This is like Christmas for baseball nerds like me. The Elias rankings are out – here’s the AL and here’s the NL.
I’ve updated the 2008 MLB Free Agents post to reflect those who are off the market and also added Types. And here’s a look at which first round picks are protected and which aren’t.
Random thoughts:
- The Yankees could get nice consolation prizes in the form of first-round picks if they lose Jorge Posada or Mariano Rivera. For example if the Mets sign Posada the Yankees get their #22 overall pick. If the Phils sign Rivera the Yanks get their #24 overall pick.
- Would the Red Sox offer arbitration to Curt Schilling, even if they’re lukewarm about keeping him? He’s a Type A.
- If the Mets want to go with the freshly signed Easley at 2B, they can net a pick for Luis Castillo because he’s a Type B and will get a multiyear deal.
- I believe Tadahito Iguchi cannot be offered arbitration, so his Type A status doesn’t mean much.
- The Cards may snag a pick by offering arbitration to David Eckstein, if they don’t want to sign him for three years. He’s a Type B.
- It would be odd if Mike Lowell and Alex Rodriguez swapped teams, as the Red Sox would nab their rival’s #28 pick and the Yanks would get Boston’s #30.
- The Yankees should root for the Mets to sign A-Rod. That way they get the #22 pick next year and the best player moves out of the league.
- Should the Giants offer arbitration to Barry Bonds? He’s a Type A but they could be stuck with him.
- The Twins might get a first round pick for Torii Hunter. The Phils could get one for Aaron Rowand. Both are Type A.
- The Braves got screwed – Andruw Jones‘ awful season knocked him down to a Type B.
- The Brewers could win big with two first-round picks and two supplemental picks if they let Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink walk and they sign with the right teams.
- The "bigger" names among starters – Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva – net no draft picks for the Phils or Twins. It had been previously suggested that Silva was Type B.
