Yesterday I commented on which American League free agents should be offered arbitration, paying specific attention to their ranking by the Elias Sports Bureau. Today I will be doing the same thing for National League free agents. Please refer to yesterday's article for details on the compensation process.

Arizona
The Diamondbacks should offer arbitration to Steve Finley (A), as they're still attempting to sign him and will want to collect compensation if he leaves for another organization. Arizona should also consider offering arbitration to Rick Helling (A), but as they don't want him back, the likely won't because he might accept.

Despite the rumored handshake deal completed during the playoffs, Mark Grace (B) has not officially re-signed with the Diamondbacks. Consequently, Arizona needs to announce that deal this week, rather than give him a shot at arbitration.

The Diamondbacks shouldn't give Jay Bell (B) a chance to hang around for another season. However, they should definitely offer arbitration to Greg Colbrunn (B), as if he accepts they might be able to beat him and he shouldn't be too expensive even if he were to win at a hearing. Additionally if he chooses to leave, they pick up valuable compensation.

I was quite surprised that Arizona didn't pick up Mike Fetters (C) option, but having done so they should definitely offer him arbitration. Worst case: they retain a popular and effective reliever at near cost. Additionally this way if Fetters leaves for a multi-year deal elsewhere they at least have something to show for Duaner Sanchez.

Arizona should not bother offering arbitration to Brian Anderson, Chris Donnels, Mike Morgan, and Armando Reynoso, who are all below C.

Todd Stottlemyre, below C, has retired and therefore shouldn't be offered arbitration.

Atlanta
Tom Glavine (A) and Greg Maddux (A) obviously need to be offered arbitration, as the Braves want to continue negotiating with them, want the compensation if they leave, and wouldn't mind if they accepted.

Mike Remlinger (A) has signed with the Cubs, so Atlanta should definitely offer him arbitration to collect the guaranteed compensation. I'll discuss that deal sometime in the next few days.

While Chris Hammond (B) and Darren Holmes (B) could choose to accept arbitration and stick Atlanta with a sizeable bill, they will also likely want to take this opportunity to secure multi-year contracts, so the Braves should take the risk.

However, Atlanta should not offer arbitration to B.J. Surhoff (B).

If the Braves want to re-sign Darren Bragg, Julio Franco, Keith Lockhart, Albie Lopez, or Dave Martinez, who are all below C, they should do so before Saturday, as none of them should be offered arbitration.

Chicago
Since Jon Lieber (A) underwent Tommy John surgery in August, he should not be offered arbitration. If they're planning on working out an incentive laden deal with him, they should complete it before December 7th.

Unfortunately, they won't be able to collect compensation for Fred McGriff (A) either, as he would almost certainly accept arbitration and they needed his playing time for Hee Seop Choi last September.

After adding Paul Bako, they certainly don't want to hang onto Joe Girardi (C), so the Cubs shouldn't offer him arbitration. Jason Bere (C) will probably want to head to a team where he'll have a more secure starting job, but they can't risk him taking the easy money of arbitration.

Pat Mahomes, below C, definitely should not be offered arbitration.

Cincinnati
Shawn Estes (B) could earn far too much in arbitration to risk giving him that option. The Reds also have sufficient internal pitching depth that Joey Hamilton, Brian Moehler, and Jose Rijo, who are all below C, should not be offered arbitration.

Colorado
After acquiring Charles Johnson, the Rockies can't gamble on offering arbitration to Sandy Alomar (B). Todd Zeile (B) is very fond of Colorado and would almost certainly accept arbitration if the Rockies gave him the opportunity, so they should not offer it, because they need his playing time for other players in the organization.

Colorado also should not bother offering arbitration to Pete Harnisch, Sean Lowe, Kent Mercker, and Terry Shumpert, who are all below C.

Florida
The Marlins should certainly offer arbitration to Graeme Lloyd (B), as there's no way he'll accept given the animosity he holds towards the organization. However, they should not give Julian Tavarez (B) a chance to accept arbitration.

Tim Raines, below C, has retired and doesn't need to be offered arbitration.

Houston
Tom Gordon (A) wants to go to a team where he'll be the closer, so the Astros can safely offer him arbitration and collect compensation.

However, they should not take the risk of offering arbitration to Pedro Borbon (B), Mark Loretta (B), Shane Reynolds (B), or Doug Brocail and Dave Mlicki, who are below C.

Los Angeles
The Dodgers don't have any starting depth, so I believe they should offer Omar Daal (A) arbitration. There's some risk that he'll earn a healthy salary if he accepts, but he's likely to head to another organization on a multi-year contract, in which case they at least will be able to pick up the compensation.

LA shouldn't bother with offering arbitration to Tyler Houston (B) or Chad Kreuter (C). Jesse Orosco (C) signed with San Diego, so the Dodgers should certainly offer him arbitration to pick up the compensation at no risk.

If they want Marquis Grissom, below C, to return, then they should sign him before Saturday, as they don't want him at a possible arbitration salary. Dave Hansen and Jeff Reboulet are also below C and should not be offered arbitration.

Milwaukee
The Brewers have to offer Jose Hernandez (A) arbitration to at least pick the compensatory draft picks, if they're going to allow him to leave the organization. They should also consider offering arbitration to Matt Stairs (B), as he fits well with the team and they could use the compensation if he leaves.

Milwaukee should try to re-sign Lenny Harris, below C, before December 7th, as neither he nor Jorge Fabregas, who is also below C, should be offered arbitration.

Montreal
The Expos shouldn't offer arbitration to any of their free agents, including Troy O'Leary (C), or Wil Cordero and Andres Galarraga, who are below C.

New York
The Mets have to offer arbitration to Edgardo Alfonzo (A), as he's one of the most valuable players on the free agent market and would fit well back on their own roster if he were to accept.

Mark Guthrie (A) and Steve Reed (A) should also be offered arbitration, as the Mets should try to re-sign them and definitely want the compensation if they leave.

I'd even consider offering arbitration to Steve Trachsel (B), as there's likely to be interest from other organizations and he wouldn't be a bad guy to have around or cost too much if he stayed.

New York doesn't need to bother with Jeff D'Amico or John Valentin, who are both below C.

Philadelphia
At first glance, it appears that the Phillies should be able to balance out the draft picks they'll lose due to signing free agents with the ones they'll receive from their own people leaving. However, they can't risk offering arbitration to Terry Adams (A), Robert Person (A), Dan Plesac (A), Mike Timlin (A) or Ricky Bottalico (B), and they gain nothing from extending arbitration to Doug Glanville, Dave Hollins, and Todd Pratt, who are all below C.

Pittsburgh
The Pirates should go ahead and offer arbitration to Brian Boehringer (B), as the compensation they'll receive if he leaves is sufficient to warrant the risk that he'll accept. However, they shouldn't bother with Ron Villone (C), or Mike Benjamin and Keith Osik, who are below C.

Darren Lewis, below C, has retired and should not be offered arbitration.

San Diego
The Padres are still interested in re-signing Ron Gant (B), so they should offer him arbitration and collect the compensation if he leaves. However, they can't risk Deivi Cruz (B), Tom Lampkin (B), or Ray Lankford (B) accepting.

San Francisco
San Francisco should be able to safely offer arbitration to Kenny Lofton (A), Jeff Kent (A), and Reggie Sanders (A), leaving them at the very least with a nice draft next season. The Giants wouldn't mind having any of them back and none their salaries should fall fairly close to their value even if they accept. I'd even go ahead and offer arbitration to Bill Mueller (B), as the potential compensation, allows them to take the risk and they don't need to reduce payroll this year.

David Bell (B) has already signed with the Phillies, so the Giants should definitely collect the no risk compensation.

The Giants don't need to bother with Shawon Dunston and Tom Goodwin, who are both below C.

St. Louis
The Cardinals can't afford the potential cost of offering Jeff Fassero (A) and Dave Veres (A) arbitration.

Woody Williams (A) has already re-signed and does not need to be offered arbitration.

I'd like to offer arbitration to Chuck Finley (B), but St. Louis doesn't have the payroll flexibility to handle his salary if he were to accept. They also shouldn't give Jamey Wright (B) an opportunity at arbitration.

Andy Benes (C) will likely retire, but he might accept if offered arbitration, and the Cardinals don't want him back at the salary he would likely receive from an arbitration board.

St. Louis shouldn't offer arbitration to Mike DiFelice, below C.

Note: After completing yesterdays article, we discovered that Kenny Rogers has a clause in his contract that prevents the Rangers from offering him arbitration.