kevinb

You’re so caught up in your own ideas you’re not actually reading what I’m saying. There can still be a draft. But then there should be some items in place that you’re getting a bump from what last year pick at that spot got because it’s not truly a free market if you can only negotiate with one team said team could just say here’s $5 you have to take it. Also I’d say cap the number of rounds to 7-10 similar to the NFL draft. Everything after that teams can pay whatever they want for who ever they want. Let minor league free agents be just that free agents and let the bidding process be what it will be. But if you truly want a free market and I believe strongly in a free market place. Then you get rid of the draft all together. You build in a starting date of when players can be signed by major league clubs. You do it that way. Let players negotiate contracts. If they all want one year deals great if they all want 10 year deals also great. Clubs can only have a maximum of 3 minor league teams and each team can only have the maximum number of players a ML team can have. I know you think only the Yankees and Dodgers would sign people. But you’d be wrong. Players can choose where to sign while negotiating just like major league free agents do. Further more you would get rid of baseballs insane arbitration process and controlling these guys for a decade plus. Once you have someone under contract. They can choose to re sign or add years. But if they don’t and they want to be a free agent once their deal they agreed upon runs out then so be it they can be truly free agents at 19 or 21 or whatever age. Some will choose longer term deals for the security some will choose shorter term deals and bet on themselves. A free market with no forced lower salaried players would be incredible. I want to see owners players etc make the most money they can and believe a truly free market will let that happen. No salary cap no salary floor. No soft luxury cap either. Truly free.

Exactly more negotiation power. The only reason the owners don't is because they can't control their own behaviors. If there was a true free market these players in the minors would be making much more than they are now. I don't think they should even be able to protect 40 or 50. Let each player negotiate their contract terms individually. If they come to some agreement where it is a 5 or 6 year term so be it, if it's just one year than that's fine to. People who argue against that I don't understand. I don't understand how anyone would disagree with that thinking. Unless they are truly against the players making money for their skill sets.

WoW

Quite

I mean there are lots of owners who would be negotiating. So we don't know who would get the best prospects. Alabama doesn't get every best football recruit they go out for. Competition would be good. I am for letting the owners and players make as much money as possible. A complete free market would be best for everyone. Maybe these players would be making more money than they are making now and wouldn't be getting less than minimum wage? Maybe they would be getting less than that? No one knows. To your, well the Dodgers and Yankees and Mets would just buy up everything, Um no they wouldn't They aren't the only people signing free agents. The Angels paid for Rendon and gave out Trout the most lucrative contract in sports. The Marlins signed and then traded Stanton to a massive deal. I also believe there should be revenue sharing in MLB, I think there should be a salary floor but not a salary cap. I can't remember but who won the World Series last year? Who won it the year before? When was the last time the Yankees or Dodgers won a World Series. For that matter when was the last time the Mets did? It wouldn't destroy the MLB at all. Why are you not for letting the players make as much money as they possibly can? Let them experience a true free market. What would LeBron be worth in a total free market in the NBA? Brady in his prime? etc? The only reason there are salary caps in sports is to protect the owners from themselves. Because the players are worth much more than they are getting paid. Imagine if there was no soft cap in MLB. What would happen? What would players be getting paid? I think that world would be much more interesting.

An actual free market. Let players who come into the league have choice and negotiation abilities to set their own terms of their deals.

T20? I am guessing this is rugby? But would have no idea.

We've agreed. Now lets talk to Manfred and get this settled. I'll have the lawyers start drawing up the contracts.

Yes. Absolutely. I am for whatever makes who ever the most money they can possibly negotiate for.

All ask the same question to you as I did @Game 6 would you ok with MLB getting rid of the draft and having a free market system for the minor leagues?

What is the 10th round guys getting bonuses of? Also then they should probably cut the draft at 10 rounds then. Having 400 plus rounds, I know hyperbole, that no one watches. Heck even the NFL draft has 7 rounds and many more players on a NFL roster than MLB. Cut it to 7 rounds and make them all televised and make it a bigger spectacle like the NFL or NBA draft.

Would you be ok with cutting the MLB draft and letting the young players negotiate freely with any club they wish to sign with and negotiating terms?

I am ok with that. Cut the amount of leagues and minor league players. If someone wants to start up some independent league somewhere let them.

How many of them sign signing bonuses? Honestly asking I have no clue? My guess would be the first 1-3 rounds? But I don't know?

No one cares about a great story. That's worth nothing. I don't know when you stop calling people kids but they are definitely not kids the majority of the minor leaguers are adults. Entry level positions pay minimum wage. Heck In N Out pays more than minimum wage for drive thru staff you're welcome @Stradling I love that you are arguing to pay them nothing just because they are playing a sport. We agree to disagree. I think make minor league baseball players independent contractors, not employees. Let them negotiate wages and terms of their agreement. MLB clubs should not have control over a player and where they live and where they play said job. If they so choose to negotiate below minimum wage pay then so be it. If they so do so for more than a year then it's on them. But they should have the flexibility to pick and choose and negotiate. Freedom of choice works both ways. Getting rid of the MLB draft should be the first start of said process. Let the players negotiate with all teams and let who ever is willing to pay the best contract for the best terms win said services for the duration they've agreed upon the contract. Would you disagree with this?

I mean they're still employees correct? So technically they could furlough them if they wanted. They could be collecting unemployment. I'm ok with that.

6 or 8 million dollars for a 7 era pitcher is money not well spent. Guy keeps pitching like he has for the Angels he will be lucky to get an invite to camp somewhere.

When's he supposed to be to the Angels?

I agree I do think they are thrilled. But I think they should be paid at a very minimum minimum wage. A very very very high number of them will never reach the majors and get a big check. I think compensating to minimum wage isn't a horrible idea. Owners make plenty of cash to be able to support minimum wage workers, and it not put a big dent in the overall income stream of their business.

You can't be serious the guy has an over 7 ERA. I would welcome him back at league minimum, see if he can fight for a roster spot. There is no chance, I would offer him 6 or 8 million with that ERA.

Pitching is looking good. Bauer would be a great addition in the off season. Local guy, outspoken, and really good. Some minor and major tweaks here and there, this team could be good next year or the year after that.

So is it then just the profit margins that determine an injustice? Hey I am all for completely dismantling the minor league systems, and rebuilding them from the scratch. I think that MLB should try to make minor league baseball a thing and televise it if it isn't already. Cut the leagues down to 2 maybe 3 leagues and that's it help pay these players more while creating more baseball awareness. There has to be some middle ground where these minor leaguers are being paid better than they are now. Whether its contract negotiations or cutting down on the amount of leagues which in turn would cut down on the amount of players, or putting it on tv to help make the teams some more money to pay them. Idk, there would be so many things that baseball could do, which the owners can continue to keep a huge piece of the pie while the players don't get completely screwed over.

There can be more than one injustice going on in the world. College athletes aren't getting paid either while the schools rack up millions upon millions of dollars. Is that an injustice yes, does it mean that these sweat shop workers in China and other parts of the world where they pay their people actual pennies in horrible conditions to make cheap products for huge profits isn't an injustice? No. Both suck. There can be more than one sucky situation at a time in the world.

Disagree with your comparison between actors who are trying to make it in the business auditioning etc for free and professional baseball players trying to make it to the big leagues. Auditions are basically try outs and they aren't making any money for anyone at this time but they are making money for the minor league clubs and the major league clubs, maybe not a lot but they are making money. I agree try out all you want for baseball teams for free its your prerogative. I think where it gets dicey is that these minor leaguers are contracted individuals which the ML club can do whatever they want with. They can uproot their lives and trade them to a different organization across the country or heck move them up a division which will move them to a different city or state even with out any say so from said player. How is a player supposed to have a job or a salaried job, where he doesn't know if tomorrow he has to pack a bag and move to a different city. I don't think this part is discussed much. Yes it is there choice to play this sport, but that's where my argument comes in that they should be able to negotiate contract terms with said club. They should be independent contractors basically instead of employees of the parent club. At any point in time they should be able to seek a better deal and sign else where, at least be able to negotiate the terms of their contract with the parent club that said parent club doesn't for lack of a better term "own" them for a huge amount of time, while also paying them pennies. Freedom of choice should work both ways, there is a supply and demand somewhere in here.