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FA Rules/Compensation

Frayed Knot Nov 10 2012 07:14 AM

A new system starts this off-season that was designed to (among other things) produce fewer 'compensation picks' that have been increasingly clogging up the space between rounds 1 & 2 of the June draft over the past number of years. Now, in order to qualify for a compensation pick, a team with a FA needs to make a "qualifying offer" to that player which would put him in the top 125 of all salaries, a figure this year that sits at $13.3 mil. Nine players this year were offered that qualifying bid although Papi Ortiz subsequently re-upped with a two-year deal in Boston which took him out of this pool. The other eight players all rejected the offers and are now FAs free to sign anywhere but who rate compensation for their 2012 clubs (there were 29 supplemental picks in the 2012 draft): - Kyle Lohse, StL - BJ Upton, TBR - Josh Hamilton, Tex - Michael Bourne, Atl - Nick Swisher, NYY - Hiroki Kuroda, NYY - Rafael Soriano, NYY - Adam LaRoche, Wash Teams that sign one of these FA picks will forfeit their 1st round pick except for those picking among the first ten slots (formerly fifteen). But [u:5a6mmft6]the teams losing a FA no longer receive a pick in the signing team's slot[/u:5a6mmft6], only a compensation pick at the end of the 1st round. IOW, the signing team's slot simply disappears and is made up for by transferring that pick to the player's former club at sticking it at the back of round one. The order in the compensation round will be determined the same way as the overall order, by the team's 2012 record. The FAs above are listed in the order that their teams finished in 2012 (worst to first) so the supplemental picks will be awarded in that order. IOW, Kyle Lohse signing elsewhere would net the Cardinals the 1st compensation pick, Tampa would get the 2nd, and so on until the Nats get supplemental pick #8. There is no longer a 'ranking' of the players for compensation determination. With 31 picks in next year's 1st round (one extra due to Pittsburgh not signing their #1 pick in the last draft) those compensation picks would be initially assigned to picks #32 - 39 although those slots would drop for each FA who signs with a new club in the 11-31 group and those slots disappear. So the Lohse compensation pick could be as low as #24 depending on how many the eight sign elsewhere rather than with their 2012 club. There could be additional supplemental picks after round 2, but the large reduction in the size of the 'A block' (between rounds 1 & 2) of compensation picks has the net effect of bringing down the beginning of round 2. Last June the 1st pick of the 2nd round (Houston's 2nd for their 105 loss season) was pick #62 overall. This year (and it'll be Houston again) that pick will be no later than #40 and could be as early as 32nd. And, not that we expect it to matter this year with the tight budget and all, but with the top 10 picks being protected where do the Mets pick this year? - that's right, 11th. 1 -Astros 2 - Cubs 3 - Rockies 4 - Twins 5 - Indians 6 - Marlins 7 - Red Sox 8 - Royals 9 - Pirates (for failure to sign #8 overall 2012 pick) 10 - Blue Jays 11 - Mets 12 - Mariners 13 - Padres 14 - Pirates 15 - D-backs 16 - Phillies 17 - Brewers 18 - White Sox 19 - Dodgers 20 - Cardinals 21 - Tigers 22 - Angels 23 - Rays 24 - Orioles 25 - Rangers 26 - Athletics 27 - Giants 28 - Braves 29 - Yankees 30 - Reds 31 - Nationals Compensatory round Cardinals Rays Rangers Braves Yankees Yankees Yankees Nationals

Ceetar Nov 10 2012 07:51 AM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Kuroda hasn't rejected yet, but the Yankees are getting the other two picks (unless they re-sign them) budget or not, I'm not sure I want the Mets to sign any of those guys. I'm not that enamored with Upton.

Edgy MD Nov 10 2012 08:16 AM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Bizarre that the Rays are taking steps to replace Upton with Upton.

Frayed Knot Nov 10 2012 08:27 AM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Ceetar wrote: Kuroda hasn't rejected yet, but the Yankees are getting the other two picks (unless they re-sign them) Kuroda has rejected, the yea/nay deadline was yesterday. He can still re-sign with them (as can any of the other eight) but if he does sign elsewhere they took the steps to get compensation for him. The Yanx could conceivably get 4 of the first 30 picks out of this whole thing. Of course, in the short term, those future maybes will come at the expense of three regular players off their current roster.

Ceetar Nov 10 2012 08:37 AM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Frayed Knot wrote: Ceetar wrote: Kuroda hasn't rejected yet, but the Yankees are getting the other two picks (unless they re-sign them) Kuroda has rejected, the yea/nay deadline was yesterday. He can still re-sign with them (as can any of the other eight) but if he does sign elsewhere they took the steps to get compensation for him. The Yanx could conceivably get 4 of the first 30 picks out of this whole thing. Of course, in the short term, those future maybes will come at the expense of three regular players off their current roster. oh, my mistake. I saw that he hadn't rejected yet thought the deadline was Monday. The Yankees seem to make out yeah, but you're right, they're losing a lot of regulars and would've gotten more picks out of it last year.

smg58 Nov 10 2012 02:53 PM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

I was really surprised that Mike Napoli wasn't offered a qualifying offer. If his stock is that deflated, the Mets might have an opportunity.

Frayed Knot Nov 10 2012 03:23 PM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Keep in mind that the minimum offering price of $13.3 is pretty steep, and for Napoli it would have meant around a 50% increase. Then you factor in that he's a mediocre at best defensive catcher who just turned 31; has only once topped 115 games played; that he saw his BA fell nearly 100 points this year from 2011 plus his OBA about 70 and his Slugging about 160. All of which makes his 2011 season look more like an outlier and less like a guy who simply figured things out late. Now he still has some pop, still takes his walks, and certainly still has some value, I just don't know whether that value equals $13+ million worth. Texas was probably afraid he'd take it, although I have no idea what other plans they might have in the pipeline regarding backstops.

smg58 Nov 10 2012 07:27 PM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

On a somewhat related note, the Red Sox signed David Ross for two years and $6.2M. He's never been a full-time catcher, but for that price I'd have been willing to give him a try. Napoli will never hit .320 again, but his career line of .259/.356/.507 is still superb for a catcher. The Fielding Bible rated his catching defense at -4, which should not be a dealbreaker. I'm not sure what his market is, but I think there's a chance that teams are going to be too cautious in bidding for him, and the Mets shouldn't take it for granted that he's out of their range.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 10 2012 08:38 PM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

Napoli's worst year offensively AND defensively would be a damn sight better than what this team has gotten from the position for the last four years or so.

Ceetar Nov 11 2012 06:19 AM Re: FA Rules/Compensation

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Napoli's worst year offensively AND defensively would be a damn sight better than what this team has gotten from the position for the last four years or so. yeah, but will it be in 2013? is he on the way down towards 'the end'? Probably not. but I suspect he'll want a multi-year deal too. but hey, Mets have done pretty well with catcher's named Mike.