Bauer rejected his $18.9 million qualifying offer from the Reds on Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bauer was expected to turn down the qualifying offer, although he hasn't ruled out a return to Cincinnati after putting together a career-best season in which he recorded a 1.73 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 100:17 K:BB over 73 innings. He's a favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award and should draw significant interest entering his age-30 season.