http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1303104

Is this gentleman really a type B free agent? He's asking for more cash (6M) than any other available free agent position player. He's the franchise leader in home runs, rbi, etc. Clearly not a stupendous player, but in a world of somewhat depressed talent, a 76 overall third basemen at the age of 28, ought to be a Type A.

What factors would lead to him not being type A?

Quote: Originally Posted By nanu on 4/13/2009
http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1303104

Is this gentleman really a type B free agent? He's asking for more cash (6M) than any other available free agent position player. He's the franchise leader in home runs, rbi, etc. Clearly not a stupendous player, but in a world of somewhat depressed talent, a 76 overall third basemen at the age of 28, ought to be a Type A.

What factors would lead to him not being type A?

The only factor is his OVR rating (with reference made to what position his fielding ratings support). His HR, RBI, Runs, Doubles, BA, OBP, height, weight, and home town are all irrelevant.

Gotcha. Thanks zbrent, I assumed that was the case, but also assumed 75 overall was not so bad. I'll do some more research.

And I apologize - there may be players asking for more in salary. Its too early in the season for all of those numbers to be made available to me, so my fault there.

Hmm, here's the thing - there's only one other 3b on the FA market that has an overall rating as high (in this case, higher) as MacDougs.

http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1302861

So I'm assuming that one guy keeps MacDougs from Type A awesomeness.

Question - if this guy winds up re-signing with his original club before the FA period starts, does MacDougs wind up becoming Type A?

From the FAQ:

Free-Agency

What are Type A and Type B free-agents?

During each offseason (after the world rolls over), players are ranked within their position group. These groups include C, 1B/OF/DH, 2B/3B/SS, SP and RP. Any free-agent in the top 20% of their position is considered a Type A free-agent and any free-agent in the top 40% is considered a Type B free-agent. If another team signs a Type A free-agent prior to the end of the free-agent negotiation period, the player's former team receives compensation. The former team receives the signing team's first round pick (or second round pick if the pick is one of the first 16 picks). If it's a Type A or a Type B free-agent, the former team receives a supplemental pick between the first two rounds of the draft. Shortly after the free-agent negotiation period ends, the supplemental round picks will be re-ordered so that each eligible franchise has at least one pick before they have an additional pick.

So 3B's are grouped together with 2B's and SS's when determining type A/B classifications. It's most likely the 2B/SS's in the FA pool that are holding this guy down.

oh thanks tec!

That's a terrible system. Tough to find a 3bman with bat enough to make up for a SS glove. Booo that system :)

It also has nothing to do with if he's in the top 20% of free agents at his position. He's only a Type A if he's in the top 20% of ML players at his position.

The system is based on real-life, what's in the CBA between MLB and the MLBPA.

Except that players do not have ratings in real-life.

Ratings vs. stats for type A/B FA's has been discussed many, many times here in the forums. It is what it is, and for good reason.

I understand the reasoning, but its odd that a 3-time All-Star, clearly the class of his position, and at the age of 28, winds up as a type B. The system is based on real MLB, but the results of the system are clearly not, is all.

This could be fixed if they made overall ratings more indicative of a player's performance. They said a couple months ago they were working on this, but I haven't heard anything about it since then.

I don't think they ever said that they werre going to tie overall ratings to performance.

Is the position determined by what they play the most games at?

I believe the position is determined by what his ratings dictate his primary position should be.