There is something wrong with our National pastime. Something very, very wrong. I speak not of steroids, but of the MLB draft, and the signing of international players.
A lot of people have probably heard about Stephen Strasburg, the number-one pick in the MLB draft this past June, and the will-he or won't-he see-saw that has accompanied his signing with the Washington Nationals. Strasburg signed just over a minute before the midnight deadline on Monday for a guaranteed $15.1 million. That's nearly $5 million more than any other amateur player has ever received. Yes, Strasburg is quite possibly the most highly touted prospect in the history of the game. And yes he throws 103 miles per hour with a back breaking slider. But should a 21 year-old who hasn't thrown a single professional pitch be guaranteed more money than reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, who hasn't earned that much in his entire career?
The astronomical salaries that drafted players are requiring in order to sign create many issues, the biggest of which is the accentuation of the stratification between the game's rich and poor clubs.
The teams with the highest draft picks are often the teams with the least money because they often have the worst records. It makes sense that these teams should be drafting the best players and that the best players should get the most money. The problem is, however, is some of these teams cannot afford to pay these players. Instead of drafting the player with the most potential, the poorer teams sometimes just draft good, not great, players they know they can sign. This sets back their farm system dramatically.
This June, the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the have-nots in baseball, selected Tony Sanchez of Boston College. Sanchez was one of the best catching prospects available in the draft, but was considered only a second to fourth round talent. Nevertheless, the Pirates drafted him because they knew they could sign Sanchez for only around $2.25 million. Yes, that's a large sum, but it is not nearly as much as what the top prospects were commanding. Shouldn't the Pirates instead be able to select one of the best players available to boost their weak farm system?
This situation leaves some of the top prospects in the draft for only the wealthy clubs. Two years ago, Rick Porcello, one of the top three pitching prospects in the draft, fell all the way to 27th because he was represented by super agent Scott Boras and was commanding a hefty sum to sign. Why should a team that made the playoffs that year be able to draft such a big prospect? It's not good for the game of baseball.
Unfortunately, the system for signing players who aren't American, Canadian or Puerto Rican only these players are eligible for the draft is even more inequitable. From July 2 through Aug. 31, any player 16 or older who is not eligible for the draft becomes a free agent. He is free to negotiate with any team, for any price.
This system also creates more inequities between the haves and have-nots. Last summer the Oakland Athletics signed 16-year-old pitcher, Michael Ynoa, for $4.25 million. How many teams can afford to risk $4.25 million on a 16- year-old? Not many, and those that can will sign the very top prospects every single year.
This trend of paying international players absurd amounts of money is becoming more prevalent. What happens when the Dominican version of Stephen Strasburg comes around? He'll probably be wearing a Red Sox or Yankees uniform.
Fortunately, the system can be changed. For the MLB draft, a slotting system needs to be put in place. For example, the first pick of the draft cannot receive more than $7 million in guaranteed money. The second overall pick can then not receive more than $6.75 million, and so on down the line. The MLB also needs to allow for the trading of draft picks. Every other sport does it and it is kind of absurd not to allow it. First, it would make the pre-draft period more exciting, as teams try to slide up and down the draft board to select players they covet. It will also allow teams with high picks who do not want to pay the absurd signing bonuses to move down in the draft and be compensated at the same time.
As for international players, there should be a cap on the amount teams can spend on international players under the age of 20. Four million dollars is not an unreasonable amount. If a team wants to blow all of their money on a Michael Ynoa they can but good luck signing only one player.
The MLB Players Union often stands in the way of any attempt to control spending in baseball but in this case, it most likely wouldn't. First off, the Player's Union doesn't represent these players before they sign their contract. On top of that, imagine how a major league veteran feels watching these kids, who haven't played a day of professional baseball in their life, get paid more money than they have.
These or other steps need to be taken to prevent the rich teams from getting even richer. If this system continues the Red Sox and Yankees will have not only the best teams but the best farm systems. There will be no parity in the game at all.
