MLB Trade Rumors has obtained the official Elias Rankings. These rankings declare which free agents are Type A and which are Type B. Some of the top free agent relief pitchers are listed as Type A’s, but there are plenty of intriguing options listed as Type B.
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I recently took a look at Grant Balfour as possible bullpen help. At the time, the thought of Balfour as a Type A free agent didn’t cross my mind. As it turns out, Balfour made the Type A list and, if he is offered arbitration and declines, the Rays would receive a draft pick as compensation. It’s not just the fact that Balfour made the Type A list, but the fact that some other marginal relievers did as well.
Scott Downs – This one was somewhat expected as Downs posted a 3.09 ERA in 2009 and 2.64 ERA in 2010 with K/BB rates over three K’s per walk for each season.
Frank Francisco – ERA’s in the high three’s over the last two seasons, but good strikeout numbers.
Jason Frasor – Regressed from an excellent 2009, but numbers were still solid in 2010.
Matt Guerrier – Solid ERA and over 70 IP for the past two seasons make up for a well below average strikeout rate.
Arthur Rhodes – Dominance against left-handed hitters has helped keep his ERA sparkling.
Rafael Soriano – This was an obvious Type A and the team that signs him is likely going to lose an early round draft pick.
The question becomes: Is it worth it to give up draft picks to sign any of these guys? While the Sox may try and go after other Type A players like Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford — meaning their top pick would already be surrendered – they would still surrender other draft picks for one or two years of a multi-million dollar middle reliever (Soriano aside).
If I had to guess, none of the names above will end up with the Sox next season. However, there are some extremely attractive Type B options, some even more attractive than the names listed above.
Joaquin Benoit
Pedro Feliciano
Brian Fuentes – Examined here.
J.J. Putz
Chad Qualls
Jon Rauch
Hisanori Takahashi
Koji Uehara
Kerry Wood
I’m sure myself and the rest of the authors here will be taking an in-depth look at the Type B names listed above in the coming month or so.
While the Type A free agent list may have narrowed the Red Sox list of possible bullpen help, there are still many other and possibly better options that the Sox should pursue.
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evanbrunell: 
alexconvery: 
CharlieSaponara: 
Well, one scenario I can see is Beltre and V-Mart signing elsewhere and getting us first round picks. Then say we sign Crawford. What's to preclude us from signing someone like Downs and coughing up our second?
Good point. I tend to be ultra (perhaps overly) conservative when it comes to signing middle relievers.
I guess in my eyes it's more about liking the Type B options better (Benoit, Uehara and Putz in particular). I also like the idea of trying to find some cheap alternatives and spending a few million for some upside arms in the second round of the draft. Again, I may be over-thinking it, but I just am not a fan of dishing out big dollars for relievers.
I agree, really digging these three. If I had my druthers, I would go after Uehara and Feliciano and stash one of the Type A's in my back pocket just in case the scenario I outlined above happens.
Also, giving up both Beltre and VMart (ouch) AND giving up their draft picks to spend far more dollars on Crawford for far less offense plus a reliever doesn’t make sense…especially with equivalent D from Cam, and Reddick & Kalish perhaps ready by mid- season and Putz/Benoit, etc. looking for homes. I’d rather stick with Victor even if we get CC, though.
I see Beltre staying only as a safety net. He'll demand too much money, and if the Sox do sign Victor, which they seemed to be leaning toward, Beltre's absence would give them the flexibility to give Victor some time at first, shift Youk over to third and have Salty catch, with Lowrie playing superutility short, third, and second.