When offered arbitration Type B free agents allow their old team to pick up a draft pick between the first and second rounds, but because their new team doesn’t have to give up anything to sign them their market value isn’t impacted by whether or not the arbitration is offered.
However, with Type A free agents who’re offered arbitration their old team is in line to receive a draft pick between the first and second rounds plus their new team’s first-round pick.
In other words, Type A free agents who are offered arbitration cost a first-round draft pick to sign while Type A free agents not offered arbitration require no compensation, in many cases making their market value heavily dependent on the arbitration status.
All of which is why it’s interesting that just 14 out of the 29 free agents classified as Type A were offered arbitration yesterday, making the other 15 free to sign without compensation changing hands. Here are the complete lists ...
Type A free agents offered arbitration:
Grant Balfour
Adrian Beltre
Carl Crawford
Jorge De La Rosa
Scott Downs
Adam Dunn
Frank Francisco
Jason Frasor
Paul Konerko
Cliff Lee
Victor Martinez
Carl Pavano
Rafael Soriano
Jayson Werth
Type A free agents not offered arbitration:
Vladimir Guerrero
Matt Guerrier
Derek Jeter
Derrek Lee
Bengie Molina
Magglio Ordonez
Andy Pettitte
A.J. Pierzynski
Manny Ramirez
Arthur Rhodes
Mariano Rivera
Takashi Saito
Miguel Tejada
Billy Wagner
Dan Wheeler