the team has one of the first 10 draft picks, in which case they forfeit a second-round pick. The Braves would not gain the forfeited pick directly, and would instead gain a pick in the compensation round that comes between Rounds 1 and 2.

The Braves aren't expected to aggressively pursue Bourne, who hit .225 and struck out 155 times in the second half of the 2012 season.