The Official 2011 MLB Draft Thread

[Lintyfresh85]

Brian Harper, 22 G, 5.40 ERA, 18/17 K/BB

[sportsfan882]

Brian Harper, 22 G, 5.40 ERA, 18/17 K/BB

but he tweets regularly was defending Bryce's kiss earlier today

[PC]

Is there any consideration of making the draft less than 50 rounds?  How many 50th rounders make the majors?

Some rules would have to be changed about signing/trading/eligibility but wouldn't say, 18 rounds make more sense?

[PatsNats28]

Is there any consideration of making the draft less than 50 rounds?  How many 50th rounders make the majors?

Some rules would have to be changed about signing/trading/eligibility but wouldn't say, 18 rounds make more sense?

It's not actually 50, it's until everyone stops drafting IIRC.

[PC]

It's not actually 50, it's until everyone stops drafting IIRC.

That's even worse.

[Sharp]

That's even worse.

Not really.  People sometimes sign even from the latest rounds.

[PANatsFan]

That's even worse.

Every team gets a chance in order to get a crack at these guys, I find it quite fair. The draft needs to be worldwide, however.

[PC]

Not really.  People sometimes sign even from the latest rounds.

The worse part is the idea that they keep drafting until everybody's ready to quit, like it's some sort of pickup basketball game.

And even if some 50th rounder actually signs, he could still be signed as a free agent after an 18-round draft where all teams pick 18 players.  Being able to trade picks would also be a good idea and you'd also need a fixed scale for signings, no over/under slotting.

[NoShoesNoShirtNoDice]

Every team gets a chance in order to get a crack at these guys, I find it quite fair. The draft needs to be worldwide, however.

I'm not too keen on having foreign players in today's draft, but a separate draft for them would be OK.

[PatsNats28]

I'm not too keen on having foreign players in today's draft, but a separate draft for them would be OK.

Why not? Just curious. I'm not that knowledgable about the issue (although I don't think the current system is good).

[NFA Brian]

An international draft is impossible. There are too many chances for international players to be hidden by their advisors, not being drafted and then being declared undrafted free agents. It's honestly untenable to believe that MLB (or anyone) can keep track of players from all over the world.

[hammondsnats]

brad peacock was a 41st rounder and he could very well end up having a future for the nats

[PatsNats28]

Well you could eliminate undrafted free agents - so that they'd have to enter the draft the next year.

[NFA Brian]

Additionally, the idea of slot bonuses is also a really bad idea. If anything, it will drive quite a few of the premium athletes away from baseball. Why would someone like Bubba Starling or better Destin Hood ever want to become a professional baseball player when they are not only under team control for so many years but now capped on how much they can make.

One way of improving the draft is to allow for the trading of picks.

Consider this draft. The Nats made four picks that are going to cost. If the Nationals could trade picks, instead of selecting college senior after college senior, they could deal some of those picks for later picks and/or minor leaguers. If a team like the Tigers saw someone in the early 4th round they liked, they could package their 4th rd pick and something else. The Nats could still grab their college seniors later and gather other picks

[NFA Brian]

Well you could eliminate undrafted free agents - so that they'd have to enter the draft the next year.

That wouldn't happen. Someone would file a lawsuit and win

[PatsNats28]

That wouldn't happen. Someone would file a lawsuit and win

But that's what holds true for American players - they can't just sign with whoever they want.

[NFA Brian]

If a player is eligible for the draft and goes undrafted, they become a free agent

Example - Josh Wilkie

[NFA Brian]

Most, if not all, of the premium high schoolers are drafted.

Once a HS guy enrolls in college (or JuCo) they become subject to the rules governing college/JuCo players.

It would be interesting to see if someone like Scott Boras could attempt to get around the rules domestically by having a top HS player state openly that he was not signing with any MLB team period. Not mention a school. And try to exploit undrafted free agency.

Though I'd guess a team would draft him just to keep him from doing that

[NFA Brian]

I am honestly surprised that Boras (or other advisers) have not taken the Bryce Harper route through the draft. Exploit the JuCo rules and get your guys into the draft that best fits them as a top guy.

Imagine if a player who is entering his junior year of HS in 2012 looks at the 2012 draft pool and sees that it's much weaker than 2013. Why not get your GED, find a JuCo and get into the draft a year early.

[PANatsFan]

I know baseball and football are different beasts, but i'd like to see an end to HS drafting. 2 year college degree at minimum. It would end the GCL likely, but I don't see it affecting revenues in any way, and with the failure rate of baseball prospects, it would help them later in life.

[sportsfan882]

Nationals' 15th round pick Zack Houchins' tweet from earlier today:

http://twitter.com/#!/zachhouchins/status/78137659117154304

[PANatsFan]

That can't be his real account, but a language disclaimer would have been nice.

[sportsfan882]

That can't be his real account, but a language disclaimer would have been nice.

It's his real account. He tweeted 3 hours ago "Thanks everybody!!" after the Nats drafted him

[PatsNats28]

I know baseball and football are different beasts, but i'd like to see an end to HS drafting. 2 year college degree at minimum. It would end the GCL likely, but I don't see it affecting revenues in any way, and with the failure rate of baseball prospects, it would help them later in life.

I feel more strongly about it in basketball than baseball, but my ideas for basketball could apply to baseball as well. Basically, you can only draft high schoolers in the first 3 rounds or so... so the best ones can play baseball, but most of them go to college. As a result, the good players will mainly be in college and they'll also be better, devaluing high school players and thus encouraging them to go to college, and repeat.

[PANatsFan]

It's his real account. He tweeted 3 hours ago "Thanks everybody!!" after the Nats drafted him

He's a foulmouthed moron, read his other tweets