1. Allow money to be rolled over from year to year (this would eliminate punishing guys in strong drafts or rewarding guys in weak drafts)
2. Setting a standard length (4-6 years) for the initial contract to keep teams from avoiding the cap by back-ending contracts. (and… I can’t imagine players taking low-ball initial contracts to play for the Yankees based on a wink-wink, nudge-nudge promise that the Yankees will pad their next contract. Too much risk, but if they’re willing to take that risk then go for it.)
3. I would make the amount equal for all teams ($5-10 million ?) and include a fee (5% ?) of any free agency signings to go to the team losing the free agent (free agent with the Pirates signs a 10 year $20 mill/year contract with the Yankees, the Yankees owe the Pirates $1 million dollars a year from their draft fund for the length of the contract. This would help cover the cost of teams that cultivate the talented prospects into major league ready players.
4. Any players left after the auction draft would go into a standard draft with draft position determined by last years record. Each round would have a set salary (5th round picks get X amount of dollars for the standard number of years.

I think this would be a more equitable way of attempting parity in the league because it wouldn’t just be punishing the teams that do well and rewarding the teams that do poorly but would provide flexibility in how teams construct their rosters (FA vs. draft) while allowing teams that can’t afford the big ticket FA’s to recoup some of that talent lost to the Yankees, BoSox, etc.

This will kill international development academies, which is the major pipeline for developing talent in Latin America.

Some smaller issues: the money needs to adjust annually (some sort of escalator), this would be a logistic nightmare (for the players as well as for the teams).

What I like: takes money from revenue sharing. The nightmare side of it from the player’s perspective would likely result in a demand for more agents. Given that this would result in fewer players represented by Boras, I call this a net win.

I also liked the comment suggestion of a standard contract with the difference being the bonus paid out.

And I agree with the comment that the money distribution function needs to be smoother than described.

Something definitely needs to be done, though, and this is an interesting conversation on it.

I guess I’d be for it if you still had some sort of system that helped bad teams – like maybe get rid of the rule that a Rule 5 pick has to spend all year on a MLB roster – just allow bad teams to select eligible minor leaguers to put in their organization.

1. I’ve been arguing that the NFL and MLB need to do auction bidding to my friends, but most have ignored my calls for change.
2. I would reduce the differences between #1 and #30 teams – I think 6x the money is too drastic.
3. I would keep all contracts at 4 yrs, and the players become Rule 5 free agents after.
4. I would include all players, including international ones. Reach an agreement with the Japanese leagues and Caribbean nations to decide who’s eligible.
5. I would limit the draft to a certain number of rounds, then all other non-drafted players could sign with teams of their own choosing, at a minimum minor league salary.
6. This auction could compete with the NFL draft! Think of the TV programming for this: auctioneer, 30 GMs, sweat as they bid. Player/agent sitting in their homes, waiting for their names to be tossed into the ring. When/if the player wants to go to a specific team, they signal the bidders (maybe like hitting a red button from “Press Your Luck”. I would watch this.

On a similar topic, I wouldn’t tie this to revenue sharing. What I would do is include the sports networks owned by teams in revenue sharing, as well as luxury box seating (all of which are not included currently). I would also set a minimum-salary cap.

What stops a kid from signing with the Yankees or Dodgers for cheap cause thats where they want to go and redo the deal in 6 months?

Also you are saying the finish last in the League get the best player format that is in all sports goes away?

I dont think Bud would go for it at all but I think it could be in the discussion. I love the idea of Revenue sharing and luxury tax money going to something besides owners pockets. I dont think the scouting process in baseball is as fine tuned as say the NFL and if you keep paying draftees tons of money it is going to take away from the big league level. I like the Budgeted dollars approach.

bill

thefairball.com