Elias Sports Bureau Free Agent Player Rankings

ESPN listed the newly updated Elias Sports Bureau free agent rankings. These rankings are used to determine compensation for a team that loses a Type A or B free agent.

The list looks like it includes players who probably will have their options picked up.

Type A Free Agents

Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, Bobby Abreu, Doug Brocail, A.J. Burnett, Pat Burrell, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Cruz, Ryan Dempster, Adam Dunn, Brian Fuentes, Brian Giles, Trevor Hoffman, Bobby Howry, Orlando Hudson, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Damaso Marte, Jamie Moyer, Mike Mussina, Darren Oliver, Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Manny Ramirez, Edgar Renteria, Francisco Rodriguez, Ben Sheets, Russ Springer, Jason Varitek and Kerry Wood.

Type B Free Agents

Jeremy Affeldt, Moises Alou, Garret Anderson, Luis Ayala, Joe Beimel, Casey Blake, Casey Blake, Milton Bradley, Paul Byrd, Mike Cameron, Alan Embree, Eric Gagne, Jon Garland, Luis Gonzalez, Ken Griffey, Mark Grudzielanek, LaTroy Hawkins, Jason Isringhausen, Randy Johnson, Jeff Kent, Paul LoDuca, Braden Looper, Mark Loretta, Brandon Lyon, Greg Maddux, Brad Penny, Denny Reyes, Arthur Rhodes, Ivan Rodriguez, Rudy Seanez, Brian Shouse, John Smoltz, Frank Thomas, Salomon Torres, Juan Uribe, David Weathers, Randy Wolf and Gregg Zaun.

Teams that lose a Type A free agent receive the top draft pick from the signing team in addition to a supplemental pick. Teams losing a Type B free agent receive a supplemental pick, while the signing team retains its draft choice.

The rankings are based on statistical data from the Elias Sports Bureau. Stars ranked in the top 20 percent are considered Type A free agents, while those players in the next 20 percent are considered Type B free agents. Players who are neither consider A or B players are considered unclassified and don’t affect draft choices.

*** I tried to find some information about what happens if a team signs two “Type A” free agents because the Mets might fall into that category. However, I couldn’t find anything conclusive, so maybe one of our readers or other writers can clarify that for us.