The Elias ranking of free agents in order to determine compensation is comprised of a mostly ridiculous formula that's rooted in the 1850s and badly needs updating. It's not going to happen anytime soon.
The great part about the medieval formula is how often the Type As are players you want no part of regardless of the loss of a draft pick.
Type As:
Bobby Abreu, Doug Brocail, A.J. Burnett, Pat Burrell, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Cruz, Ryan Dempster, Adam Dunn, Brian Fuentes, Brian Giles, Trevor Hoffman, Bobby Howry, Orlando Hudson, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Damaso Marte, Jamie Moyer, Mike Mussina, Darren Oliver, Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Manny Ramirez, Edgar Renteria, Francisco Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Russ Springer, Mark Teixeira, Jason Varitek and Kerry Wood
Notable on the list of Type Bs is Arthur Rhodes, who, as it turns out, might have netted us more hanging on to him. C'est la vie.
Also, hey Randy Johnson and Mike Cameron who would be possible great bargain pick ups.
Type Bs:
Jeremy Affeldt, Moises Alou, Garret Anderson, Luis Ayala, Joe Beimel, Casey Blake, Casey Blake, Milton Bradley, Paul Byrd, Mike Cameron, Alan Embree, Eric Gagne, Jon Garland, Luis Gonzalez, Ken Griffey, Mark Grudzielanek, LaTroy Hawkins, Jason Isringhausen, Randy Johnson, Jeff Kent, Paul LoDuca, Braden Looper, Mark Loretta, Brandon Lyon, Greg Maddux, Brad Penny, Denny Reyes, Arthur Rhodes, Ivan Rodriguez, Rudy Seanez, Brian Shouse, John Smoltz, Frank Thomas, Salomon Torres, Juan Uribe, David Weathers, Randy Wolf and Gregg Zaun.
0 recs | 68 comments
Rhodes
I am not sure I would risk offering arbitration to Rhodes in order to get the supplemental pick.
G_ - November 1, 2008
Rhodes was traded mid-season to the Marlins, I believe.
Susheel Ramasahayam - November 1, 2008
Yes, for Gaby Hernandez
I was responding to Matthew’s point that Rhodes “might have netted us more hanging on to him.” If the M’s had held onto him, they would have had to offer him arbitration to get the compensation pick, but given that a marginal player like Rhodes would probably get more in arbitration than on the open market, the M’s likely would not have risked the arbitration offer and received nothing in return. Trading him was the right move.
G_ - November 1, 2008
Russ Springer!
JI - November 1, 2008
Any system where Bradley is a type B
is system ripe for comedy
JI - November 1, 2008
I'm guessing its the 370 avg of PA's over the last two years
has something do with it. Its weighted over the last two years right? But yeah I’d agree Bradley a type B and Ibanez as type A doesn’t seem right.
coasty141 - November 3, 2008
Is Mark Loretta a free agent every year
RafaelCarmona22 - November 1, 2008
The moral of this story is never extend relievers past their arbitration years.
Graham MacAree - November 2, 2008
If we sign Griffey...
Can we sign Alou so we can have 2 of my 4 favorite players of all time?
Hell, talk Tony Gwynn and Don Mattingly out of retirement to complete the foursome.
Slica - November 2, 2008
Casey Blake shows up twice?
Also Beimel is going to get the Dodgers some nice shiny picks.
bluemax - November 2, 2008
I have a really irrational fascination with Wilson Betemit.
I have no idea why.
Aaron Campeau - November 2, 2008
Because fuck him that's why
Graham MacAree - November 2, 2008
fuck wilson betemit
Robert - November 2, 2008
Oh, right.
Forgot about that.
Aaron Campeau - November 2, 2008
I feel a bit disappointed with myself that I haven't even heard of a few of those Type A's. :(
EnglishMariner - November 2, 2008
I feel slightly better now that I have researched them: all relievers and most in the NL.
EnglishMariner - November 2, 2008
Irrationally, I want Dempster to be a Mariner.
.Taylor - November 2, 2008
Coach?
JI - November 2, 2008
Hey, I was gone for like 5 days. Cut that out.
.Taylor - November 2, 2008
Rhodes
how does rhodes qualify for type B? I thought the formula was based on 2 year performance. He missed all of 2007 and pitched like 30 innings this year. It must use ERA for pitchers with no regard for IP
VanillaGorilla - November 2, 2008
It would be cool if Elias used tRA+.
EnglishMariner - November 2, 2008
It would be cool if Elias used K/9
katal - November 2, 2008
It would be cool if Elias counted defense for OF/1B/DH
Or, you know, differentiated between CF and 1B/DH
Sky Kalkman - November 2, 2008
Varitek's a type A, hahahaha.
hcoguy - November 2, 2008
But he's a clubhouse leader!
EnglishMariner - November 2, 2008
I know we say he's finished
But Statcorner has his pitch my pitch peripherals basically the same as previous years, with very little fluctuation
So couldn’t he be due to regress to mean next year? He might just be Boston’s Beltre (not as good obviously, but unlucky nonetheless)
mariners124m - November 2, 2008
Pitch by pitch
I need to proofread better
mariners124m - November 2, 2008
Since there is no Type F...
…they had to give LaTroy Hawkins Type B status.
Freeing Ray Schafer - November 2, 2008
can we count how many x marieners r on he list
weaton4life - November 2, 2008
Yes
Graham MacAree - November 2, 2008
Are you just perpetually drunk?
Dewey N - November 2, 2008
Nine
There are nine ex-Mariners on the list.
katal - November 2, 2008
Hah hah hah hah.
BrianL - November 2, 2008
Your time is through
Jeff Sullivan - November 3, 2008
Hey welcome back! We've got a new member around here... really think you're gonna love him.
marc w - November 3, 2008
I'm glad that this is the worst thing that happened
Jeff Sullivan - November 3, 2008
Agreed. I'm a bit surprised by this, given that your absence overlapped with one of the great drinking days
on the calendar.
marc w - November 3, 2008
God bless each and every one of you
Jeff Sullivan - November 3, 2008
how many free agents could we get on the list i say 2-3
weaton4life - November 2, 2008
2 1/2?
Which ones do you think we can’t get?
katal - November 2, 2008
No no, he said two thirds.
.Taylor - November 2, 2008
how long can i go without using proper punctuation and grammar i say 1 poorly constructed sentence
BrianL - November 2, 2008
From the LL Style Guide (emphasis mine)
Style Guide
5. Always make sure you format your sentences properly. “Properly” means capitalized first words, commas, correct spelling, and correct punctuation. It also means using paragraph breaks, so that your long discourse can be readable (this rule may seem overly pedantic, but it’s pretty non-negotiable; if it does seem pedantic, you’re probably in the wrong place). It’s easy to do, and it makes the place a much better resource. And, last but not least, no text-speak.
Matthew - November 2, 2008
(if you don't know what pedantic means, you're probably in the wrong place)
Kirsten Schlewitz - November 2, 2008
...
BrianL - November 2, 2008
Were you the one who first put this together? It's so fucking great.
Really though, we should get someone with good photoshopping skills to put “Lookout Landing” in the proper New Yorker font. That would be perfect.
esoteric - November 2, 2008
That was me.
Two minute MS-Paint job. If I had more time I would have properly done it in Photoshop.
BrianL - November 2, 2008
Not as colorful, but it's a start:
Aaron Campeau - November 3, 2008
If for some reason the Richie Sexson picture vanishes
I nominate this to replace it.
BrianL - November 3, 2008
Same.
.Taylor - November 3, 2008
Good heavens you're more of a suck-up than I am.
BrianL - November 3, 2008
OK, here's some color:
The text is a bit smallish due to the relative length of “Lookout Landing”. Oh well.
Christoph - November 3, 2008
This is fucking brilliant.
BrianL - November 3, 2008
Love it.
Kirsten Schlewitz - November 4, 2008
This is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Well done.
esoteric - November 4, 2008
Go fanshot this.
BrianL - November 4, 2008
(if you don't know what pedantic means, you're definitely in the wrong place)
Llewdor - November 3, 2008
,
Robert - November 2, 2008
Jackpox?
Kirsten Schlewitz - November 2, 2008
I had that once, and I couldn't get out of bed for days
JI - November 2, 2008
So Arizona could potentially be receiving eight draft picks from this FA class.
Though they’re likely to resign RJ. And I don’t know if they’ll risk offering Lyon arbitration, because he just might accept. Also, I wouldn’t mind if Cruz decided to accept arbitration, because he’s awesome.
Goose - November 2, 2008
Dodgers have a fair number on the list
Manny
Blake
Beimel
Kent
Maddux
Penny
Of course Ned Coletti is dumb and won’t offer any of them arbitration, he’ll go straight to mega money deals.
bluemax - November 3, 2008
Didn't they offer Manny 2/60 already?
Goose - November 3, 2008
Is Jamie the oldest type A free agent in history?
Thingray - November 3, 2008
Is Jamie the oldest X in history?
Chances are the answer is yes. But I honestly don’t know the answer to your question.
Sky Kalkman - November 3, 2008
Jamie Moyer: baseball's answer to George Blanda
The Ancient Mariner - November 5, 2008
Jamie is the oldest living being on the planet.
EnglishMariner - November 3, 2008
Reply Failure
Mariner John - November 3, 2008
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