Playoff races rightfully get most of the attention this time of year, but there’s intrigue at the bottom of the standings, too. Seven teams have clinched protected first round picks in the 2013 amateur draft with three days remaining in the regular season. The Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Twins, Marlins, Indians and Red Sox will have top ten selections in next year’s draft even if they win the remainder of their games.
These teams can sign elite free agents this offseason (players who turned down qualifying offers from their former clubs) and retain their first round selections. Instead, these teams would surrender second round selections.
As MLBTR detailed last week, the nine teams with the worst records in baseball will have protected first round selections in 2013. The Pirates will also have a protected first round pick, since they did not sign their top 2012 selection, Mark Appel.
The Blue Jays and Royals are currently positioned to obtain the remaining two protected 2013 picks. The Mariners and Mets could pass the Blue Jays or Royals depending on the results of the season's final series.
Spread the wealth, reward those who don’t want to spend the money… referring to the Indians as I am a Cleveland fan. But as you can see, the Red Sox suck and it shows you that not everyone can buy themselves a playoff team.
To bad the players that they bought to make themselves a playoff team were shipped to LA, while the others drastically under performed. Has nothing to do with payroll, it has everything to do with how the players perform.
And how the roster was constructed. Yes Beckett and Lester underperformed, but the roster didnt have enough depth. Yankees lost their closer too and they still persevering. They also were depending too much on converting relievers to the rotation. You know you will face injuries, so you always need more depth. Yankees have had a ton injuries too yet are still at the top.
As with anything there are multiple approaches to creating a successful team. Money provides an advantage obviously but if the players don’t perform well then it doesn’t really matter. I’m excited as to what the Sox will do with a top pick.
I agree; from one Indian fan to another. In response to the other posters, money may not buy a championship, but most of the time it buys the playoffs. And thats gut check time to see if you have it in you. Under performance isn’t always the problem. Carl Crawford was having a “down year,” but if he were in Cleveland, he’d be our best player (stat wise).
15 Highest payrolls
Yankees
Phillies
RSox
Angels
Tigers
Rangers
Marlins
Giants
Cards
Brewers
WSox
Dodgers
Twins
Mets
cubs
10 of those teams won’t make it to the playoffs. It buys you a better shot, but doesn’t guarantee a spot
Braves, Reds, Orioles, Nats, A’s are all in the bottom half but still are going to the playoffs. It is not just spending money that will get you there, but rather spending wisely. Half of spots are going to 15 highest payrolls, and half going to bottom 15. Thats pretty evenly spread.
boom
Teams could also have done a BETTER job, pre CAB rules with spending on the draft (yeah, that list includes the Indians) instead of being cheap.
Boston (who you named above) spent heavily on the Rule 4 draft every year that a lot of self proclaimed no money teams didn’t. If a few more would have spent the 8-10m that the Rays and Pirates (examples) did, maybe the fans wouldn’t always be so upset that their respective teams are always so lousy.
Yep, saves money in the long haul, you can easily spend $10M a season, yet the sox got lester, ellsbury, pedroia, middlebrooks who easily cost that much individually if they was free agents.
Good job Boston. Best possible outcome by having a top ten pick with such a miserable season. Actually am okay with them being so bad, since it really made them take a step back, evaluate what is/isn’t working and can grow from it.
tank jays tank
Well if I’m looking at this right, I doubt you have to worry. Unless the Blue Jays sweep this series and the Mariners or Mets get swept, they’re guaranteed a top 10 pick. It’s KC that’s on the bubble.
isnt it only the top 9 that are protected?
Yes, but I was already counting in the Pirates compensation pick as part of the top 10 picks.
Right.. Pirates already grabbed one pick, so only 9 teams get one other than Pittsburgh for the non sign of Appel
Yeah… its pretty bad when I actually get upset when the Jays win… that’s how brutal a season its been… I want a higher (and protected) draft pick,
Is there still a supplentary round or will the Red Sox 2nd round pick be a top 40 choice. If its a top 40 choice I dont think there is any free agent I would want to give up a top 40 for.
If they (Boston, any top 10 pick team) now lose a 2nd round pick rather than 1st.
Supplemental picks are awarded now only for top 20% FA who were offered qualifying (13m) by their teams. not a lot of them however. Greinke, Ortiz, Lohse, Sanchez a few more.
Greinke won’t get a qualifying offer since he was traded midseason.
same with sanchez
Right. My mistake on both the above names.. Those traded in season I missed on.
Was pointing out (mainly) how few players that are eligible for compensation.
Sanchez wasn’t going to get a qualifying offer. I really don’t see more than a few getting compensation attached. Previous years the rays could get several picks from relievers. Now, they would be nuts to offer that. $13M is alot to guarantee to a player. Players like Hamilton and Swisher will certainly turn down the offer, but in previous years ross probably would have at least been a B pick. Then there is the rays with Upton, I think that it would be smart for him to take it, because his season was terrible, but can the rays risk him accepting $13M?
The Rays will offer because he has trade value at that price if he does accept. He won’t be with the Rays no matter what next year. That said, he’s looking for a multi-year deal because it’s slim pickings to find a player that actually does BETTER after leaving Tampa.
Saw a quote from the CBA in a previous post. It effectively says team forfeits highest available pick. It didn’t qualify the statement on whether or not it excluded compensation picks.
For example, if Boston gets a compensation pick for David Ortiz (15th overall for arguments sake), will it lose its 2nd pick or compensation pick for signing Josh Hamilton? Under the old CBA, Boston would lose it’s 2nd pick. The quote from the CBA seems to imply compensation picks can now be lost.
Red Sox getting a top 10 pick, although this season has been a disaster, is a small prize. They can use their financial backing to pick up a player that may fall because of their asking price. Happens every year.
This is all I’ve been hoping for as a Boston fan ..
I don’t think that appel will go back up to 2nd after all the no sign drama.
If he does not do something regarding his agent (Boras) wouldn’t shock me to see him drafted way, way lower than he was last year, if not completely out of the 1st round and Boras trying to tear down the draft in one of his most futile “me against the world” examples yet.
Matt Harrington version 2.0