Carlos Silva: Type B Free Agent?
The Twins will most certainly offer arbitration to pitcher Carlos Silva, and he will decline (since he can easily get a three or four-year deal on the open market). This will entitle the Twins to receive a draft pick or two as compensation.
If Silva ranks in the upper 20% of starting pitchers, he's a Type A free agent. If he ranks in the upper 40% but not in the upper 20%, he's a Type B. Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says Silva will be classified as a Type B based on his work in the 2006-07 seasons (he had a 5.01 ERA and 24 wins over that time period). That means the Twins will gain just a supplemental draft pick for him but the signing team will not lose any picks.
Walters also gives us this gem:
If the Twins can't re-sign free agent Torii Hunter, plans are to trade, sign a free agent or go in-house to find his center field replacement.
As opposed to what?
Praying for Johan Santana to have an immaculate conception bearing a center fielder? Though I guess that still qualifies as in-house.
Posted by: johnflaherty | October 17, 2007 at 03:58 PM
Everyone in the cities knows that Walters is kindv'e a joke. Please don't quote him anymore. Actually, go ahead, because it's funny.
Posted by: haasertime | October 17, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Maybe the could get the dog in the Air Bud movie to man center field. They wouldn't have to sign him to a contract, just "throw him a bone". Or they could raffle it, "Seat #35,451, you are today's centerfielder! As some 200 lb. lady plunders out with a glove and a biggie drink in hand. Or would that be in-house as well?
Posted by: Solman15 | October 17, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Tim,
Thanks for the posts. Can you shed any light on the vagaries of how players are ranked? I did some online research and couldn't find much.
I'm particularly interested in what type of compensation the Astros might get for Jennings, Loretta, and Lamb. Of course, all 3 could end up accepting arbitration if they can't find a better gig somewhere else. Still, I think its worth the risk for the Astros since they could use them all anyway.
Posted by: mymrbig | October 17, 2007 at 04:34 PM
If the Twins can't re-sign free agent Torii Hunter, plans are to trade, sign a free agent or go in-house to find his center field replacement.
It sounds like something Tim McCarver would say.
Posted by: themfightnwords | October 17, 2007 at 04:53 PM
Or Joe Morgan, or Dusty Baker. Hilarious that you put that in here, Tim. Anyone see Keith Law's article on how stupid Dusty Baker is? It was wonderful.
Sid Hartman and Charley Walters are pretty much renowned for being idiots out in the Cities, Tim. As haasertime noted, probably a good idea to ignore their rantings.
Silva should certainly qualify as a Type B though, and this has been noted for a while. Probably even part of the reason the Twins didn't deal him this season, because they like draft picks and know they'll get one for him.
Posted by: djskilbr | October 17, 2007 at 04:58 PM
Come one Tim, it's 2007, don't you know that the Twins can clone Torii Hunter now?
Wait, I guess that probably counts as "in-house"...
Posted by: zubes007 | October 17, 2007 at 05:52 PM
themfightnwords it really does sound like something Tim McCarver would say. Speaking of McCarver, did anybody hear him explaining on that ball last night that youk bobbled then dropped in foul territory how Gutierrez only has to wait for Youk to touch the ball before tegging up, not for him to actually make the catch? I never knew that before, I think thats the first time that I watched a baseball game that this specific rule ever came into play.
Posted by: nrmax88 | October 17, 2007 at 05:57 PM
McCarver also pointed out that you score more runs in an inning when the leadoff guy gets a HR than when he gets a walk.
Shocking stuff, Tim. Just shocking.
Posted by: djskilbr | October 17, 2007 at 07:00 PM
It's lines like that from McCarver that make me wish Deion Sanders was still playing.
Posted by: djskilbr | October 17, 2007 at 07:01 PM
you guys are all missing one thing, they could always kidnap a center fielder.
Posted by: Vuchato | October 17, 2007 at 07:28 PM
'you guys are all missing one thing, they could always kidnap a center fielder.'
now that is thinking outside of the box.
Posted by: kab21 | October 17, 2007 at 07:53 PM
I would really like the braves go get in on carlos silva. I think that he is already a better version of livan hernandez, and is 5-25 years younger. I believe that he still has upside that could make him a reliable 3 in the nl, but he could be a very nice 4th option to have. However, i will not go as far to say that he is a 4 year 40 million dollar investment.
Posted by: bravesbeast | October 17, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Right, and that's probably the problem bravesbeast. An argument can be made he's the BEST FA starter this year given durability, etc. That's pretty sad. But he could end up making Gil Meche money. Unbelievable.
I agree he'd be a great fit for the Braves and in the NL he could improve. In fact, I really wanted the Twins to trade him to Atlanta at the deadline. We would have gotten something better than a pick for him, and you guys might have come out of the East and made the playoffs (I was rooting for you for the sake of Smoltz, if nothing else). SP was clearly what you lacked most.
Will be interesting for sure.
Posted by: djskilbr | October 17, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Sinkerball pitcher who can eat innings - they should have worked a trade out with the Rockies for him.
Posted by: MADness | October 26, 2007 at 02:08 PM