After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2009-10 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics. Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none. Those designations and the possible accompanying arbitration offers determine draft pick compensation (click here for a refresher).
Eddie Bajek has reverse-engineered the Elias rankings, and he's providing that information exclusively at MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a look at how the players rank for the period beginning with the 2009 season running through August 21st, 2010. The Google spreadsheet below has separate tabs for each position group. You can also go directly to the Google spreadsheet here. Our last set of Elias projections is here, in case you want to see what changed.
Dave_Gershman
I’m hoping John Buck will eventually finish the season ranking as Type A…Getting us a couple of 1st and compensation round picks.
moonraker45
I’m hoping jfras slips back to a B, as an A he’ll accept arb for sure. . Then again his wife is from toronto, he is likes it here and wants to stay, so maybe he accepts regardless.
Dave_Gershman
Jfras? A bit of help here moonraker?
Sniderlover
He means Jason Frasor.
I think Jays will keep Molina regardless if he reaches type B. He is just too valuable to the pitching staff and will be a good mentor to Arencibia next year.
vtadave
Is Frasor really at the point where more than .1% of the readers of this boar are supposed to know who “jfras” refers to?
Ferrariman
yes
Henry Castellanos
I hear that. Molina was invaluable to the Yankees staff, and pitchers(especially A.J. Burnett) loved him. I enjoyed Jose’s time in NY.
moonraker45
sorry yes, jason frasor. . I’m a lazy typer.
Dave_Gershman
Gotcha
Mike
Good point.
His wife is also about a foot taller than him I think lol.
moonraker45
so she’s around 5’5 ? lol
moonraker45
Teams should be able to decline type A status for certain players in order for them to create offers from other teams. If Jason Frasor ends up as A there is no chance in the world a team offers him a contract and gives up a pick for him.. however if there was some sort of rule where the jays can void the type A status allowing teams to sign him as if he was a B, then the jays and teams that have borderline/aging/relievers as A’s can still salvage a pick for losing them while offering compensation
Andrew
hopefully that is one of the many things changed in the next CBA
Patrick OKennedy
It’s insane that they value the top relief pitchers the same as the top starting pitchers, or the top outfielders, etc. Compensation should be determined by the average annual salary of the player’s contract. That’s what their real value is to a team.
Also, teams that “rent” players for a few weeks at the end of the season should not receive compensation when they walk. Just another way for the wealthier teams to stockpile draft picks.
Mike
Jose Molina’s nearly a Type B Free Agent. LOL.
jeffdg
Shawn Camp and E5 are fairly close to Type B as well. Amazing. Jays could have back to back years loaded with high picks.
Molina being close to Type B explains why Aaron Cibia is at AAA.
Sniderlover
I doubt EE sticks around for next year and is a non-tender candiate. As for Camp, if he has another good year then he could potentially become a type A.
Molina status has nothing to do with Arencibia. Buck is back and he is the starting catcher and there is no room for Arencibia and he still needs to get better at calling game.
Michael Kenny
Hahaha I love the name “E5”.
moonraker45
it’s funny, because its true.
Henry Castellanos
I would hate to be called that.
moonraker45
then get in shape and learn to throw!
venn177
Wow. The only impending free agent with a higher ranking than Cliff Lee right now is Soriano.
Doubt they’ll sign in the same place. Texas, your first rounder is secure.
Zack23
Unless it’s a team that has a protected first round pick, but the chances of that are small too
coolstorybro222
WHOOO, TWO DRAFT PICKS FOR ATLANTA.
cubsfanraysaddict
Carl Crawford might net the Rays a 2nd round comp pick lol (Yanks get him and Lee or another higher type A). At least they still have Soriano (A), Balfour (high B), Choate (B), Benoit (B), Qualls (low B), Wheeler (A if they decline a team option w/ $1mil buyout) and Pena (B). Of that large collection of FA’s, I’d think the Rays offer arb to Soriano, Balfour, Choate (low current salary, bad traditional numbers), and Benoit (worth 1yr / $3-4 mil, mitigates injury risk). And just guessing here but Soriano doesn’t accept and one of Balfour/Choate/Benoit will not accept, the Rays are looking at (4) 1-2 round picks, and two more comp picks in the deep 2011 draft, not bad.
hawkny1
Cannot believe that Clay Bucholz is ranked #28 on the posted list of AL starting pitchers…. He currently leads the AL in ERA and has 15 wins with a .750 winning percentage.
moonraker45
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but elias rankings also take in to consideration the players previous year. I’d assume if Clay keeps up this pace he will be closer to the top of the list by next year.
Zack23
Yes, it’s two year sample sizes. Unfortunately people refuse to read how these rankings are put together, so they just come and complain.
hawkny1
Bucholz 22-8 since last year?
Zack23
“SP: Total games (total starts + 0.5 * total relief appearances), IP, Wins, W-L Percentage, ERA, Strikeouts”
hawkny1
Ahhhhh…too involved for me…:)
Zack23
That’s fine, just people would read before they start complaining about why Player X is below Players A, B and C
hawkny1
Who cares, really, about what a player did nearly two years ago…??? IMHO, only statheads who make up meaningless formulas that have no basis in reality. Bucholz is at the top of his game in 2010 and he barely makes the top 30? come on..
moonraker45
His era was over 4 last year and only made 16 starts.
Jay Zammiello
Don’t know the math on this one, but I have to doubt it’s value because Luis Castillo ranked above Jose Reyes. There’s just no statistical way that’s happening.
moonraker45
he only played 36 games last year…
Zack23
Oh look, another person who refuses to read how the rankings are put together.
Henry Castellanos
I don’t pay attention to Elias anyway, useless, unneccessary. I’d hate to be ranked anywhere because I’m too humble to describe myself, or have other people do it. I bet some other players are like that.
Steve_in_MA
One has to look in utter puzzlement and wonder what sort of mathematical prestidigitation results in John Lackey being scored as an A-Type, and Clay Buchholz being scored as a B-Type. Clay is a legit top 5 contender for the Cy, and John Lackey is nothing more than a legit No. 4 starter.
Sockmonkey23
Google docs are blocked by my work firewall….are there any Orioles on the list? Is Wigginton type B?
JDortmunder
No Brad Hawpe? I would think this former AS is now a B?