January 10, 2010

Champman and Strasburg, a Draft Example

Chico Harlan makes the connection I was thinking about today:

Chapman’s deal with the Reds, if nothing else, adds perspective to the value of untested presumed aces in the open market. Chapman is 22. Strasburg is 21. Both have fastballs that have been clocked at more than 100 mph. But unlike Chapman, Strasburg, as a U.S.-born college pitcher, was subject to the amateur draft and was able to negotiate only with the team that selected him.

During negotiations with the Nationals, agent Scott Boras sometimes made the theoretical point that Strasburg could command between $30 and $50 million in an open market. He eventually agreed to a four-year, $15.1-million deal.

This signing should be seen as another reason the draft is not necessary. I often hear how only the big money teams will sign the best players. That didn’t happen here. The big money teams spend their money on known quantities, because they’re trying to win now. The teams that were in on Chapman where the teams building for the future. Let’s get rid of the draft and have teams compete for this talent.

6 thoughts on “Champman and Strasburg, a Draft Example

  1. benjah

    i’ve read columns that call for all amateurs (foreign and domestic) to be included in one draft. and i’ve read columns that call for no draft at all (with everyone a free agent).

    what’s the difference?? which is better??

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  2. David Pinto Post author

    @benjah: The draft is better for the owners because it controls costs. Free agency is better for the players, since they get teams bidding for their services. I would argue that free agency is better for the game in general. Owners don’t need to worry about coming away from the draft empty handed. If the player you want doesn’t want to sign with you, just move on to another.

    Originally, the draft did bring balance to the majors, but at that time, owners were getting the players cheap. Now, most players know if they are a high pick, they can demand a huge deal. Lots of teams skip the good players because they don’t want to spend the money, which defeats the whole purpose of the draft. If they could bid, then the supply of players should keep the price from going too high.

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  3. BenS

    A draft with a rookie wage scale would also help solve this problem, but without the effect of financially crippling a small market team that guesses wrong.

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  4. benjah

    it would seem that neither way is perfect, but i think a draft is better than no draft. otherwise, a guy like strasburg would be a yankee or bosox right now, and who could washington possibly get? plus, while i do not favor a salary cap at the major league level (unless the money somehow went back to the fans), i do like how the draft keeps salaries down for those players.

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