As the league and MLBPA continue to squabble over the length of the 2020 season, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reports that whatever length is determined could well impact the state of the 2021 draft (Twitter link). Per McDaniel, the standing March agreement between MLB and the MLBPA indicates the following language:
In the event that each Club plays less than 81 regular season games in 2020, the Office of the Commissioner shall have the right, after conferring in good faith with the MLBPA, to modify the Draft order.
Certainly, the notion of “good faith” negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association seems far-fetched at this point, but the possibility of changes to the determination of the ’21 draft order are nevertheless important to note. Many have suggested that a particularly brief season — MLB has been exploring 48- and 54-game scenarios — won’t offer an accurate barometer for determining the best teams. With a short enough season, even a poor couple of weeks could be enough to make a club set its sights on the 2021 season, which could impact the 2020 season in a variety of ways.
Baseball’s current proposal is for a 76-game season with cuts beyond the players’ prorated salaries. It became clear almost immediately upon word of that deal leaking that it would be yet another nonstarter for the Players Association, however, as the new proposal guarantees only half of the players’ prorated salaries for 46.9 percent of a standard 162-game season (plus another 25 percent of their prorated pay if the postseason is completed).
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported back in March that the agreement between MLB and the MLBPA also allows the league to shorten the 2021 draft from 40 rounds to 20 rounds.
I think no matter what you have to give the Orioles the first pick right?? I kid….
Or the Tigers. Probably one or the other, right?
This is honestly just sad watching baseball throw away what was left of their relevancy. I have loved playing and being a part of this game all my life and the MLB right now is on a mission to bring an end to the league because no fans will want to come back after this other than a few hardcore fans like myself. MLB was already taking a downturn in terms of popularity from fans flocking to the NFL and NBA but this might be the final nail in the coffin.
Since the Orioles don’t currently have the top pick or worst record you are just spouting troll speak. Go back under your rock. I kid…
Dude, it’s called a joke. Figure out what the difference is between a troll and a light hearted wise crack….sheesh.
It’d only be fair to have the “1st” pick decided by a ladder match, WWE style. Each GM has to climb the ladder and retrieve the briefcase containing the 1st pick. Anything goes.
If we’re putting every team in the playoffs, may as well go wild, right?!
Nice!
It probably more likely that the “revised order” would have the Dodgers picking first, the Yankees second, the Cubs third, the Red Sox fourth, etc………With now a guarentee that bonus allotments won’t increase in 2021, it’s a perfect match.
The Golden Rule: “Dems that got the gold make the rules”…..
Allowing Manfred any right to do something is almost certainly guaranteeing that it’ll be the worse option for the players and fans.
Spot on there.
Don’t worry, there will be no season so don’t you worry about the 2021 draft.
COULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I knew Manfred wanted to downside the minor leagues but didn’t realize he hates all baseball.
Maybe the Cardinals get a pick in the top 5! I’d love it just to see the utter meltdown from the cadre of obsessed anti-cards fans here. Well maybe just one with lots of different handles.
It seems like if they don’t keep the same order from 2020 or go by records if any games are played, then a lottery is only real option. Take team records from over the last 10 years and average them to determine how many tickets each team gets into the bucket to pick from. That way a team like the Tigers, Orioles, Royals don’t automatically get the top picks or won’t tank short season since those teams have made playoffs in last decade.
Sounds fair enough but you’ll always have some owners saying No
The NHL lockout helped Pittsburgh and Washington thanks to their high draft picks, and they’ve won 4 Stanley Cups combined since 2006. To a lesser extent it helped Chicago too. Could help MLB teams.
I am sure it would just be a repeat of this year’s draft order. You obviously cannot assess need on a shortened season, anyone could finish last. If they repeat this year’s draft order everyone would already know where they are picking and nobody would have a reason to tank. It would actually give less talented teams more incentive to go all in since anyone could win it this year if they just go on a hot streak at the right time.
You could argue that it is unfair to a team like Detroit that, having finished last in 2019, they only get to pick first in 5 rounds in 2020 as compared to picking first in the usual 40 rounds. I could see MLB saying that the 2020 draft order (based on 2019 stats) will be used again in 2021. Or, at a minimum, that the first ~10 picks in 2021 will be based on a lottery from the 10 teams who chose first in 2020.
this is hardly the end of the world, yet you wouldn’t think as much looking at the comments
Manfred would cheerfully give the first pick to his yankees.
I don’t mind the extra teams in the playoffs would be interesting for sure and create additional TV and commercial revenue, that’s probably why there doing it, that’s fine with me
If 2020 is cancelled just do lotto balls to pick order for 2021. Would be a fun way to do 10 round draft for 2021.
Also, don’t pull the 20k bs.
Teams get equal allotment for undrafted players in 2021 after 10 rounds, 5 mill.
You can blow it all on 1 prospect, sign 10 prospects at 500k, or spend it however you want. You can also trade $$ amounts like you can IFA money.
I think a fair deal would be using combined record of 2019 and 2020 for the draft ranking if there is like a 50 game season.
Also you could you pythagorean record after a 50 game season since that is more indicative of talent but that would probably too advanced.
lol I should have read all the comments before making mine
1st idea good. 2nd idea horrible.
Combine 2019 and 2020 wins and losses to create the draft order
That’s a good idea and likely the best and easiest solution. I like it.
But probably makes way too much sense for the ol commish and his cronies.
There are two many parts of this March agreement that basically say: If the owners and players can’t agree on what is to be done, the commissioner can do whatever he wants. And since the commissioner works for the owners, the owners win. Tony Clark is finally attempting to show he has a spine, but he’s 2-3 months too late.
I don’t even know where to stand on current affairs anymore. I can see both sides from a financial standpoint. But this is basically a strike. It’s a shame since they could’ve easily been ramping up with preseason already with an earlier start date than July 1. Both sides should have made this priority since day 1 of the season being postponed. Now they should be playing and they all have their pants down.
Give the #1 pick to me and I’ll hold an auction.