The Rich Get Richer
Bud Selig and the big market owners at MLB have put a hatchet in the back of the Small and Mid market teams with this new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The small market teams have been all but marginalized. They will no longer have any opportunity to compete under the new rules.
Changes in Arbitration Eligibility Rules
Players with less than three years of major league service will now have to have 2 years 86 days of service and be in the top 20% of the league in production. (Previously it was 17%)
All but the largest market teams will now hold their best prospects back to after the All Star break instead of early June to ensure they don’t get 86 days in that year.
Changes in Free Agency Compensation
Since they no longer lose a draft pick the rich will get richer. The Yankees, Red Sox, etc… can now sign Free Agents without losing anything unless the other team makes a $12 million offer to the FA.
It’s a crock. The old system didn’t work, but this is worse. Now small market teams are strictly farm clubs for the big market teams.
It marks the end of Tampa Bay’s ability to compete in the AL East. Once their current crop of players and prospects reach FA they will never compete again. IT ends ANY small markets teams possibility of contending. Under the old system at least you got something when you could no longer afford a free agent. Now you get nothing. Selig said bend over small market teams and take it like a Sandusky victim.
Changes in First Year Draft
More of the rich get ting richer.
Now teams that were horrible last year can no longer afford to pay big money for a great prospect (see Gerrit Cole) or they risk not being able to draft many players or have to pay a tax they can ill afford to pay for going over the line.
The Yankees, Red Sox, etc... can afford to pay a luxury tax, but if a team like the Pirates or the Rays want to pay big money for a couple of exceptional prospects, they risk not being to sign other prospects prospects down the line.
Selig has finally turned all small market teams into nothing more than glorified farm teams for the Yankees and the Red Sox.
Congratulations Bud. You have finally killed competition in the sport completely.
RIP MLB.
Out in Left Field
