Earlier today Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus became the first player to accept a qualifying offer since they were introduced in 2012, now he has company in that group. Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, far and away the best catcher on the market, has accepted the Orioles' one-year, $15.8M qualifying offer.

The 29-year-old backstop had another disappointing, injury-plagued season in 2015, playing in just 75 games and registering a .267/.319/.422 triple-slash line in 258 at bats with eight home runs. Wieters played in just 26 games in the 2014 season before he needed Tommy John surgery. Baltimore took it slow with him heading into the 2015 season.

Wieters should be ready to go when spring training rolls around and healthy for the first time in over a year, so his decision to reject the qualifying offer does make some sense. It gives him nearly $16 million this season to go out on a "prove it" deal and show he is healthy and can return to the 20-plus home run years he had between 2011-'13.

This represents Wieters betting on himself and if he can't turn things around next year, he will find a thinner market than what he could have had this offseason. But if he can return to form, he puts $16 million in his pocket and can cash in on an even bigger scale next offseason.