Soriano, Kuroda, Swisher decline Yankees' qualifying offer

The New York Yankees extended one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offers to reliever Rafael Soriano, starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and outfielder Nick Swisher last week, but all three of the free agents declined the one-year offers, the Yankees announced on Friday.

The decisions did not surprise Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, "I'm not surprised whatsoever. I expected it."

All are now free agents and free to sign with any club, but the team signing any of the three players will be required to forfeit their top unprotected draft pick in the upcoming MLB draft. However, that pick will not be headed to New York as it did in past years.

Instead, the Yankees will receive draft pick compensation in the form of one additional draft pick following the first round, if any of the three signs elsewhere. So, if all three players decide against a return to the Bronx, the Yankees will net three additional draft picks.