SIGN OF THE TIMES

New draft rules hurt players, limit scouts and are a sign of coming minor league changes

- CARLOS COLLAZO

With the March 27 ratification of Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association’s deal, the 2020 draft was saved.

Saved in the sense that it will still take place in some capacity, which is certainly better for baseball at all levels than no draft at all—which some owners might have preferred in order to save money in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted revenues from the 2020 season.

But many in the industry are already discussing the ramifications of a shortened draft with severely limited signing bonus restrictions. First and foremost, incoming draftees are the most negatively affected.

“Once again, here we go, the next generation of MLB stars who have had their entry path sacrificed without a seat at the table,” one agent said. “It falls in line with a decades-long tradition of owners putting a target on the unrepresented backs of amateurs and minor leaguers.

“It’s potentially a stain on future collaboration of both parties.” MLB gained the ability to shorten the draft to as few as five rounds in the agreement and, ultimately, that’s exactly what it did. Many team owners and scouting directors pushed for at least 10 rounds, but MLB ultimately chose the cost-containment offered by a five-round draft during a time when the industry is hemorrhaging money.

Fewer rounds means less money spent on incoming talent, obviously, but the bulk of signing bonus money is still spent at the top of the draft.

Not counting undrafted free agents, teams spent $316,560,984 in signing bonuses in the 2019 draft. Of that sum, $237,345,700 came from signing bonuses to players drafted in the top five rounds—or just under 75 percent of the total.