I just started playing a team, and one of the guys on the roster is this overpaid reliever:

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3576835

I'm thinking about trading him, but he has a mutual option next year, and I am wondering if he's likely to be a Type B free agent if he declines.

With an overall rating of 71, is he likely to be Type B?
Does the formula for Type A and B FAs depend on the individual league, or is it constant through all leagues?
How likely is a player to decline a mutual option?
If I recall correctly, I would only get compensation if he declines, and not if I decline, right?

Thank you.

Type A or Type B is decided by overall rating, based on positional groupings. SPs, RPs, C/DHs and I think the rest are broken up into corner players and up-the-middle players. Somebody please confirm that for me or correct me.

Its based on each individual league's FA class. The top X% (I think its 20%, once again, I'm sure someone will confirm for me) will be Type As and the next X% will be Type Bs.

I'd say he'll at least be a Type B and could be a Type A if its a weaker FA class at reliever.

1.  I think mongoose is correct about the groupings, but I'm not sure, either.
2.  I thought that the type was not based on FA class but on all ML talent in the groups-- top 20% of all ML players are type A if they are a FA.  That's definitely the way MLB did it back in the day when they used this system-- so if all the top players are signed, there are not type As.  Pretty sure if you look at an FA class, fewer than 20% of available FA will be type A.
3.  My guess is type B.
4.  My guess is that he is quite unlikely to decline such a generous option.
5.  arcticlegend is correct about compensation; if you decline, no compensation, but if he declines you get the pick.

Thanks dedelman.

I'm now curious though about whether its the top % of the FA class or all ML players.

Can someone chime in on which is accurate?

Thank you for the quick and informative answers. I have some follow up questions:

If he declines the option, do I still have to pay the $2M buyout? Or is that only if I decline?

Who chooses first? Do we both make a decision on the option during the internal free agency period? Or does he choose first and leave the decision to me?

I was hoping he would decline, since my team is probably going to be bad this year. We're rebuilding. Does the AI factor in the players' age and desire to win a World Series? In real life, a guy like this would probably want to jump to a contender.

If he declines the option, there is no buyout you need to pay.

He chooses first, at rollover.  If he says no to the option year, he'll show up in your free agent report.  If he says yes, you have to accept or decline after that.

I believe AI factors in the $ only.  That's a nice number, I would expect he'll want to stick around.

I believe that age and/or declining skill set is a factor in the player decision. I've had a couple of older players decline generous option years in favor of multi-year contracts at a lower rate per year. For example, a 36 year old player may turn down a $7M option year and then turn around and ask for $4.5M a year for 3 years in free agency. Apparently the idea is that they prefer the security of continued employment and are willing to take a hit to make it happen

Type A players are those who rank in the top 20% at their position group in the big leagues (C, 1B/OF/DH, 2B/3B/SS, SP and RP). Type B players rank between 20% and 40% at their position groups in the big leagues.