Elias Rankings - Thanks Baseball America

by slcgiant on Nov 3, 2008 9:00 AM PST Comment 18 comments

"The Elias Sports Bureau statistical rankings have been released, so we can take our first look at which free agents could command draft-pick compensation this offseason.

Players who rate in the top 20 percent of their position group (catchers; first basemen, outfielders and DHs; second basemen, third basemen and shortstops; starting pitchers; and relief pitchers) are designated as Type A. Players who rank in the 21-40 percent bracket are designated as Type B.

If a Type A or B free agent's former club offers him arbitration, then it will receive compensation if he signs elsewhere. Type A free agents yield the signing team's first-round choice and a supplemental first-rounder, while Type Bs return only the sandwich-rounder. Clubs who finished in the bottom half of the major league standings can't surrender their first-round selection, and compensation picks for failure to sign draftees from the previous year can't change hands either.

With that out of the way, below are the potential Type A and B free agents by position (listed in order of Elias ranking). Not all of these players have filed for free agency yet."

Potential Type A Free Agents
Catchers: Jason Varitek (Bos).
First Basemen: Mark Teixeira (LAA).
Second Basemen: Orlando Hudson (Ari).
Shortstops: Orlando Cabrera (CWS), Edgar Renteria (Det).
Outfielders: Manny Ramirez (LAD), Raul Ibanez (Sea), Bob Abreu (NYY), Adam Dunn (Ari), Pat Burrell (Phi), Brian Giles (SD).
Starting Pitchers: C.C. Sabathia (Mil), A.J. Burnett (Tor), Andy Pettitte (NYY), Mike Mussina (NYY), Ben Sheets (Mil), Oliver Perez (NYM), Derek Lowe (LAD), Jamie Moyer (Phi).
Relief Pitchers: Francisco Rodriguez (LAA), Brian Fuentes (Col), Russ Springer (StL), Damaso Marte (NYY), Ryan Dempster (ChC), Juan Cruz (Ari), Kerry Wood (ChC), Trevor Hoffman (SD), Doug Brocail (Hou), Darren Oliver (LAA), Bob Howry (ChC).

Potential Type B Free Agents
Catchers: Ivan Rodriguez (NYY), Greg Zaun (Tor), Paul LoDuca (Fla).
Second Basemen: Jeff Kent (LAD), Juan Uribe (CWS), Mark Loretta (Hou), Mark Grudzielanek (KC).
Third Basemen: Casey Blake (LAD), Hank Blalock (Tex).
Outfielders: Garret Anderson (LAA), Moises Alou (NYM), Ken Griffey Jr. (CWS), Luis Gonzalez (Fla), Mike Cameron (Mil).
Designated Hitters: Milton Bradley (Tex), Frank Thomas (Oak).
Starting Pitchers: John Smoltz (Atl), Brad Penny (LAD), Jon Garland (LAA), Randy Wolf (Hou), Paul Byrd (Bos), Greg Maddux (LAD), Braden Looper (StL), Randy Johnson (Ari).
Relief Pitchers: Alan Embree (Oak), Brian Shouse (Mil), Jason Isringhausen (StL), Dave Weathers (Cin), Brandon Lyon (Ari), Salomon Torres (Mil), Jeremy Affeldt (Cin), Arthur Rhodes (Fla), Joe Beimel (LAD), LaTroy Hawkins (Hou), Dennys Reyes (Min), Rudy Seanez (Phi), Luis Ayala (NYM), Eric Gagne (Mil).

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Damn

That guy from Detroit Tigers Thoughts who reverse engineered the rankings almost completely nailed the Type A’s.

His only ‘mistake’ was including Jason Isringhausen in his list, and excluding Trevor Hoffman (his list is Here at MLBTR.com). 29/30 is pretty damn good.

And for the record, around the time of the NYY Pudge acquisition, I said something to the effect of “Pudge won’t be a Type A”. /Gloats

Tim Lincecum is Baseball's Chuck Norris

by Azantor on Nov 3, 2008 9:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

why

is Varitek type A??? his sOPS+ was 87!!

Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Nov 3, 2008 10:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

’Tek’s offense numbers were pretty offensive this year.

My buddies in Boston called him Rally Killer… lulz

Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 3, 2008 11:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would make a joke about him being the captain, but I’m afraid it might devolve into a discussion about Varitek’s value on offense throughout his career, as well as his defensive capabilities.

There amass been plenty of articles written this spring about the stud shortstop Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum , as well as the fluid young outfielders and thirteen basemen Kevin Frandsen.
comics | art | Nattowear | McFAQ I & II

by Natto on Nov 3, 2008 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

b…b….but leadership, perceived value, intangibles !!! :-)

My adopted son Matt Downs. Lost in the wilderness of mediocrity.

by nvsfg on Nov 3, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Down in Front Meat!

by homerdrew415 on Nov 3, 2008 12:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

One more for good measure

Down in Front Meat!

by homerdrew415 on Nov 3, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Two reasons:

Elias is based on the past two years, and his stats in 2007 were solid.

Second, there are more than offensive stats taken into account: playing time is another. And Varitek is regularly one of the most durable and consistent catchers in terms of playing time.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on Nov 3, 2008 6:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So furcal didn’t make the list. That means if we are foolish enough to sign him at least the dodgers won’t get a draft pick. That makes me happy.

Proud father of Eric Surcamp!

by The Thrill on Nov 3, 2008 12:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Score one for Rusty the Robot. I guess this means Buster Posey won’t stick at catcher too.

by Evan on Nov 3, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone have the full list?

I’d like to see where Winn and Molina fit into the picture, whether they would have to have better or could have worse seasons next year and still get a comp pick.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Nov 3, 2008 12:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

tigers-thoughts.blogspot.com has a very good approximation of them

Winn is solidly a Type A while Molina is in that range as well.

Basically, the deal with Elias rankings is that if you play a lot of games and hit for a high batting average, you will be Type A. This produces some really gross distortions of reality (like Jack Cust ranking behind Raul Ibanez, or last year Michael Young ranking ahead of A-Rod) but it’s handy for teams like the Giants that are filled with empty batting averages.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 3, 2008 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs