Comments on: First Pitch: The Draft Compensation System is Still Broken

By: Joe Sweetnich

Joe Sweetnich — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:29:07 +0000

Bourn wants $18 mm for four (4) years. Do you really want to pay him 3 times what Cutch makes?

By: keithconto

keithconto — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 23:01:30 +0000

Thats why I don’t agree with Tim on this one. Rationalizing that it’s better to take a chance on a 36% success rate and Snider/Sands has no merit unless your not willling to spend the money needed to get Bourn.
The Pirates won’t sign Bourn, and I;m sure they’ll cite some of the reasons Tim used. But that wont be the reason.
They just don’t want to spend the money.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 18:19:44 +0000

Keith…historically that 14th pick has a 36% success rate. It is THAT low.

If we could get Bourn, I’d be a happy Pirate fan.

By: keithconto

keithconto — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:07:23 +0000

Scorp/

I read you piece and while I do agree with some of it, there is, of course some I dont. In a perfect world yes the draft pick will be more valuable in the long run. But looking at a case by case basis, Bourn for that 2013 draft pick is a good deal.

the Pirates have needed a leadoff guy for years. He is one. they need that kind of help now, he provides it. Counting on snider and/or Sands when theres no reason to do so doesn’t make sense. As a org. it’stime the Pirates move past worrying about blocking someone if there is a guy available, and probably affordable for them.

You have no idea what that 14th (?) pick might bring them, and you have another higher pick. In this case giving up a pick to get immediate help AND still having a 1st rounder is a good move. Snider and Sands can earn themselves playing time at AAA, like most players do.

By: keithconto

keithconto — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 00:55:34 +0000

If i understand the system correctly If the Pirates signed Bourn they would lose their 2013 draft pick, which is like 12th or something. They’d keep the pick they had last year, which was the Appel pick. Id; rather get a player I KNOW is going to help me, right now. You still have a high draft pick to get a future impact player. Besides, you can almost bet one of those first rd. picks will be a long shot “signability” pick. why not get a sure thing at a position you really need one?

By: bourbon

bourbon — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 00:16:00 +0000

The other option would be to change the rule so that a qualifying offer doesn’t have to be accepted by the regular arbitration deadline. This way the player has a fallback option if the market never develops as the player expects. The team could have the option to rescind the offer and forfeit the comp pick if the team decides to move on from the player and/or complete its roster without the player. This way the team can’t just make a qualifying offer with no intention of honoring it in order to receive a pick.

By: TonyPenaforHOF

TonyPenaforHOF — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 22:31:01 +0000

If anyone hears the answer please post it here. That shortstop really could be appealing.

By: jaybell

jaybell — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 21:51:33 +0000

LF – Cutch, CF – Bourn, RF – Marte (he has a cannon)

Would love to see it but would struggle with giving up a 1st round pick. If we had a protected pick it would be a no brainer, especially since Bourn could likely be signed at a discount. I suggested a sign and trade regarding Bourn on another site.

By: jaybell

jaybell — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 21:45:56 +0000

“If you look at things from the Pirates’ perspective, you can see how this system is still broken.”

These changes help teams like the Pirates in several ways.

1) The changes to the draft system make 1st round picks extremely valuable. The inflated value of 1st round picks reduces the value of signing a free agent, which should reduce FA prices.

2) This should reduce the incentive for productive but not exactly All-Star caliber players from entering FA. Players like Hamilton or Grienke will always get their money, but the contracts that players like Bourn or Lohse will ultimately sign should be far less than what they were initially hoping. Next year you won’t see these players decline their qualifying offers.

3) The bad teams with protected picks have big advantages in signing FA. The Pirates usually fall into this category. And since the market for those players is reduced, the chances that teams like the Royals can afford these FA are much higher.

This can do nothing but help the Pirates. They have a competitive disadvantage in free agency because they just don’t have as much cash to spend. The draft compensation rules reduce the incentive for players to enter free agency and increase the ability for the Pirates to sign players that do, either through protected picks (since the Pirates usually have one of those) or by reducing player salaries in general.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 21:27:27 +0000

I assume you’re suggesting Bourn and not Loche?

Who moves to RF? Cutch? Marte? Does it matter?