Not So Free Agency

Yesterday I was able to spend some time with a friend of a friend, whose father (in-law?) is the president of a MLB team. We spoke about recent trades, global scouting for talent and free agency successes and lack of it. Given that his father’s team isn’t considered a big market franchise, where as my beloved Red Sox have more money to burn than anyone outside of the 212 area code, it really got me thinking about the inequity in the sport.

Unlike any other sport, baseball has the most extensive prospect development system. In contrast the NFL uses the NCAA and the NBA just recently created the D League. Not only do baseball franchises need to support 5-10 minor league teams, but constantly be scouring the globe (Japan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, ect, ect) for young talent. Teams with deeper pockets have even gone to the extent of developing their own Baseball Academies in some of these areas. Billed as a support system for underprivileged athletes, these are merely a massive scouting tool and PR campaign rolled into one.

Bud Selig has done some great things for baseball, and I think sometimes he gets a bad rap. With that said, and his tenure just recently given a 3 year extension, it is time for the commissioner to develop a system of checks and balances to bring more equity to the game. The cost of signing free agents from oversees is prohibitive for those teams who don’t benefit from big money TV deals and massive fan bases. Bud should know this better than anyone else having owned the Milwaukee Brewers and still residing as their president.

He’s a busy man though, so I will lend a helping hand…..

1. Prohibit MLB teams from opening baseball academies. Rather increase the luxury tax percentage and lower the threshold. This will create a larger pool of money for MLB to fund neutral academies, which should be tied into the World Baseball Classic program. It will also promote a “soft” salary cap and more league equity.
2. More drafts. The amount of drafts the MLB has is insane already, 1-2 more won’t hurt at this point. I’ll fully admit this is not nearly as easy to implement as it sounds. We’ll call it the Non-US Amateur Draft consisting of 15-20 rounds. I’d be in favor of limiting the number of rounds to 10 in an effort to curb the signing of younger players, much in the same way there’s a size limit on some game fishing.
3. Modify the rules to allow drafted players to remain in their home countries for 2-3 years, much in the same way this privilege is afforded to high school seniors or NBA oversees draftees.

Currently MLB is the “Wild West” when it comes to oversees operations and without change we’ll continue to see the likes of the Red Sox and Yankees in the playoffs every year, but hey, at least Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will be happy!