I don't get the argument about NOT offering the QO. More often than not, players will outright reject the QO. Even Stephen freakin' Drew rejected the QO. My guess is that ERod rejects it too. It allows the Sox to sign a QO guy without losing anything or get a free comp pick. It just makes too much sense to offer anyone halfway decent a QO. And ERod was a top 20 SP per fWAR last season.