According to various sites, the MLB and MLBPA have agreed to a much lesser draft of five rounds, with all free agents then open to sign for up to $20,000.
From MLB TradeRumors (which is from Ken Rosenthal):
My questions and comments, then:The agreement, however, gives baseball the right to shorten the draft from 40 rounds to five. Bonuses also will be deferred, with picks receiving an initial payment of $100,000 and getting the rest in equal amounts in 2021 and ’22. Non-drafted players can receive no more than $20,000, as opposed to $125,000 previously, before counting against a team’s allotment.
The MLBPA screws its possible members once again. At the earliest convenience, they sell out those who should be their brothers-in-arms. A new union should rise from the ashes of the old, wherein all professional ballplayers become one.
If I'm a minor leaguer, I'm looking to create a union of some sort. This is early 1900s-style coal company evil.
What would preclude a smart organization from picking up what would be essentially sixth round talent (at least) with multiple $20,000 contracts for players enough to fill out rosters and provide enough coverage to excise anyone who didn't show out in low A, the Pioneer League, Rookie Leagues, and Extended Spring Training? Is there a cap on free agent spending? If not, a smart squad would spend some real money (a relative pittance, in the grand scheme of things) to bring in major talent.
Speaking of, the entire draft might well become one of talent. True talent-- not the ultra talented player then three senior signees. Actual, honest-to-God this-is-how-I've-got-them-ranked talent. What do you have to lose as a franchise? The player himself can only receive $20,000 as a free agent, and there doesn't seem to be a Round 10 $125,000 bonus in this new contract.
If Boddy and company are still in operation (or more likely, have feelers in places where people can still work out), this should give the Reds a massive step up on others. (This assumes baseball prospects are still throwing, working out, and hitting.) Anyone with contacts and fingers all over the country should be helped during this draft. So Old School scouts (and their webs of helpers) are a necessity.
You may well see a mass release of 'tweeners just after the draft. So those young guys in Arizona, Billings, and Dayton will need to show out.
Were you a team who drafted primarily older, college guys in the previous two drafts, this draft would help a great deal in restocking talent at the lower levels. Sadly, the Reds have focused primarily on HS bats and arms at the top end of the draft. (That said, there will likely be plenty of room to re-stock in Arizona and Billings. And even Dayton, if they are willing to take a win-loss hit. For example, I could see a smart team sign 35 older college-level free agents (at full value price of $20,000) for low A. A squad of high Division I pitchers coming out of the pen throwing mid 90s? That could absolutely happen.
If I were a pitcher in the lower levels, I'd be worried about this deal. Particularly if I hadn't yet learned how to pitch.
Having a readily-available free agent talent base will allow teams to essentially ignore the gambles of the International League-- unless they see real talent there. It may, in turn, see a bump among those who are signed. (Although, to be fair, where are they going to go?)
Your thoughts?