Cap Bonuses on Major League Baseball Drafts Picks? Not so Fast!

                There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Major League Baseball’s First Years Player Draft. A large sum of that attention went towards the standout pitcher Stephen Strasburg, his super agent Scott Boras, and the Washington Nationals. In a long and drawn out battle between Strasburg and Boras against the Nationals over a contract for the top overall pick, the two sides reached an agreement just 1 minute and 17 seconds before the deadline for all draft picks, excluding college seniors, to be signed. The amount was a record setting bonus of 15.67 million dollars which raises a lot of feeling, including the commissioners’, that the draft needs to be fixed.

                This year’s MLB draft saw the highest bonuses ever, in Strasburg's case, along with many other signings which eclipsed the recommendations laid out for teams by commissioner Selig, and Major League Baseball. The collective bargaining agreement ends in 2011, which is when changes to system the system can be made, and Selig is already lobbying for major changes.

                One of Selig’s major outlines is putting a cap on signing bonuses. However, there are many negatives that will come of that. The idea of capping bonuses is to help smaller market teams who can’t afford to sign their selections and to level the playing field by not allowing teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Detroit Tigers from drafting and signing players way over slot. Selig does have a point; however, teams like those three are not the only teams signing players for way over slot.

                Small market, low revenue, teams spend over slot as well. The Oakland Athletics spent the third most average money over slot followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates at sixth, and Seattle Mariners at seventh. While yes, it is hurting the Tigers, Red Sox, and Yankees who ranked first, second, and fourth, it is hurting smaller market teams at the same time.

                Another issue is if there is less money to go around in baseball, will multiple sport athletes choose the minor leagues over being able to play multiple sports in college and get more immediate attention? Would Donavan Tate have signed with the San Diego Padres for slot money of just under 3 million dollars which is less than half of the 6.25 million dollars he ultimately signed for?

                I’m afraid the answer to that question is no. Multiple sport stars are more likely to choose college scholarships over a smaller amount of money offered by Major League Baseball organizations.

Plain and simple, the Major Baseball First Year Player Draft isn’t broken, so don’t try and fix it. Regardless, there will be some interesting collective bargaining negotiations come 2011.