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Big League Stew

Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:11 pm EST

Smile, Desmond DeChone Figgins: You're a 'Type-A' free agent!

By David Brown

The Elias Sports Bureau just released its free-agent rankings on Monday afternoon and, as expected, some of them make no sense whatsoever.

Carl Crawford(notes) is a "Type B" free agent. So is Vladimir Guerrero(notes) and Adrian Beltre(notes).

Meanwhile, Octavio Dotel(notes) is a Type A free agent, as are John Grabow(notes), Billy Wagner(notes), Darren Oliver(notes), Melvin Mora(notes) and Rafael Betancourt(notes).

Here's a place to check the whole list. Here's another.

Seeing as the Rays already picked up Crawford's option for 2010, the biggest revelation from the Elias rankings release is that Chone Figgins(notes) turned out to be a Type A free agent. Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts (via MLB Trade Rumors) figured he had cracked the Elias Code and pegged Figgins as a probable Type B.

But no. Figgins' services at third base will now cost his new team a high draft pick — which might scare off a few suitors in the direction of "B" Adrian Beltre and raise his future salary. With Guerrero a "B" who requires no draft compensation from the White Sox, perhaps general manager Ken Williams pursues him to hit cleanup next season.

OK, let's back up a second and go over what "Type A" and "Type B" means:

Elias figures statistics from the past two seasons and applies them to a given free-agent class. Major League Baseball uses these rankings to determine compensation.

• Type A free agents are of the highest quality, the top 20 percent; signing one will cost the team the player's high salary, plus forfeiture of its first-round draft pick to whichever team lost the free agent. Unless that pick is in the top 15; then it loses its second-rounder.

• A team losing a Type B free agent will be awarded a "sandwich pick" in the draft, a pick that comes after the first round but before the second. The team signing a "Type B" loses no pick. Mmm, sandwich.

Any players not Type A or Type B — the bottom 60 percent — are free to move without any compensation to the losing team whatsoever. Sorry, Scott Podsednik's(notes) ego.

I would hammer Elias' formula for putting too much value on quantity of playing time instead of quality, but then what to make of Wagner? He appeared in a combined 62 games the past two seasons. So it's not volume that makes him a Type A. It just makes no sense.

Right, Jeff Passan?  Rage against the machine!

Related: Chone Figgins, Scott Podsednik, Rafael Betancourt, Adrián Béltre, Vladimir Guerrero, 2009 Hot Stove on BLS

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27 Comments

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  1. Peter D
    1. Posted by Peter D Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:32 pm EST

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    outdated system just like the rest of the mlb, it wont change tho.
    whos gonna drastically overpay for chone?
  2. Haze
    2. Posted by Haze Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:30 pm EST

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    figgy is pretty sweet...
  3. POTA
    3. Posted by POTA Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:31 pm EST

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    Billy Wagner was hurt for 2 years and is still an A. Joke!
  4. RaymondGuy
    4. Posted by RaymondGuy Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:35 pm EST

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    Easy to spot the C and below list writers ... Passion and below, That's low!
  5. XxBarretxX
    5. Posted by XxBarretxX Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:50 pm EST

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    Chone Figgins to the Cubs?
  6. MarBean
    6. Posted by MarBean Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:14 am EST

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    Crawford to Giants?
  7. Drew
    7. Posted by Drew Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:34 am EST

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    Crawford a Type B and Wagner is a Type A this system is horse [profane]!
  8. C-Dog
    8. Posted by C-Dog Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:46 am EST

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    i would love to see figgins to the cubs.. That would be sweet. He can play CF & 2B.
  9. Skillet
    9. Posted by Skillet Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:27 am EST

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    Yo' momma don't knoe how ta spell, do shee? WTF
  10. Jo Bangles
    10. Posted by Jo Bangles Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:11 am EST

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    I don't think free-agency would be all that kind to Chone Figgins regardless of being type-A or B. Not many teams are going to look to put a light-hitting, weenie-armed speedster at 3rd base for multiple years. The Dodgers signed Pierre - who compares similarly to Figgy offensively - to a 5 year deal, only to look for better options as soon as the first season was under way. Most GMs have probably learned from the Dodgers' mistake. If not, sucks to be a fan of the team that locks Figgins in for an expensive, long-term contract.
  11. Matt R
    11. Posted by Matt R Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:56 am EST

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    Weenie-armed? Sorry to break it to you, because you obviously have not seen Figgins play, but the guy has a rocket arm. There was plenty of talk about him winning a gold glove at 3rd base this season, and it still may happen. Figgins led the league in walks and on-base percentage and was 2nd in runs scored. He is the prototypical leadoff man.
  12. professor patriot
    12. Posted by professor patriot Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:45 am EST

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    free agency is a joke. the rich like the yank-these,get even richer. if not at the beginning of the year,they will at the trade deadline.they laugh at the salary cap. so for all you baseball fans that think one player on your sorry teams will make a difference, go see a shrink. in todays world, money rulesand so do the yankroids.i just figured out what that ny on the hat means' noodle yankers' so every person in new yack, yank your noodle while walking your poodle!
  13. mean lori wrestles
    13. Posted by mean lori wrestles Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:43 am EST

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    figgens woudl be a great pick up for the south side of the windy city. he is a great leadoff hitter and can steal a base or two.ken williams wake up and go get this man and make our team better
  14. Spencer
    14. Posted by Spencer Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:01 am EST

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    I also have to disagree on the Chone Figgins comments - the Phillies are interested and unless the price is ridiculous, will go after him. You can compare him to Pierre, but the hard reality is that Pierre plays the outfield, and there are plenty of options for a team needing his skill set. Figgins is a gold glove quality 3B that can hit at the top of the lineup. If your team doesn't need your 3B to hit for power (the Phillies don't) then he's a great fit. I worry about his age and the length of contract.
  15. michael c
    15. Posted by michael c Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:22 am EST

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    i could see the twins making a move for figgins even though he is a type a free agent, but they woudl only do that if mauer doesnt sign an extension this offseason, the twins i think will b willing to risk a high first rounder for the chance to have a solid 3rd baseman.
  16. Fourfingered McGee
    16. Posted by Fourfingered McGee Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:39 am EST

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    Let's be honest, though: what's the real benefit of this system?
    Signing a type B free agent doesn't cost a team a draft pick. It would appear that the pick of the free agent pool (Crawford, etc.) also happens to made up of Type B free agents. So, teams are more likely to throw money at the best players AND more likely to do so because they don't lose draft picks. Win for free agents and big-spending teams. BIG loss for the small market teams that lose these guys (Rays/Rockies) as they developed a player who has since departed (loss on investment), and the competition has no ill effects of the signing (ie loss of draft pick).
    In turn, it seems that type A free agents are "lesser" players (whether because of injury, etc.) coming off of big market contracts who cost the teams that sign them draft picks. This suppresses the salaries of "name" players with a history of injuries, making them more affordable, BUT damages the team in the long term b/c they lose the opportunity to develop cheaper players from within. Win for big-spending clubs who let these guys go because they reap a free draft pick from the team that signs them. Short term win for club that signs them (boost in attendance, etc.) but a long term loss. Loss for the players who could get more money if the draft picks weren't involved.
    So, who benefits most from all of this? You tell me.
  17. coogan
    17. Posted by coogan Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:59 pm EST

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    Billy Wagner?
  18. Vandelais
    18. Posted by Vandelais Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:16 pm EST

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    Dotel is an A?
    Rich Harden is a B?
  19. JustinM
    19. Posted by JustinM Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:59 pm EST

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    The A and B system does not flatly represent "the top 20 percent" of all free agents. You might want to touch on the fact that the formula splits players into different groups. Since Figgins is grouped with other third basemen, second basemen and shortstops, it makes sense that he is an A as those are all incredibly thin positions. Same with the outfield. Relievers are in their own group, which explains why so many relievers are tagged with an A. Is it a great system? No, but that doesn't mean you can write an article bashing it and only half explain the methods.
  20. David
    20. Posted by David Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:07 pm EST

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    Phillies need to pick up Figgins and realease Feliz. What's Darren Oliver doing under"type a?"
  21. Skippy
    21. Posted by Skippy Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:19 am EST

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    Please Cardinals forget any battle for Matt Holliday and go after Figgins. More hits and base running. The better the baserunners the more we can play actual baseball. None of this slow pitch softball AL crap. Steals, bunts, sacrifices, etc. equals REAL and interesting baseball.
  22. benjamin63_99
    22. Posted by benjamin63_99 Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:40 am EST

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    Figgins has been ping-ponging between the Angels and the minors his whole career, yet "Type B" player Vladimir Guerrero has been a big leaguer since he came up with the Expos! Go figure!
  23. Brian
    23. Posted by Brian Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:49 pm EST

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    Bojangles & Benjamin obviously don't need to comment on Figgins because it only exposes your lack of knowledge. He has one of the strongest arms of any 3rd basemen in either league. And he has been a mainstay with the Angels since coming up for the 2002 World Series. In that time, he has only ping ponged around the Angels lineup playing every position, except Pitcher, Catcher & 1B. And I'm not so certain he didn't play first at least once. Only negative regarding his play, he is prone to hitting slumps and has proven to not always carry his stellar play into the post season. Check your facts prior to embarrassing yourself with ignorant statements.
  24. benjamin63_99
    24. Posted by benjamin63_99 Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:16 pm EST

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    @23 -- Here are Chone's MLB stats:
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/figgich01.shtml
    And minor stats:
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=figgin001des
    If he "has been a mainstay with the Angels", as you claim, then why has he split 2002, 2003, 2007, and 2008 between the Angels and Salt Lake?!
    He made his MLB debut on 25 August 2002, and played 15 games! He WAS NOT brought up for the World Series because the Angels hadn't yet gotten to the Series!
    Do humanity a favor, and don't contribute to the discussion -- it only exposes your lack of knowledge!

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