MLB Draft to Scott Boras: F#$@ You

[EDGECRUSHER]

Major League Baseball's players and owners announced a new labor agreement at a press conference Tuesday.
Some of the changes are rather drastic. For instance, teams that spend over slot in the Amateur Draft by more than five percent will now be hit with a 75 percent tax. Teams that go over slot by 5-10 percent will face a 75 percent tax and the loss of a first-round pick. Teams that go over slot by 10-15 percent face a 100 percent and the loss of a first- and second-round pick. And teams that spend over slot by 15 percent or more will face a 100 percent tax and the loss of two first rounders. Also, drafted players can no longer sign major league deals and there will be a cap on the amount that organizations can spend on the international market. - Rotoworld.com

This is ridiculously harsh, IMO. I can understand not wanting teams like the Yanks and Sox to give top pick money to a guy drafted 30th overall who fell that far JUST BECAUSE everyone knew he wanted too much money, but this eliminates all negotiation. If a drafted player says he wants more money, the team can just say "If I give you more, I will lose my next 2 draft picks" and be done with it. No more powerplays from Scott Boras, but it also eliminates free market and I am never a fan of that.

Lots of other changes coming too.

[Landshark]

One I like about this:  We won't be seeing any strikes or lockouts for the next five years.

Baseball has enjoyed some smooth relations between players and owners since baseball had the infamous 1994 strike that cancelled the World Series.  During that time, the following has happened in other sports:

The NFL just completed a lockout that cancelled one week of preseason games and cut training camps short.

The NBA is in its second lockout in the past 12 years, and may end up like the 2004-2005 NHL

Speaking of the NHL, they cancelled their 2004-2005 season, and the fallout from that was huge.  Eventually the players caved in and the union chief got fired.

[EDGECRUSHER]

^^^ On behalf of everyone who isn't cheering for the Yankees or Red Sox, I think it is a beautiful rule...

I totally understand the rule, just not the specifics. The problem is when the Tigers draft Rick Porcello at 17 or the Yankees draft Andrew Brackman(huge bust) at 20 when both are Top 5 talents. They fell due to signability issues and those two teams gave them WAY above slot. It wasn't like they should've gotten $600,000 and got $800,000. They got like $5 Million. Do away with that. Don't make it just 5%. That really just eliminates the free market. I wouldve had it at 25%.

[CF DolFan]

I seriously wish drafted players, in all leagues, had to follow a scale for the first three years. It would solve many issues.