Odds and Ends: Mets, Royals, Sabathia

Can someone please explain why MLB teams can't trade their draft picks?

Possibly b/c the teams with a lower payroll/greedy ownership may opt to trade away the picks rather than spend on the $ on high picks.

" How about a 17th rounder, a 32nd rounder, a 33rd rounder, and a 64th rounder for Jake Peavy!"

...Get it done!

I also think the draft should be cut down to about 30 rounds or so, since the draft and follows are a thing of the past, and players past the 30th or so round are an extreme longshot to be signed anyways.

But in regards to trading draft picks, I would only think that the 1st, supplemental, and MAYBE 2nd round picks have much value, since by that time teams usually get who they're targeting on their boards regardless of what other teams draft. So maybe make it so that you can only use 1st/supp picks in trades.

"Besides, I don't think I could deal with a bunch of Met/Yankee/Cub fans doing their ...." How about a 17th rounder, a 32nd rounder, a 33rd rounder, and a 64th rounder for Jake Peavy

LOL. You better put Red Sox fans in there too.

"I also think the draft should be cut down to about 30 rounds or so, since the draft and follows are a thing of the past, and players past the 30th or so round are an extreme longshot to be signed anyways."

I don't know about the other teams out there...but the reds signed something like 54 of 62 guys...real longshot.

BTW...have you ever heard of Mike Piazza? this longshot was a 62nd rounder. you just axed the all time hr leader for catchers...what are you going to do next...get rid of the rule 5 draft since nobody moves in that...cuz i think that my friends josh hamilton and johan santana would beg to differ...

"In addition to what Purple was saying, I would also like to point out that Pujols was drafted in the 13th round, Peavy was drafted in the 15th round... the list goes on.

In contrast, look at all the first round busts: Corey Patterson, Brian Bullington, Kris Benson, Russ Adams... and the list goes on."

Of course, but we're talking probability here...would you want to trade a major leaguer (or even a minor leaguer) for anything below a 3rd rounder? Of course not! Even in package deals where they give you several picks below 3 you're not going to take it because the sucess rate is so low. I'm not arguing that players drafted in the lower rounds have no value...I'm arguing that the picks have no value themselves.

"BTW...have you ever heard of Mike Piazza? this longshot was a 62nd rounder. you just axed the all time hr leader for catchers...what are you going to do next...get rid of the rule 5 draft since nobody moves in that...cuz i think that my friends josh hamilton and johan santana would beg to differ..."

Your point assumes that if there was no 62nd round pick then Mike Piazza wouldn't have been drafted, which is so fallacious I don't know where to start. And you're also putting words into my mouth. Learn to make a valid point.

It's a broke system if you ask me. I'd like to see the ability to trade picks, but I think in order to do that you have to give team rights to draftees for 5+ years, signed or not. The kids have so many options, and I REALLY hate seeing teams held hostage by Bor-ASS and kids that think they should only be drafted by the Yankees. At the same time I think you create a salary structure for the draftees. I am still not sure why the MLBPA won't bend on this in any of their collective bargaining agreements. Why not throw the kids under the bus and make sure the coffers are loaded for when they get to FA? But I digress...

How do you expect teams to put together 5 or 6 minor league affiliates if you cut the draft down to 30 rounds?

"Of course, but we're talking probability here...would you want to trade a major leaguer (or even a minor leaguer) for anything below a 3rd rounder? Of course not! Even in package deals where they give you several picks below 3 you're not going to take it because the sucess rate is so low. I'm not arguing that players drafted in the lower rounds have no value...I'm arguing that the picks have no value themselves."

Point taken.

"Never really thought of this, but I'd imagine by not having 5-6 minor league affiliates...each franchise has a rookie, A, AA, and AAA team."

The reason that many teams have about 5-6 minor league affiliates is so that all prospects get a chance to play. More playing time means gaining more experience. Gaining more experience means you're learning more. Learning more means your skills improve. Your skills improving means you get better. You get better = MLB.

The more prospects you have, the bigger the chance you have of finding that hidden gem that could turn things around for your franchise. Consider Mike Aviles of the Royals.

Not to mention that out of all those rounds, each team signs only about what? 6-10 of those players?

"The best case scenario I see is enforcing a cap on the draft with a massive luxury tax."

Totally agree about having a hard cap on how much teams can spend on the draft. Force teams to spend no more than $10M without paying some crazy number like a 100% on each dollar after $10M.

I just don't see how having 50 rounds and 6-7 minor league affiliates is a problem for anyone. It just means that more players get the opportunity to get professional playing time as well as develop as players. More opportunities simply means more players get the chance to possibly get into the majors. Who cares if they fail that just sucks for them and whatever money is sunk into them by the team. I have no issues with the draft system in place in terms of the number of picks.

"Less $ to draft picks equals more money for real major leaguers."

Less money to draft picks actually normally equals more money for the billionaire owners.

And by the way, I know this is off topic, but I just wanted everyone that thought that the Brian Roberts to the Cubs rumors were dead forever to know that, well, they're not:

"Still chasing Roberts

The Cubs will continue their pursuit of a speedy leadoff hitter, keeping the Baltimore Orioles' Brian Roberts at the top of their wish list. They also are expected to be players in the free-agent derby for ace left-hander CC Sabathia.

Whatever they do, the team they bring to spring training will look nothing like the group that sat stunned in that visitors clubhouse Saturday night.

''When you get over the shock of what's happened, that's what will bother me the most, when you see guys go to other teams,'' DeRosa said. ''I would love to have the same team back, but it's never that way. When you're on a special team like this, it's tough.

''There is nothing this team lacked. Nothing. So for us to go out and perform the way we performed for three days is shocking. It will stick with me for a while.''

Cubs fans know his pain."

Sorry to some..

Hey remember when Tim launched a site called Hoopbuzz? What ever happen to that? http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2005/12/hoopsbuzzcom-la.html

I'm pretty sure there's no rule about it but it's considered common courtesy to give rings to everyone who played for the team. Like in 2004, Nomar got a ring and the players voted that he get a full playoff pay share.

Come on Mets sign MANNY! SCREW THE DODGERS!!!

The NBA and NHL have madatory contracts for rookies. Their players go straight into the league so explain to me why Pedro Alvarez deserves a better rookie contract than LeBron James?

The more I think about it, I agree with everyone else that 50 rounds of draft isn't a problem, or as superfluous as I originally thought. So I'll buy the argument for keeping 50 rounds.

However, one aspect of the draft that I would definitely like to change is who's eligible and the international signing stuff.

I would like draft eligibility to change to more of a system like the NBA and NFL...keep the same rules of eligibility, but add the extra step of having the prospects actually declare themselves eligible...with the option of pulling back if they don't sign an agent. This would eliminate this 'advisor' bull.

Having players declare for the draft would help solve two problems: the first being the international draft. They would declare themselves eligible and be able to be drafted like players in the US. This eliminates the shadiness that is the international signing period. The second issue that it would help solve would be the slotting system. This would give prospects some choice whether they would be drafted or not, so they could be drafted higher if they perform.