The articles I cited earlier today reference the Yankees' fear that an international draft will be instituted soon, and that it's driving their current desire to sign everyone.
The Yankees are apparently willing to take the financial plunge because of fears baseball will soon institute an international draft similar to its amateur domestic draft, an area in which the Yankees have not fared well in recent years. … "I don't see it happening next year," the source said.
Clubs are unsure how close MLB is to instituting a international draft, something the CBA allows MLB to do when it sees fit
I haven't been particularly clear on this issue, but the bolded portion specifically didn’t sound right, so I broke out my copy of the current CBA.
Provisions for the Institution of an International Draft
Starting in 2013:
If it believes that the conditions listed … above have been achieved by June 1, 2012, the Office of the Commissioner may give notice that it intends to commence operation of a draft (or drafts) covering international amateur players for the 2013 season and subsequent seasons. Written notice of such intent must be provided to the MLBPA by no later than June 15, 2012…
Starting in 2014:
If a draft (or drafts) covering international amateur players does not commence in the 2013 season … the Office of the Commissioner may provide notice to the MLBPA that it intends to commence operation of a draft (or drafts) covering international amateur players for the 2014 season and subsequent seasons. Written notice of such intent must be provided to the MLBPA by no later than June 1, 2013…
Neither of those things happened, of course.
There are no provisions for the insitution of a draft starting in 2015 or 2016. Thus, unless the draft is instituted in an agreement outside of the CBA, the earliest possible date for an international draft is 2017. The current CBA covers the 2016 season, so any CBA-based agreement would not take effect until the 2017-2018 signing period.
In short, the Yankees will face the current penalties for the next two years, as opposed to any draft pick losses.
Anti-Draft Momentum
It is possible, I suppose, that a draft could be instituted from outside the confines of the CBA. However, both clauses for institution in the current CBA gave the players' association veto power:
The MLBPA may veto the commencement of a draft (or drafts) covering international amateur players for the 2014 season and subsequent seasons by providing written notice of its objection to the Office of the Commissioner…
MLBPA was sensible enough to negotiate an out clause from the impending draft, meaning there is at least some resistance among the players. It's safe to say that any international draft instituted from outside the confines CBA is going to require the approval of MLBPA.
In general, MLBPA cares little about young players. And while they managed to include a veto, they stopped well short of preventing overspending penalties from continuing to escalate close to the levels that would be in place had a draft been instituted. So it is a possible that their opposition to a draft will merely be a bargaining chip in the next round of negotiations. Union head Michael Weiner, after MLB failed to submit a proposal last June:
At this time, the players are not prepared to accept an international draft. The MLBPA will continue to discuss with players and the Commissioner’s Office the many issues facing its international members.
However, there may be some hope for the next negotiating sessions. In the runup to last year's deadline, Ben Badler reported that Latin American major leaguers signed a petition opposing the institution of an international draft in the spring of 2012.
..last year, Amauris Nina, Nelson Montes de Oca and Astin Jacobo from the International Prospect League in the Dominican Republic and Jose Montero of Venezuela traveled around Florida and Arizona to meet with Latin American players on 40-man rosters and asked them to sign a petition stating their opposition to an international draft.
This wasn’t a veto; none was necessary since the commish’s office hadn’t provided formal notice regarding the commencement of a draft, but it does sound like it could force MLBPA into more than token resistance on the subject. Latin Americans make up a huge portion of the player pool, and I have the feeling that Puerto Rican players might have particularly strong thoughts on the subject.
In general, it’s probably bad for one’s conscience to stand behind the buscones. The problem, as I see it, is that no other real opposition group exists. MLBPA is controlled by members who either will get big free agent deals after their club control runs out, or believe they will. And the CBA rewards free agents really well, much better than draftees. Of course, a few sharp owners looking for a competitive edge would help the opposition immensely. Perhaps the recent rise in true free agent contracts will be persuasive, but I doubt it. If you happen to have Tom Ricketts's ear, by all means give it a shot.
For the record: yes, I think that the absence of all drafts would help teams trying to rebuild. I’m not unbiased here, but I think the moral grounds are pretty sound. And while I doubt that the American draft is going away any time soon, pushing back an international draft is a good place to start.
Changes in International Pool Rules
Last year, teams were allowed to sign up to six players for $50,000 or less without that money counting against their pool limits, and an unlimited number of players at up to $7500. Per the CBA, that exception no longer applies. Starting this year, only bonuses of less than $10,000 will be exempt. Way to save a few million dollars, MLB! We can’t have a few extra multi-thousandaires cavorting about in the Dominican, now can we?
For reference, here is a complete list of international free agent penalties present in the CBA. I've included the penalties that would have applied had a draft been instituted, as well. As is evident from the chart, the increased spending pool penalties mirror the penalties that would have been in place had a draft been instituted.
| Spending Pools | Draft Penalties | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Any Season | ||||||
| Excess | Tax | '14-15 max | Tax | '15-16 max | '16-17 max | Tax | y+1 pick loss | y+2 |
| 0-5% | 75% | – | 100% | – | – | 75% | – | – |
| 5-10% | 75% | $500,000 | 100% | $500,000 | – | 75% | – | – |
| 10-15% | 100% | $500,000 | 100% | $300,000 | – | 100% | 1st, 2nd | – |
| >15% | 100% | $250,000 | 100% | $300,000 | $300,000 | 100% | 1st | 1st |
Recommended Reading:
Ben Badler on the international draft
Dan Rosenheck and Adam Jonas on Puerto Rico and the International Draft
Comments
GW continues to knock it out the park.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
thanks. much appreciated.
GWQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
Per OV’s JDA, you’re going to need to pee in a cup.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
GW wrote:
Is that the one with Scott Boras’ edits in the margin? 🙂
In the article about the IL and PR, Dan Rosenheck probably understated how serious the issue has been in PR. Carlos Delgado and Pudge Rodriguez may be the last HOF-possible players we see from PR for decades. High School sports programs in PR are pretty much limited to sports academies (private schools) only. Public schools in PR don’t have the money or administrative capacity to support a HS sports program.
BVS, my dad drank HammsQuote Reply
BVS, my dad drank Hamms wrote:
interesting
GWQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
No doubt. The amount of IFA and draft knowledge he’s spreading on this blog is awesome. There won’t be any reason to ask questions about this stuff by next week. It will all have been answered previously by GW.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ GW:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/economy-and-crime-spur-new-puerto-rican-exodus.html?emc=eta1&_r=0
It was a good time to leave, last summer.
BVS, my dad drank HammsQuote Reply
For the academics, and aspiring academics, here: The 80 hour work week is a myth. Rejoice.
http://dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/you-do-not-need-to-work-80-hours-a-week-to-succeed-in-academia/
Now, back to football, or the Cubs, or TV, or whatever….
BVS, my dad drank HammsQuote Reply
I don’t think that a draft is going to be issued any time soon as it wouldn’t mirror the interests of any party involved. Good article though, thank you.
ChrisQuote Reply
Shirley Temple –> apparently still alive, until yesterday
fang2415Quote Reply
@ fang2415:
Shirley temple was Julia Roberts’ half sister?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Chris wrote:
I think MLB team owners would be in favor of a draft, since a draft would probably allow them to lower labor costs. That’s pretty much the main reason why sports use drafts.
EdwinQuote Reply
wow, mike lombardi out in Cleveland.
GWQuote Reply
GW wrote:
I eagerly await the day Haslem is out in Cleveland.
MylesQuote Reply
He needs to focus his talents on an actual good franchise, the Tennessee Smokies.
MylesQuote Reply
@ GW:
Can’t wait until everyone gets fired again in one year
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
the coaching debacle was an embarrassment, but I give him at least some credit for recognizing that he screwed up and being decisive about it.
the trent richardson trade was a flat-out steal. and in a small sample, he looked to have picked up a serviceable fill-in quarterback in brian hoyer for nothing. some GMs stay on for a decade without doing that.
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
Yeah, that coaching stuff was a mess. I think he was going all in for McDaniels then was blindsided by him removing himself from consideration from the job. It sounds like the upper management in that place is as contentious as it was in Boston. It’s not like Lombardi is new to it either, he worked for Al Davis for years.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/projections/2014-cubs-pecota-hitters.html
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Here come the (NFL) mock drafts. SF, then CHI. If you want one, give me the team.
Like You CareQuote Reply