Eligible Major League Baseball players had until November 12 to
declare themselves a free agent. Those players with a contract that
expired are automatically free agents, but need to officially file as
a free agent. Players with a “Player option” has to decide whether to
take the option with their current team or take the free agency option
if they feel they can make more money (see Alex Rodriguez or any Scott
Boras client). A team will sometimes have a “team option” if the team
feels that the player is just not worth the value of that last year of
the contract. The team either invites the player back, or buys him
out of his contract (see pitcher Kris Benson who was paid $500,000 to
become a free agent as opposed to being paid $7.5 million for the 2008
season). While this is a time that you will hear about players making
millions of dollars for many years, there is actually a system in
place to decide is a player is good enough to have his former team
compensated.
What? If a player does not re-sign with his team, the team is
compensated? Yes, but only if he is in the top 40% of the players at
that position. A team that loses a Type A free agent is compensated
with two draft picks. The two picks are the first round draft pick
and a supplemental first round draft pick from the team that signed
the Type A free agent. A team that loses a Type B free agent will
only lose one draft pick, a supplemental first round pick. Confused?
No? Then here is a wrinkle, the first 15 picks of the first round are
protected, so if a Type A free agent is signed by one of these teams,
they will surrender their second round pick.
At the end of each season, the infinite wisdom known as Elias Sports
Bureau compiles ratings of each player for the past two years. The
ratings are by positions. Designated Hitters, First Baseman and
Outfielders are one grouping. Catchers have their own grouping.
Second Baseman, Third Baseman and Shortstops are grouped together.
Starting Pitchers are grouped together and so are Relievers. The
rakings are also broken down between leagues.
Let’s look at what happened after the 2006 baseball season for some
examples and clarifications. One of the biggest free agents signed
after the 2006 season was Alfonso Soriano, a Type A free agent from
the Nationals signed by the Cubs. The Nationals were then due the
first round draft pick of the Cubs and a supplemental pick. The Cubs
picked third in the 2007 draft, so the Nationals got a supplemental
pick and the Cubs second round draft pick because the first round pick
was protected (Picks # 31 and #67). The Mets signed Moises Alou, a
free agent from San Francisco Giants. The Giants got the Mets first
round pick and a supplemental pick (Picks # 29 and #32). As an
example of a Type B free agent, the Athletics lost free agent Frank
Thomas to the Blue Jays and therefore got Pick #59.
Now, moving forward, here are the free agents that are either Type A
or Type B (remember that the ratings are based over the past two
seasons):
Catchers – Michael Barrett (A), Paul LoDuca (B), Jason Kendall (B),
Yorvit Torrealba (B)
First Baseman – Sean Casey (B)
Second Baseman –Mark Loretta (B), Tony Graffanino (B)
Shortstop – David Eckstein (B)
Third Baseman – Pedro Feliz (B)
Left Fielders – Barry Bonds (A), Milton Bradley (A), Luis Gonzalez
(B), Shannon Stewart (B)
Center Fielders – Torii Hunter (A), Aaron Rowand (A), Mike Cameron
(B), Andruw Jones (B), Kenny Lofton (B)
Right Fielders – Shawn Green (B)
Designated Hitters – Mike Piazza (B)
Starting Pitchers – Andy Pettitte (A), Freddy Garcia (B), Livan
Hernandez (B), Kenny Rogers (B)
Closers – Francisco Cordero (A), Eric Gagne (B)
Middle Relievers – Scott Linebrink (A), Doug Brocail (B), Jorge Julio
(B), Ron Mahay (B), Troy Percival (B), David Riske (B), Mike Timlin
(B), Luis Vizcaino (B)
UPDATED – NOVEMBER 20, 2007
I wrote the basis of this article last week and instead of changing
it, I am updating it here at the end. These are good examples to
define what is discussed above.
Alex Rodriguez (A), Mariano Rivera (A) and Jorge Posada (A) will all
resign with the Yankees. The Yankees will obviously receive no
compensation as they resigned their own player.
Tom Glavine (A) is now signed by the Braves. The Mets will receive
the Braves first round draft pick and a supplemental first round draft
pick as compensation.
More updates to follow here on Tailgate Crashers!
