Comments on: More Draft News

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve been reading the comments as they’ve come through my inbox, but I’m working on finishing up the Prospect Guide. Fortunately it’s been a slow news day, giving me a lot of time to get things wrapped up.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:58:00 +0000

@Tim you OK benn fairly quiet around here today? Gearing up for my favorite week of the year? So much Andrew Bailey talk. Every suitor he has Neal should be all over.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:53:00 +0000

you could trade anyone for the pick? say the Cards want Jose Veras you could get their pick for him if they were so inclined?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tim, Did you see this MLB analysis that says Cole could be in the Pirates’ rotation by June or July? Any thoughts?
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20014437&topic_id=8877442&c_id=pit

By: terry

terry — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:19:00 +0000

I think the the protection for the picks in the first three rounds is important. In a shallow draft harder to sign players taken in the first three rounds who don’t sign means stacking picks for the next year or two. Are the supplemental draft picks and the lottery picks protected too? A team could really rack up some picks.

By: David B. Goldstein, CPA

David B. Goldstein, CPA — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:18:00 +0000

No… that only works if you are 25 Josh… otherwise you are subject to international pool

By: k

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:17:00 +0000

This may come out convoluted, but: One must assume that since picks continue to be protected against the guy not signing (and for an additional year), a team is allotted the slot values for all the picks they have in a given year, including the previous year’s ‘protection’ picks, right?

So could, for example, the Pirates, draft a guy in 2012 that they have no intention of signing, get the subsequent pick in 2013 along with whatever pick they ‘earn’ in 2012, and then, essentially draft a pick-appropriate guy with one 1st-rounder, and a guy they see as, say, a late 2nd-round talent with the other, offer him late 2nd-round-talent-type money, go over slot on a couple 2nd- and 3rd-round picks, and, depending on what that 1st-rounder does, either fit everyone in under their cap or have another compensatory 1st-rounder in 2014?

By: steve-O K

steve-O K — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:25:00 +0000

I’m Josh Bell. I want 6 million dollars and just turned 18. The most I get is 2.5 million as the 15th overall pick. I want the money. Can I move to Mexico, somehow get a citizenship, and declare myself an international free agent and be able to get my 6 million? I’m sure a lawyer could figure that one out given the difference in pay.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:26:00 +0000

I don’t see teams getting in to that situation. I think this new system eliminates most opportunities to go over-slot. If the Pirates have $7 M to spend, they can only go over-slot by $349 K before they start losing picks. The only way to make up that money from one player would be to go under-slot on an early round pick. I don’t think we’re going to see the same situation as before where the more talented players get drafted in the 6th and the team drafts slot or below slot guys earlier. I think the talented players will be drafted earlier, thus no need to go over-slot later in the draft and no need to make up for going over-slot.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +0000

-Here’s some good news. Teams can announce signings as they happen,
rather than waiting for MLB to sign off on the move. MLB removed their
draft-support program, which was used to strong-arm teams into delaying
over-slot announcements. The Pirates have lost a few over-slot players
because of this, including Dace Kime in 2009.

I think we are about to see teams hold signings closer to the vest than previously actually. By announcing signings, a team could put itself in a position where the last person to sign needs to go underslot or they will go over their cap, even to the point of losing draft picks. This will give the last player tremendous leverage. If I were that player, I would say, “Sign me for 1.5x slot. You are going to lose a draft pick anyway, don’t lose signing me in addition to losing the draft pick.”