Baseball's annual amateur draft begins today, but the focus will be as much on how as who, thanks to changes mandated by the collective bargaining agreement signed last year.
The Houston Astros aren't tipping their first pick in advance of today's 7 p.m. ET start, but the top candidates are Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel and high school outfielder Byron Buxton from Baxley, Ga.
The first round and compensation round for teams that lost players to free agency last winter take place tonight, with the rest of the draft spread over Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is a draft with more uncertainty as teams feel their ways through new policies designed to bring the draft closer to its original purpose — helping to strengthen weaker teams.
The biggest change is the bonus pool, an updated version of the unofficial slotting (suggested bonus money based on draft position) that MLB tried to get clubs to adhere to in the past with mixed results. A flaw in that system was that lower-revenue teams often passed on top talents because of the cost of signing them, allowing richer and more successful teams to add to their collection of talent.
Now, each team's pool for the first 10 rounds is based on a complicated system that takes into account draft position, number of picks and money spent the previous year. Bonuses under $100,000 after round 10 don't count against the pool. This year's pools range from $12.3 million for the Minnesota Twins' 13 picks to $1.6 million for the Los Angeles Angels' eight selections.
Teams can exceed the pool, but with penalties: A 75% luxury tax on the excess amount for going 5% or less over the limit; a 100% tax and loss of next year's first-round pick for 5%-10% over; ranging up to a loss of two No. 1 picks for more than 15% over.
Adding to the decision-making pressure is a July 13 signing deadline — moved up from Aug. 15 — for players taken this week.
The Houston Astros aren't tipping their first pick in advance of today's 7 p.m. ET start, but the top candidates are Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel and high school outfielder Byron Buxton from Baxley, Ga.
The first round and compensation round for teams that lost players to free agency last winter take place tonight, with the rest of the draft spread over Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is a draft with more uncertainty as teams feel their ways through new policies designed to bring the draft closer to its original purpose — helping to strengthen weaker teams.
The biggest change is the bonus pool, an updated version of the unofficial slotting (suggested bonus money based on draft position) that MLB tried to get clubs to adhere to in the past with mixed results. A flaw in that system was that lower-revenue teams often passed on top talents because of the cost of signing them, allowing richer and more successful teams to add to their collection of talent.
Now, each team's pool for the first 10 rounds is based on a complicated system that takes into account draft position, number of picks and money spent the previous year. Bonuses under $100,000 after round 10 don't count against the pool. This year's pools range from $12.3 million for the Minnesota Twins' 13 picks to $1.6 million for the Los Angeles Angels' eight selections.
Teams can exceed the pool, but with penalties: A 75% luxury tax on the excess amount for going 5% or less over the limit; a 100% tax and loss of next year's first-round pick for 5%-10% over; ranging up to a loss of two No. 1 picks for more than 15% over.
Adding to the decision-making pressure is a July 13 signing deadline — moved up from Aug. 15 — for players taken this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment