Jan
30

Yanks may be able to sign more free agents

By

Update by Joe, 11:52 a.m.: Interesting thought over at MLB Trade Rumors:

10:05am: One reader asks a question I can’t answer: if the quota is three Type A/Bs, how were the Giants able to sign Jeremy Affeldt (B), Bob Howry (A), Randy Johnson (B), Edgar Renteria (A), and Juan Uribe (B)? Does it only apply to Type A/Bs who were offered arbitration? Is the quota three of each type?

Uribe signed a minor league deal, and I’m not sure if that counts against the quota or not. Still, the Affeldt, Howry, Johnson, and Renteria point still stands. Plus, as he mentioned below in the comments, PeteAbe talked to Cashman, who said the Yankees are not at their limit.

Update 10:40 a.m.: After pouring over the CBA and a few of my older columns on this, the conclusion stands that Bloom is wrong. The Yanks can sign a free agent for every ranked free agent they’ve lost — Pudge and Abreu can still be replaced, and I’m pretty sure Mussina can be too — in addition to the number they allotted under the CBA’s quota.

However, it’s unclear what the quota is. Bloom’s analysis about the CBA, below, is still correct mostly correct. His conclusion is not. The relevant part says:

(a) Clubs shall be limited in the number of Type Aand B Play- ers, as defined below, they may subsequently sign to contracts. The number of signings permitted shall be related to the number of Players electing free agency under this Section B. If there are 14 or less such Players, no Club may sign more than one Type Aor B Player. If there are from 15 to 38 such Players, no Club may sign more than two Type Aor B Players. If there are from 39 to 62 such Players, no Club may sign more than three Type A or B Players. If there are more than 62 such Players, the Club quotas shall be increased accordingly. There shall be no restrictions on the number of
unranked Players that a Club may sign to contracts.

Unless the numbers have been “increased accordingly” through some other means, the Yanks may be stuck with three new, non-replacement free agents, but as I noted above, since three of their former free agents did not re-sign, I think the Yanks still could sign more Type A or Type B free agents under the non-increased quota. It’s tough to say if the lost free agents are added to the quota if the number — in this case, 3 — is the same as the quota.

* * *

While Yankee fans dream of Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn patrolling the outfield with Ben Sheets on the mound, those are three pipe dreams that won’t — and, in fact, cannot — come true. The Yankees, you see, have reached their free agent limit.

There is some rather convoluted logic to this conclusion, and Barry Bloom sums it up in that MLB.com piece. I’ll summarize: The CBA says that when there are between 39 to 62 Type A or B free agents, a club may sign three of them, not counting their own players lost to free agency. So when the Yanks re-signed Andy Pettitte and Damaso Marte, they were not penalized. They did, however, land CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett, three Type A free agents.

But what if there are more than 62 ranked players, as there were this year? “If there are more than 62 such players, the club quota shall be increased accordingly,” the CBA reads. As Bloom reports, however, no adjustments were made. The Yanks never asked, and the Union and Owners never had to confront the issue. I guess it’s not too late, but that ship has probably sailed.

So all of this convoluted administrative baseball mumbo-jumbo means that there is only one free agent left the Yankees could sign. His name? Bobby Abreu.

This also makes me reevaluate any efforts the Yanks are making to trade Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher. If they cannot sign Dunn as a potential replacement, the team is better served holding on to Nady and Swisher. Both players will be tradeable and in demand when June and July rolls around. What’s the rush anyway?

Categories : Hot Stove League

97 Comments»

  1. Jay CT says:

    I don’t know that I believe this. Why would they be looking into Ben Sheets last week if they cannot sign him? I am sure that the public stance is they can’t, but something tells me, if they wanted Juan Cruz, they would get Juan Cruz.

  2. Dillon says:

    If this is true it’s pretty pathetic that it took this long for Yankee writers to figure it out. Not saying I don’t love this site/newspapers and many others, but wow…..how could this have been missed for so long?

    • Jay CT says:

      This is why I find it strange. Its strange that the Yankees continued to speak with Ben Sheets. Course, a certain QB didn’t know a football game could end in a tie, so I guess maybe the Yanks didn’t know about this rule. Course, they may have never really had any interest in signing Sheets either.

      • steve (different one) says:

        the continued to talk to Sheets b/c if they did not re-sign Pettitte, they’d have been allowed to sign another FA.

        right?

        seems consistent.

  3. Teaman says:

    The MLB.com report is inaccurate. The Yanks indeed can sign more Type A or Type B free agents. Read MLB CBA Section XX(B)(6), entitled “Quota”. If there are more than 62 free agents OF ANY TYPE, more than 3 Type A or Type B free agetns may be signed by any one team. Note the insert in Barry M. Blooms article, in brackets. He inserted the words “Type A or Type B” in the brackets; those words do not appear in the agreement.
    I’m sure Gene Orza would verify this interpretation. Manfred’s interpretation is self-serving; the Players Association would strongly disagree, as Manfred’s interpretation restricts players’ movement and marketability.

    • pat says:

      I would tend to beleive this explanation more than what that bloom guy said. When this whole free agency class shook out people asked this question and the typical answer was like 6 or 7 and that a limit had never come into play before because it was so high.

    • christopher says:

      at what level of free agents can a team sin 4, 5, 6 etc.?

  4. Doug says:

    supposedly bloom’s take on this was confirmed by a top Major League Baseball official

  5. MattG says:

    This will be refuted by the PA in a matter of hours. The CBA language is quite clear.

    Good work, MLB.

  6. D.B.H.O.F. p.k.a Don Corleone says:

    I still do not GET why we want to or need to trade either Swisher or Nady? Are we not trying to win the WS? Do we not need a bench? Do we not need fresh players come playoff time? Having both of these guys allows us to keep our OF fresh, and 1st base fresh.

    To me the main value that Swisher provides is he is able to play both corners and 1st base pretty well and he is a serviceable short time (a game or two) replacement in CF. He is also under control at a reasonable pay grade if he con perform well. He or Nady (who is a decent player at both corners) could really be used as a pinch hitter off the bench as well when they are not player. Swisher can also help keep Damon from falling apart but giving him a break in LF (and possibly at leadoff, although Jeter might be able to do that as well, he can not hit into a double play if he is the first man up :)

    • Matt says:

      “although Jeter might be able to do that as well, he can not hit into a double play if he is the first man up :)

      Haha, high five for this comment.

      But seriously, go look at Jeter’s leadoff splits. Dude’s a beast batting first, leading off an inning, etc.

      And though I’d love to jettison Nady because I feel his trade value is highest, you’re right–there’s no point to it unless it’s something incredible, which it’s not going to be. I really believe that Swisher will be the starting RF come April and he will be for the duration of his contract.

      Holy shnikes–the Nadal/Verdasco match lasted 5 hours and 14 minutes. Damn.

      • Stryker says:

        won on a freakin’ double fault. verdasco must HATE himself.

        • Matt says:

          For real. That’s like losing a perfect game on a bunt single.

          Also: Jeff getting voted off over Fabio? Huge mistake by the judges. I love Fabio but he’d been slipping up the last few weeks. He should’ve been gone. Now that’ he’s gone, the final four will be: Stefan/Hosea/Carla/Jaime with Stefan and Hosea being the final two, Stefan wins. BOOK IT.

      • D.B.H.O.F. p.k.a Don Corleone says:

        I am a die hard Jeter fan but the frequencey in which he hit into double plays last year was amazing. I have no data to back this up but I saw so many it bothered me and I hope Jeter (I know it had to).

        “But seriously, go look at Jeter’s leadoff splits. Dude’s a beast batting first, leading off an inning, etc. ”

        I seriously think if it was Jeter’s “job” to be a full time leadoff guy his whole career he could have been one of the best ever. I think he would have changed his game to suit it more. He does a good job there and I would not be mad at him in that position in 2010 if we have no better options.

        Speaking of double plays, Alex needs to cut down on them as well.

        Who is going to be the utility / bench middle infielder type on this team? Hopefully a guy with a heck of a glove and the ability to keep Alex and Jeter from being worn out come playoff time.

  7. r.w.g. says:

    I thought the quota gets adjusted when there are more than 62 free agents available.

  8. Rafi says:

    Tim went in and adjusted the post to say that basically the article may be incorrect. He quotes Cafardo who has the Yankees possible acquisitions at 9. Cafardo quotes MLB Spokesman Pat Courtney on that.

  9. Doug says:

    subsection (b) under “Quota” reads:
    “Irrespective of the the provision of subparagraph (a), a Club shall be eligible to sign at least as many Type A and B Players as it may have lost through players having become free agents at the close of the season just concluded”

    since we had 5 players becomes FAs (Abreu, Giambi, Pettitte, Marte, Mussina), doesn’t the above mean we can sign at least up to 5?

    • mustang says:

      I think so. I’m not sure anyone a lawyer.
      LOL

    • Rafi says:

      Giambi wasn’t a type-anything, so he would be excluded. Marte and Pettitte resigned so I don’t think that they count either. I may be misreading that, but that’s how I read it.

    • christopher says:

      from reading the quota section it states that a club may sign as any type A or B free agents equalling the amount of free agents it lost. It does not specify that the players lost have to be type A or type B players, only that they be lost to free agency.

      The yankees who filed for free agency and left the team are: pavano, giambi, abreu, pudge, Sidney Ponson, Ensburg. I am not sure if Mussina filed for free agency although he is listed on Cot’s.

  10. Alan says:

    Is it not the case that you can add a type a or b forevery one that gets away? Could swear I’ve read that somewhere…in which case Pudge and Abreu would add to our allowances

  11. mustang says:

    Out of the CBA you can make up your own minds.

    (5) Quota
    (a) Clubs shall be limited in the number of Type A and B Play-
    ers, as defined below, they may subsequently sign to contracts. The
    number of signings permitted shall be related to the number of Play-
    ers electing free agency under this Section B. If there are 14 or less
    such Players, no Club may sign more than one Type A or B Player.
    If there are from 15 to 38 such Players,no Club may sign more than
    two Type A or B Players. If there are from 39 to 62 such Players,no
    Club may sign more than three Type A or B Players. If there are
    more than 62 such Players, the Club quotas shall be increased
    accordingly. There shall be no restrictions on the number of
    unranked Players which a Club may sign to contracts.
    (b) Irrespective of the provisions of subparagraph (a) above, a
    Club shall be eligible to sign at least as many Type A and B Players
    as it may have lost through Players having become free agents under
    this Section at the close of the season just concluded.
    (6) Miscellaneous
    (a) Any Club signing a contract after the expiration of the elec-
    tion period with a Player under this Section B may not assign his
    contract until after the next June 15. However, notwithstanding the
    foregoing, such contract may be assigned for other Player contracts
    and/or cash consideration of $50,000 or less prior to the next June
    16 if the Player gives written consent to such transaction.
    (b) There shall be no restriction or interference with the right of
    a free agent to negotiate or contract with any baseball club outside
    the structure of organized baseball, nor shall there be any compen-
    sation paid for the loss of a free agent except as provided for in this
    Section B.

    • jsbrendog says:

      so then weren’t moose, pettitte, abreu, pudge type a’s? and giambi too? so that’s 5. so regardless of this stupid article we could still sign 2 mroe even if it were true

      • mustang says:

        That’s my take on it.

      • KW says:

        I believe pudge was a B, and giambi wasn’t even a B

      • Should be working says:

        From what i’ve seen the only rated FA’s that were ours are Abreu and Pudge. The problem is nobody seems to know if you get to add whatever you lose to the quota or not. Also the combined type a-b’s that files were 63. Over the 62. Techniclly there should be a higher signing limit but it was never made. So I dont think the ship has sailed if they want Cruz cause its in the agreement that it will increase should it go past 62.

      • christopher says:

        you cant count petitte as the rule specifies that you have to have lost the player

        b) Irrespective of the provisions of subparagraph (a) above, a
        Club shall be eligible to sign at least as many Type A and B Players
        as it may have lost through Players having become free agents under
        this Section at the close of the season just concluded.

        section B defines basic free agency – completion of a major league contract, or 6 years of service time. I am not sure that Ensburg actually signed a contract, nor do I know if Mussina filed for free agency. Regardless the loss of Giambi, Pavano, Pudge, and Abreu allows them at least 4 type A or B’s and I cant remember if ponson finished the year as a yankee. if so, that would be another free agent they could add. Pettite and Marte would count towards this but took up their own slots by resigning.

  12. Alan says:

    Like Doug says, lol

    • Doug says:

      Thanks Alan…..forgot Pudge though, which makes 6.

      but like you said, is the quota players eligible for FA (all 6) or only those you lose to FA (abreu, giambi, pudge)

      • christopher says:

        i think the bigger question is – does the quota count only toward type A’s and B’s that are lost or does it apply to any free agent lost whether or not they are rated.”

  13. jim says:

    If they could only sign 3 , they signed the right 3.

    It does seem strange that this would just come up now. Why wasn’t this mentioned at the owners meeting that happened after the Teixiera signing where the salary cap was bandied about.

    With all the uproar about the Yankees (always presented as if they had just written a check for 423 million) wouldn’t Selig have said to the other owners, “Don’t worry , they can’t sign any more free agents”

    It doesn’t seem right to me.

  14. Jake H says:

    Do they really need to go after anyone else?

  15. Bill says:

    I don’t think we would sign anyone anyway. After we re-signed Pettitte that pretty much closed the book on any major offseason moves (barring a Nady or Swisher trade). Manny and Dunn were out of the picture the second we signed Teixeira. Sheets was only a fallback if Pettitte wouldn’t sign and even then he would’ve had to sign for a very reasonable amount. I don’t totally buy that we can’t because if we were looking at guys with the Type A classification that probably means that we could’ve signed Ben Sheets.

    Juan Cruz is the only guy that is even a remote possibility, but I still doubt that. Our bullpen is pretty deep right now and our 40-man roster is really crowded.

    I do agree that we shouldn’t trade Nady or Swisher. Nady doesn’t seem to be garnerning enough interest for us to get much in return. Swisher is our only good starting OF signed past this year (Jackson is still a ?). Plus its not like we’re going to get a Jordan Schafer type for him either, so is it really worth it? There’s plenty of playing time for both of these guys since Damon can play some CF and there are bound to be some injuries or guys that need some rest. And if we do want to trade one of them we’ll probably get more value midseason. Unless we get a prospect that would be a good bet to start in our OF next year or just a really good prospect at another position, there’s no reason to deal either of these guys. I mean we’ve got a great team that could compete for a championship having depth will give us a better chance to avoid those losing streaks that are often brought on by injuries or guys slumping.

  16. GM says:

    The quota is not 3. The Yankees do not need to sign anyone anyway.

  17. Bronx says:

    Please don’t get me wrong, here is the mlb regulations I read

    Clubs shall be limited in the number of Type A and B Players, as defined below, they may subsequently sign to contracts. The number of signings permitted shall be related to the number of Players electing free agency under this Section B. If there are 14 or less such Players, no Club may sign more than one Type A or B Player. If there are from 15 to 38 such Players, no Club may sign more than two Type A or B Players. If there are from 39 to 62 such Players, no Club may sign more than three Type A or B Players. If there are more than 62 such Players, the Club quotas shall be increased accordingly. There shall be no restrictions on the number of unranked Players that a Club may sign to contracts.

    Irrespective of the provisions of subparagraph (a) above, a Club shall be eligible to sign at least as many Type A and B Players as it may have lost through Players having become free agents under this Section at the close of the season just concluded.

    (+) – Sabathia(A), Burnett(A), Teixeira(A)
    (-) – Mussina(A), Abreu(A), Giambi(B), I-Rod(B)

    Our quota = 4 – 3 = 1 (Remaining)

  18. I just hope they can still sign Juan Cruz.

    • Stryker says:

      why? why pay for a reliever when our farm system is stacked with arms?

      he’s seemed to put it together pretty well during his stint in arizona (holy crap 176 ERA+ in ’08..), but i think any combination of our guys (edwar, veras, bruney, albaladejo, robertson, coke, etc. etc. etc.) are capable of putting up the numbers cruz did.

      1) they aren’t type A free agents, 2) they don’t/won’t cost millions to sign and finally 3) all of the bullpen arms on the yankees’ current depth chart with the exception of marte are all younger than cruz.

      why fix what wasn’t broken?

  19. pat says:

    I hate when the freakin spam filter eats a post then puts it up later making me look like a redundant fool.

  20. Januz says:

    I actually think this debate is much ado about nothing. There is only one free agent out there who is a game changer (And worth worrying about), and of course, that is Manny, who can’t seem to find a market (Except the Dodgers and maybe the Giants). What is interesting is that Scott Boras, who knows the rules as well as (If not better) than anyone else, and is an expert at finding markets, never tried to use the Yankees to drive up the price (Let alone push Manny to the Yankees), after Tex was signed. I wonder if it is because he knows the Yankees were not an legitimate alternative, because they filled their signing quota?

  21. Ben K. says:

    Alright, folks. I’ve written a three-paragraph update, and after reading through the CBA, I’m still not sure about this quota thing. The whole “at least as many” free agents as the team lost section in XX.B.5.b isn’t clear at all if that’s a sum or up to and including three.

    So for example: Yanks lose three ranked free agents; therefore, they can sign three. Or therefore they can six. I’m leaning toward the former which means that they can’t sign any more free agents unless the quota has been adjusted upward. If it hasn’t, as Manfred says, then they’re done.

    • Rafi says:

      I’ve been struggling with that question all morning. The first time I read that piece of the CBA(a while ago), I read it that it was 3 plus what you lost. Now that I’m reading it again and being more careful, it doesn’t look like that. It seems that the article would be correct on that part but incorrect due to the total number of FAs.

    • pat says:

      So the quotas are based on the total number of Type A and B free agents or the total number of free agents A,B and non-ranked?

  22. jsbrendog says:

    ::head explodes::

  23. steve (different one) says:

    if this is true…..WHAT WILL WE TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS?!!!

  24. pat says:

    Heh rememebr when we were gonna have like 5 first round picks and 6 or so supplementary picks, those were the days.

  25. Matt says:

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....yeing.html

    “Greenberg confirmed that Abreu is now open to a one-year deal. Abreu told Greenberg he’d win the MVP and then go out on the market again.”

  26. Pete Abraham says:

    Story is not true. Just talked to Cashman. He said he thinks the number is seven or right. “It’s not something we’re worried about either way,” he said.

    Why MLB.com didn’t ask Cash, I have no idea. He’s always perfectly willing to clear up this sort of stuff.

  27. Doug says:

    From Cashman via Peter Abraham:
    “Fear not, greedy Yankee fans, the Yankees can sign all the Type A free agents if they want.

    A story on MLB.com today said the Yankees had reached the quota on Type A free agents.

    This led to — seriously — a dozen e-mails from fans who want Juan Cruz, Adam Dunn and/or Manny Ramirez.

    Turns out the story is wrong. Brian Cashman said the Yankees could sign up to eight if they want. “I’m not sure of the exact number, but it’s one we won’t worry about either way,” he said.

    Because the Yankees had so many of their own ranked free agents (Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina and Pudge Rodriguez), it adds to the quota.

    Panic over. Think big thoughts.

    And, no, Cash wouldn’t say whether than plan to sign anybody else.”

  28. Chuck says:

    I hope they dont trade Nady or Swisher. Swisher was and hopefully will be a great player again. I dont know about the demand getting higher for them at the trade deadline. Looks like there is a possibility that some free agents might hold out until the season starts. If that happens then teams looking for a corner of Im guessing would prefer to sign a fa than trade some players away. I just cant see dunn taking 5mill for 1 year.

    I would be cool watching Nady or Swisher walk for the right player though.

  29. ortforshort says:

    If the scenario is correct, then I’d unload Swisher now and re-sign Abreu. You don’t want to be stuck with Swisher and hs 21 million contract in June when he’ll be batting under the Mendoza line. He’s only a number eight hitter, anyway, in the Yankee lineup. With Abreu, you’ve got a solid, established number three hitter and your lineup is solidified considerably by moving Teixeira to fifth.

    • Tom Zig says:

      Abreu is a solid hitter and no doubt would make our line up better, but we already have excess outfielders, getting rid of swisher and adding Abreu will not help the situation

    • pat says:

      Except bobby is on the wrong side of 30 and gives pretty much everything back with the glove that he does with the bat.

    • If the scenario is correct, then I’d unload Swisher now and re-sign Abreu. You don’t want to be stuck with Swisher and hs 21 million contract in June when he’ll be batting under the Mendoza line. He’s only a number eight hitter, anyway, in the Yankee lineup. With Abreu, you’ve got a solid, established number three hitter and your lineup is solidified considerably by moving Teixeira to fifth.

      All of this is batshit insane.

  30. Matt says:

    “(a) Clubs shall be limited in the number of Type Aand B Play- ers, as defined below, they may subsequently sign to contracts. The number of signings permitted shall be related to the number of Players electing free agency under this Section B. If there are 14 or less such Players, no Club may sign more than one Type Aor B Player. If there are from 15 to 38 such Players, no Club may sign more than two Type Aor B Players. If there are from 39 to 62 such Players, no Club may sign more than three Type A or B Players. If there are more than 62 such Players, the Club quotas shall be increased accordingly. There shall be no restrictions on the number of unranked Players that a Club may sign to contracts.”

    It’s restricted based on the number of players electing free agency, not the number of type A/Bs. There aren’t between 39 and 62 players like that, there’s over a hundred. The quota is quite high.

  31. mike says:

    “a unilateral exception was granted this offseason allowing any team to sign as many as eight Type A or B free agents. A total of 216 free agents filed, an exceptionally high number. Another note: Bloom learned from Manfred that while draft pick compensation would be eliminated if the player waits until after the June draft to sign, it has yet to occur.”

    so technically the yanks could sign sheets, dunn and manny though all 3 are not at all needed. If you can sign dunn for what swisher is due to make or slightly more over the next 3 years it is a no brainer, and deal swisher for whatever you can get for him. The yanks cannot go into this season relying on matsui to be healthy and dh or the lineup this year is no better than last year cause all you are hoping for is bounce back years. Nady will not produce the numbers offensively abreu did. He had a career year last year and abreu just did what he does. Tex will outhit giambi in avg and rbi but not hrs or on base so its a wash. Making dunn the dh with fill spot duties at first and in the outfield makes this lineup better and adds a left handed bat. If you dont like dunn now that abreu is considering one year deals he could be looked at as a stop gap for a year.

    • steve (different one) says:

      He had a career year last year and abreu just did what he does. Tex will outhit giambi in avg and rbi but not hrs or on base so its a wash

      that’s odd considering Teixeira has outhomered AND had a higher OBP than Giambi the last 2 seasons.

      what else you got?

  32. gianthinker says:

    Sign Juan Cruz and make it a 6 inning game with Bruney/Veras locking the 7th down, Cruz locking the 8th down and Mo locking the 9th down. Our pen will be in elite status.

  33. [...] we had a fun debate in this morning’s post on the news that the Yanks may be out of free agent options, Barry Bloom has since corrected himself. The Yankees and every other team, reports the MLB.com [...]

  34. jim says:

    Barry M Bloom’s article starts off with

    “The most commonly held misconception of this offseason is that the Yankees could have signed pitcher Ben Sheets or could still sign left-fielder Manny Ramirez if only there were a few million dollars remaining in the Steinbrenner bank.”

    He must have felt really satisfied with himself writing that line. oops

  35. Drew says:

    Matsui is not a DH. Dunn can be our DH!! 40 dingers. HELLO!!!
    I love Himat but c’mon a DH is a guy to hit in the 4-5-6 slot and do serious damage. If not we might as well have Damnon DH, we know his lineup presence wil be felt. (plus we dont have to see that thing he calls an arm..)

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