Pirates Unable to Arbitrate Olsen or Correia?

It was reported by, Pirates.com/MLB.com's, Jenifer Longosch, that the Pirates will not be able to offer arbitration to Scott Olsen or Kevin Correia, if they were to become a Type A free agents.

A Type A free agent is designated, to those players that perform in the top 20 percent at their position, by the Elias Sports Bureau. Normally, if a team were to offer a Type A free agent arbitration and the player were and the player were to decline, and later sign with another team, the team signing the free agent would lose, depending on the previous season record, a 1st or 2nd round draft pick, for the upcoming years draft. The team that offered arbitration and later lost the player, would receive those draft picks, from the signing team, as a supplemental pick.

Scott Olsen (Top Picture), signed for one year and a club option for 2012, as Kevin Correia (Bottom Picture) signed for two years. If either were to perform to within that top 20 percent, at the position, they will in fact become, Type A free agents. The Pirates club option on Olsen, is already pre-set and wouldn't be affected for the beginning of the off season, after the 2011 season, as they would be able to declare their option without the threat of losing a draft pick. 

Type A free agents tend to receive a lot more lucrative contracts, as opposed to Type B and regular free agents. If Olsen and/or Correia were to perform well enough, to become a Type A, that would be an exceptional pickup for the Pirates, this off season. If they were to perform that well, they would be able to offer a contract extension, prior to the beginning of free agency, after the 2012 season. 

Financially, a small market team, the Pirates wouldn't be able to afford signing, or extending a contract, of a Type A free agent. If Olsen and/or Correia were to be designated, Type A, likely, in my opinion, would be traded for prospects in return. Correia, was designated a Type B player, would, statistically, have the better chance of being designated Type A. Teams a Type B free agent, after offering arbitration, does not receive a supplemental pick and the signing team does not lose a pick.