Rules are confusing as hell.
JeffPassan
International bonuses undergoing drastic overhaul. Among the biggest: Starting in 2013-14, teams can trade $ from their international pool.
JeffPassan
For example: Worst team in baseball gets $5M to spend internationally. If team doesn't want to spend it all, it can trade $ to another team.
JeffPassan
Teams can trade for only 50% more than their international spending cap. So if a team has a $2.5M cap, most it can trade for is $1.25M.
JeffPassan
Draft tax is harsh: Teams that go more than 5% over slot get a 75% tax. From 5-10% over, a 75% tax and loss of 1st-round pick the next year.
JeffPassan
More draft tax: Go 10-15% over, 100% tax and loss of 1st- and 2nd-round picks. 15% and higher is 100% tax and loss of two first-round picks.
JeffPassan
Every team will have $2.9M to spend in international bonus money this season. Money is not tradeable this year.
JeffPassan
Sources: Cubans under 23 years old and with less than three years in pro ball will be considered "amateurs" and count against int'l bonus $.
JeffPassan
What MLB wanted more than anything with draft is players to get selected in order of talent. MLB believes this system will force that.
JeffPassan
Worst teams, for example, will receive ~$5M in int'l $. Best teams will get ~$1.8M. Not sure on exact figures for draft, but similar %.
JeffPassan
Draft signing deadline moves from Aug. 15 to between July 12 and 18.
JeffPassan
If a player signs after the 10th round for more than $100,000, the excess money will go against a team's draft pool.
Say goodbye to guys like Destin Hood ever choosing Baseball again.
