Quote:
Originally Posted by knuckler
If Washington had failed to sign their compensation pick for not signing Aaron Crow in 2008, they would have lost the pick (Storen already signed). But if they don't sign Strasburg, they will have the second pick in the draft next season.
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Yes, I think that's right. I misread the material I had onhand about the compensation picks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Left-handed Badger
Actually, I still think the bonus baby rule could work, if you put a strict set of rules with it and few loopholes (and fix the ones that do pop up)
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I just find it interesting that some are suggesting that MLB should go backwards to its pre-draft times, when it was the bonus excesses of that time which led directly to the adoption of the draft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knuckler
Actuall, LeGrande Orange I have to ask what were some of those loopholes, exactly, you have got me curious.
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Well, it was a series of little things. The rule orignally stated that no amateur player could be signed for a salary and bonus of more than $6,000; if he was, then clubs had to retain the player on the major league active roster and could not option him to the minors unless he cleared waivers, and waiver requests could not be withdrawn.
But clubs soon figured out that the limit only applied to the current year, so teams could spread out a larger amount over several years. That loophole had to be closed. Then clubs, in lieu of paying an actual cash bonus, would award additional amounts in non-cash forms, such as buying the player a car. That loophole had to be closed. Then it would be buying items for the relatives of the player as a form of additional bonus. And so on.
Clubs were constantly seeking ways to game the system in order to offer more money to a prospect than a rival club.
The first attempt at the bonus rule lasted from 1946-50. A second attempt lasted from 1952-57. In both cases, MLB terminated the rule because it had little practical effect in curbing the bonuses being paid to amateur players. The first-year player draft was instituted in 1958, but only had a limited effect in slowing bonus payments. The first real success in limiting signing bonuses was with the adoption of the amateur draft in 1965.