Draft Changes

by D O on May 30, 2005 4:04 PM EDT Comment 3 comments

I have always found the MLB draft fascinating, and in the past couple of years I have studied the process in greater detail and become more interested in its equalizing function. It is the most effective way we have of evenly distributing talent, but I think it could be improved. So in that spirit, here are some ideas to change the draft system, and a poll to see which people like the best.

International Draft. As I see it this would benefit everybody. It puts MLB teams on equal footing in terms of being able to acquire the big name-type int'l free agents (eg. Ichiro, Morales, etc.) and it also helps the majority of international players who are exploited essentially as cheap labor, signed in bulk for less money than their US counterparts, and if they don't make it are dropped without even airfare back to their native country.
End Draft pick compensation for losing free agents. Stops rewarding teams for not keeping their star players.
Increase draft pick compensation. Doesn't it suck that if you lose the MVP to a team in the first half of the first round you don't get their pick? Why not get TWO supplemental firsts and just have that team forfeit their sencond rounder all together. For example, when the A's lost Tejada they got the Orioles' THIRD round pick. This would have remedied that a bit without punishing the Orioles any further.
Allow TRADING of draft picks. How awesome would this be? It would add some excitement, and "small-market" teams might benefit because they could trade down to avoid the ridiculous Scott Boras signing bonuses, instead of reaching for a cheaper option. Of course all you Giants fans would love it because Sabean Might be able to get rid of your picks for a bit more than Michael Tucker.
Conference call sucks-- televise rounds 1-5. Okay, so the NFL draft is not exactly an edge-of-you-seat thrill ride, but it does generate some excitement. Of course, it is also during the off-season, so maybe it just doesn't make sense for baseball. But I have a feeling some people on this site would watch.

Poll

Which change do you like best?

1. International Draft

8 votes

2. End Compensation

0 votes

3. More Compensation

4 votes

4. Tradeable Picks

19 votes

5. Televise It

13 votes

6. None. Leave the draft alone.

4 votes

48 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 3 comments |

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Comments

how about place it on a fricken weekend

"What are you doing?" "Your mom" -everyone in my school

by Weird Al on May 30, 2005 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

Trading

Televisiing it rally isn't a change, but they should definitely do that.

I'd advocate trading, but only if picks could only be traded for other picks. Otherwise, big market teams could buy the picks of other teams by taking on a big contract with the pick.

by JJ1986 on May 30, 2005 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

Trading picks...

has bad idea written all over it. How fair would it be for the Yankees to have 3 or 4 top 10 picks simply because they were the only team who would take a bad contract off the hands of another team. You think a team like the Giants would mind forfeiting their pick as long as it frees up salary? Making them untradeable protects a team from themselves. I voted for International Draft, but I would also like to see it televised.

by templeUsox on May 30, 2005 11:33 PM EDT reply actions