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Inbox: Compensation for free agents?
A's beat reporter Mychael Urban fields fans' questions
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
11/09/09 5:27 PM EST
Now starts the busy part of the offseason. The annual GM Meetings opened Monday in Chicago, the awards season kicks off in earnest Tuesday with the announcement of the American League's Gold Glove winners, and free-agent rumors are already running rampant. That's a lot to cover, so we're going with a quick-hit approach to the Inbox for the time being. Enjoy.
Are any of Oakland's free agents this offseason classified as Type A or B? If the A's have one, what does that mean if the free agent signs elsewhere?
-- Roland Y., Salinas, Calif.
The rankings are done by the Elias Sports Bureau, and they're based on the past two seasons. Thus, right-hander Justin Duchscherer came away ranked 35th among AL starters in the most recent rankings -- good for a Type B designation, which means the A's would get an additional Draft pick between the first and second rounds next June if Duchscherer signs with another team before Dec. 1, or declines an offer of arbitration.
Duchscherer, to whom offering arbitration might be risky for the A's, is the only free-agent Athletic to earn an A or B ranking.
Have you spoken to Jason Giambi since he was released by the A's? I'd love to get his thoughts on the direction of the team, and I'd like to hear if he plans to keep playing?
-- Paul F., Sacramento, Calif.
I last spoke to Giambi on the day before he was released, and my attempts to reach him this offseason have thus far failed. I do know he'd like to keep playing, though, and given the way he performed for the Rockies at the end of the year, I'm sure he'll get some sort of offer.
I read a blog suggesting that the A's might be interested in Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero. Thoughts?
-- Davis G., Stockton, Calif.
First of all, the blog you read was apparently based on the comments of a national "reporter" who likes to throw a bunch of goo at walls and claim to be prescient in the very rare event that one of the globs actually sticks.
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Figgins would be a nice fit on the A's because he's versatile, fast, smart, a great teammate and can hold down third base for the short- or long-term, but he'll almost surely be way too expensive for Oakland. As for Vlad, I don't see the A's taking another stab at a declining performer in his mid- to late-30s. He won't be cheap, either. And please hold the Carlos Delgado e-mails. You'll get a very similar answer.
Would the A's consider trading for Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres? We need a big bat, his contract is cheap for the next two seasons, and we have the prospects to do it.
-- Matt B., Vacaville, Calif.
A lot of teams -- maybe every -- team would consider trading for Gonzalez, and you're right about the A's needing a big bat and having a fair share of prospects. But there are a lot of teams with the same need and just as many prospects, so the Padres are going to have a lot of potential trade partners. I'd be surprised if Billy Beane traded the type and quantity of prospects for which the Padres will be looking in exchange for two years of a player who'll then be out of Oakland's price range.
I am a journalism major at San Jose State University, and I am really interested in getting into sports journalism after college. How did you get your start, and what do you recommend I do?
-- Michael C., Alameda, Calif.
I got my start working at a series of small newspapers. From there I moved on to the Contra Costa Times for a year as a desk jockey, and then I made the online leap to a company called Quokka, which folded in the dot-com crash. I was lucky to land at MLB.com shortly thereafter. My advice is to work on your school paper, hustle as much freelance work you can get while still in school, and start networking with more experienced people in the business.
With newspapers folding and cutting back and flooding the job market with great sports journalists, it's not a great time to be one of "us," but if you really want this, it can be done. Don't let people discourage you. Good luck.
Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
