From SI.COM (Click for full article)
HGH Testing
Blood testing for human growth hormone will start when players report to spring training in February, putting MLB ahead of the NFL. The NFL wanted to start HGH testing this season, following that sport’s new labor contract, but the NFL Players Association has not agreed, causing some congressmen to pressure the union.
High school & college draft picks
A tax of 75 percent to 100 percent will be imposed on the amount a team exceeds a threshold, and teams exceeding the threshold by higher amounts could lose first- and second-round draft picks.
International free agents
For international free agents, such as players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, there will be a separate threshold and tax with penalties, and there will be a study committee that could put a new system in place later during the agreement.
Super Two’s and arbitration
After the 2012 season, about five to six additional major leaguers will become eligible for salary arbitration each year. The group of players with at least two but less than three years of major league service lost the right to arbitration in the 1985 agreement, but players regained it for the top 17 percent of 2-3-year players by service time in the 1990 deal. That will rise to 22 percent following the 2012 season.
Type A free agents and the elimination of the Elias ranking system
For this offseason, the number of Type A free agents, requiring the highest draft-pick compensation from the team signing a player, will be cut from 21 as part of a one-year deal bridging the way to a new system. There will be no change for the most-prized free agents, since as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
Starting next year, teams will have to make a “qualifying offer” of a one-year guaranteed contract to their players eligible to become free agents in order to receive compensation if the player signs with another club. That amount will be at least $12.4 million and could rise by next year, depending on a formula. The new “qualifying offer” does away with the statistical formula for ranking free agents that has existed since the 1981 strike settlement.
Very, very curious to see how the Yankees react to the luxury tax on draft picks and international free agents. We wonder if the MLB draft will become more like other professional sports drafts where the picks directly descend according to talent level. Before now, it didn’t work like that. You could have better players picked in later rounds due to “signability” issues — a.k.a “it will take a lot of money to sign me.” That served to the advantage of high-revenue teams like the Yankees. Does this advantage go away now?
And what happens if a kid is seriously deciding between continuing school or signing with the team that drafts him? If a team is taxed 75%-100% if they go over slot, we might see more kids going back to school and teams wasting their picks.
This is obviously all speculation on our part and we’re just talking out loud here. Looking forward to seeing more details.
35 Comments
Brian S. November 19, 2011 19:08
If you limit how much draft picks can sign for I bet a lot of high school athletes that would have become baseball players will instead pursue careers in basketball and football instead. Think of Austin Jackson: he ended up signing in the 8th round because the Yankees went overslot, even though he was apparently a phenomenal basketball player who could have went to college for a year and then received an immediate payday in the NBA. I am not liking some of the new CBA draft rules one bit, and not just because it might adversely affect the Yankees.
Brian S November 19, 2011 19:43
I like it
Brian S. November 19, 2011 20:06
We aren’t so different, you and I.
R2-D2 November 19, 2011 20:03
It sounds like it is totally aimed at the Yankees and any other team willing to over-slot. I am surprised there is not more rancor from the players on this, this probably means most players won’t see any significant cheese until their first arbitration. What will decide what a 1st pick is worth and how will effect subsequent picks and what is going to be the monetary difference between a 2nd round pick vs a 1st and 3rd,etc.? How are you going to pick if you don’t know what the top got they never hash that out until weeks later? Won’t this cause later picks not to sign if they feel they are worth more than their slot? Also so if you make a qualifying to ANY of your FA’s thats a auto first pick? If its just a one year deal then is this same rule in effect the following year? Holy crap this sounds like a possible gigantic screw up
R2-D2 November 19, 2011 20:16
I would also like to add this means they are ditching type A vs. Type B FA’s. that essentially means losing A-rod to free agency is the equivalent to losing Ramiro Pena and offering Pena a qualifying offer of 12.4 or MORE thats insane!
Call me Crazy November 21, 2011 15:28
… but if you offer a theoretical “A-Rod” a 12.4 mil one year deal, you’re going to get a first round draft pick, but if you offer Ramiro Pena 12.4 mil over one year you’re going to have Ramiro Pena.
Yu's your Daddy Darvish November 19, 2011 20:08
Yes and to think Austin Jackson would be now looking for a minor league contract right about now….Isn’t that ironic. Don’t you think?
David Ortiz November 19, 2011 19:29
Phew! No milkshake testing.
Joe Páwlikowski November 22, 2011 15:42
I’d like to taste that milkshake, Papi.
R2-D2 November 19, 2011 20:10
Starting next year, teams will have to make a “qualifying offer” of a one-year guaranteed contract to their players eligible to become free agents in order to receive compensation if the player signs with another club. That amount will be at least $12.4 million and could rise by next year, depending on a formula.
This this mean if i want to keep my scrub utility guy that i really like and fits well i have to give him at least 12.4? WTF
Smarter than R2-D2 November 19, 2011 20:25
Are you suggesting that your scrub utility guy would have netted you compensation for your team had they not offered him the $12.4M contract?
R2-D2 November 19, 2011 22:41
I’m not talking about compensation I’m talking about at min. roster stability smartass. You may think any old guy can fill the specialty bat off the bench or a good sub glove in the field but that’s not case. So then any utility/bench player not given a contract of more than one year will be a constant carousel. Who is going to give any player a min of 12.4+ to be bench player? Take Jones for example lets say the Yanks wanted to bring him back he would be a type B the yanks could offer him something nice without fear of giving him crazy money. Now they dare not offer him anything and would lose at least the min of a compensatory pick and have to hunt for a new bench player that would fit the same mold. I am using Jones as an example i dont see him as ultimate 5th OF’er
voice of reason November 20, 2011 15:52
they can still offer him whatever they want, say 5mill, its just that they won’t get any compensation if he leaves unless they offer him 12 mill. Get it?
Taiwanese Man November 21, 2011 09:24
How do you read that and your brain processes it as a sarary froor? Weaver! You’re so stupid!
World Trade Federation November 21, 2011 10:30
Type Bs are not scrub utility players typically, they are averagish every-day players.
Basically, the idea behind this particular change is to get rid of type Bs. Type As will exist, sort of, but now it’s going to be based on the market and not some arbitrary and questionable Elias formula. Much better, in my opinion.
Ki m Last November 22, 2011 15:43
Lumps
Bud Selig November 19, 2011 21:54
This is my one last Fuck You before I resign
Frank McCourt November 27, 2011 23:03
FUCK YOU
RimJob Mike November 19, 2011 22:55
The Yankees literally have more money than the US government in their reserve. Think about that while you read these posts about money.
Bolshevik Bud November 19, 2011 23:53
And I’m here to share that wealth. With the right kind of people of course, not these third world moppets trying to shake down my esteemed colleagues in ownership.
Snowball November 20, 2011 06:51
All are created equal, it’s just that some are more equal than others.
potatoes November 20, 2011 00:41
EVERYBODY has more money than the US government. The govt is $15,000,000,000,000 in debt. It’s only a matter of time before the wheelbarrow is worth more than the money in it.
voice of reason November 20, 2011 16:04
Its ok, if we can’t make a payment we can always barrow more to make the payment, why I just did this last month, couldn’t cover my bills so I got another credit to make the min payments, its brilliant!!!!
World Trade Federation November 21, 2011 10:34
This is based on a misunderstanding, as the government does not account for its capital assets. If the government used business-style accounting, all the government buildings, military assets, national parks, etc. would be valued, and the net worth would be positive.
Taiwanese Man November 21, 2011 11:45
But unrike a business, the government cannot serr off its assets.
Onry serr its sor by erecting brack president with no experience.
World Trade Federation November 23, 2011 09:37
Perhaps not in Taiwan. But in the USA, yes they can, and they do, sell off assets. Examples are leases of natural resources rights on Federal lands, and sale of military surplus equipment. The reason they don’t sell more is strictly matter of policy (often codified into law, but law is just self-mandated government policy).
Dew Yarvish November 20, 2011 02:06
Nothing I have read mentions any penalty for going “over slot.” Quote: “A tax of 75 percent to 100 percent will be imposed on the amount a team exceeds a threshold, and teams exceeding the threshold by higher amounts could lose first- and second-round draft picks. For international free agents, such as players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, there will be a separate threshold and tax with penalties, and there will be a study committee that could put a new system in place later during the agreement.”
It seems pretty clear to me that the descriptions implies the “threshold” is on a team’s TOTAL spending on the draft, as opposite to specific amounts given to individual players. It clear says “A threshold”, not “thresholds”; and the penalty of 2 draft picks for going over slot on ONE player seems pretty onerous; what if you went over slot on 8 players– would you lose your top draft picks for the next 8 years? Obviously this isn’t what the paragraph is talking about.
A “total spending” threshold isn’t bad for the Yankees– normally their spending on the draft is pretty moderate, since they have lousy picks to begin with.
TSJC November 22, 2011 15:43
Slanty muthafuckas
Theo Epstein November 20, 2011 06:55
Who gives a shit?
I’m a genius!
Cheers,
Boy Wonder
Brett Pedroia November 20, 2011 20:38
Pah! ‘Boy’ Wonder is just a name… lame.
Napoleon November 21, 2011 10:37
Stop stealing my lines, and get the $#%# off my farm.
Napoleon November 21, 2011 10:39
Sorry, I meant that one for Snowball.
Snowball November 22, 2011 05:18
I didn’t know paraphrasing was allowed.
Napoleon November 22, 2011 22:25
It’s not, you loser pig. I’m the bad pig; you’re the good pig. Get your lines right or I’ll feed you a bacon sandwich.
Joe Páwlikowski November 22, 2011 15:44
I want to dress more sexy.