MLB Free Agency Opens - Type A and Type B Free Agents

Free agency begins today. I don't know who will sign quickly with a new team, but I would like to know who are the Type A and Type B free agents. Knowing this, I can guess how quickly a player will be signed.

Assuming his previous team offers him salary arbitration, a Type A free agent costs his new team its first round pick if it is in the second half of the round. A Type B free agent does not cost his new team its first round pick. Given these condition, one would think teams would be more aggressive with the Type B player; hence the heavy interest in Rockies' catcher Yorvit Torrealba. Why sign Michael Barrett before the Padres commit to offering him arbitration?

Under these conditions does it make sense to sign ARod early or should teams call the Yankees' bluff and wait for him to be offered salary arbitration? Better yet, is there a team who could afford ARod who is amongst the worst 15 teams in baseball and will not have to give-up its 1st round selection? (Hint: A fromer pinstripe-wearing manager was just hired.)

If the Dodgers do not like ARod's cost, then maybe Mariano Rivera would be more palatable. He is telling reporters in New York that he would be interested in reuniting with Joe Torre would be an alternative if the Yankees do not meet his financial demands. Given the Yanks just gave 36-year-old catcher Jorge Posada $52.4 million over four years, I find it likely the team would kick in an additional year for Rivera.