Last offseason, agents negotiated four contracts known to include the bonus of prohibiting the team from offering arbitration if the player received Type A status. Aside from Orlando Hudson, none of the four came close to Type A (Hudson was a B). In general, none of the 14 Type As who were offered arbitration in November saw their market adversely affected, though Jason Frasor and Frank Francisco played it safe and accepted. It was thought that Grant Balfour might have a hard time finding a deal, but the Athletics inked him for two years and $8.1MM.
Three contracts signed this winter prevent the team from offering arbitration if the player is a Type A at the end of the term:
- Javier Vazquez, ACES. The Yankees may have been counting on snagging a draft pick upon Vazquez's departure, but he slipped to Type B with a lousy 2010. If Vazquez pushes himself back to A status with a strong season for the Marlins, they won't be able to offer arbitration.
- Kevin Correia, Lapa/Leventhal. This agency snagged the "no arbitration offer" clause for Justin Duchscherer last offseason as well. Correia signed a two-year deal with the Pirates, so this clause applies to the 2012-13 offseason. More importantly, Correia has a million bucks in incentives for '12.
- Carl Pavano, O'Connell Sports Management. As a Type B after the '09 season, Pavano accepted the Twins' arbitration offer and took the one-year deal. He moved up to a Type A this winter, and the draft pick cost possibly did give a few teams pause. After the '12 season, Pavano will not be saddled with that cost.
- The contract was negotiated six years ago, but Scott Boras client Carlos Beltran can't be offered arbitration after '11. Beltran was pretty close to Type A for 2009-10 despite playing in only 145 games over that span. Given his $18.5MM salary the arbitration offer question is probably moot for the Mets anyway.
Welcome back Tim.
Wouldn’t Vazquez becoming a Type A mean his 2011 will have been at least as good as his 2009 was? Somehow I don’t see that happening.
I believe it takes his 2009 season into consideration. It isn’t the most impossible accomplishment in the world (to achieve Type A status).
But I do wonder what the most impossible accomplishment in the world is? (cue punchline)
Does it? I thought it was only the past two years. Not 100% sure, but pretty confident.
Pirates having a winning season in my lifetime? (Seriously hasn’t happened yet.)
You’re correct, Lance. At least as it stands now, the Elias formula uses the last two years of data. I’d be surprised if there aren’t some significant changes to the entire draft pick compensation process under the next CBA though. If they keep it in place at all, I think you can safely bet that we won’t continue to see 30% of all Type A guys be from the ranks of middle relievers.
This forgets Saito, who must be released by the end of his contract, to avoid Type A status.