Originally Posted by
Horsehide Harry
So I was thinking about the draft and the international market and thought it might be interesting to look at a different option that the way it is currently done.
So was thinking why not just eliminate the draft altogether, no domestic, no international. Instead, give teams a limit for a pool of money based off a formula that they can spend each year. For instance, the teams that play in the top 6 markets get $25M to spend, the next 6 $26M, and so on to $30M. That amount has to cover the costs of running any international academies, cost of scouts, etc. so a team like the Yankees couldn't just sign the best scouts by paying more and have 5 Dominican academies, etc. Let's say it costs $1M a year to run a Dominican academy and you have 3 because you want to look for gems from that area, fine but that cost comes off your available pool.
Teams could spend their money anyway they want to: 50 players at $500K each or 1 player at $25M, it's up to the team. However, posting fees would count. So, a team signs a Japanese player an pays a $10M posting fee then that counts toward the total. If a team goes over their allotted amount then it comes of their next year's available amount at double the rate (so the Braves exceed their amount by 500K this year they lose $1M out of their pool next year).
It would give more freedom to the players to choose where they want to play. It would allow teams to develop strategies specific to their own current needs - if you are a rebuilding team you might go for higher end talent that is further away while if you are close to competing you might focus on players who could arrive and have an impact more quickly even if it cost at a higher rate to do so.
So, take a player like Harper out of HS who has Boras as an agent and he demands a ML contract and a $25M signing bonus. Welp, ok. If a team wants to do that it is up to them. BUT, they will then have to fill their minor league teams around Harper with nobodies with no talent.
I think it could set up some interesting dynamics and can't see how it would benefit the big money teams, certainly not more than the leverage of college currently used to drive guys like Van Poppel and Groome to their desired teams or the circus that is the import of Japanese players.