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If we’ve learned one thing about new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in his few months in office, it’s that he likes to say what he’s thinking instead of just what he thinks you want to hear. This will inevitably bother some fans if it hasn’t already, but after a couple of decades of discussions about maybe forming a committee to look into whether or not something should be looked into officially, it’s admittedly a refreshing change of pace for MLB’s leadership.
Granted, we’ll still end up with a committee exploring the idea of an international draft, but it’s still a little different to hear Manfred come out in favor of one so openly before said committee is even formed. In fact, he considers it a necessity, as baseball’s current international plan failed the stress test that the influx of young Cuban players provided. Manfred believes the system introduced in the last collective bargaining agreement was working just fine before Yoan Moncada showed up and the Red Sox handed him $31.5 million. However, let’s remember that the Yankees spent $12 million on the first day of the current international signing period. Their allotted budget, for a period stretching from July 2 through June 15? $2.191 million. They weren’t alone in going over budget, either.
It’s a little easier for Manfred to just point to Moncada without naming him, though, since he is supposed to play nice with and represent ownership. At some point, likely during the next Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations in 2016, MLB and its team owners will bring up the international draft to the Players Association, and it will very likely be integrated into the game. The MLBPA won’t let a player acquisition structure that large be built without their getting something out of it, though, so maybe we’ll end up seeing something done about the service time loophole that will force Kris Bryant to begin in Triple-A this year. Not in time for Bryant, of course, but maybe in time for the next Bryant.
- Speaking of the best prospect in baseball, Scott Boras spoke out on behalf of his client, Kris Bryant, in an obvious attempt to rile up the Cubs and/or their fans about Bryant's eventual placement in Triple-A to begin 2015. Boras basically pulls out an, "And here I thought the Cubs cared about winning", which evoked a response from team president Theo Epstein. Epstein and Boras have worked well in the past, but that relationship might be tested with Bryant, depending on how hard the two sides want to play in future negotiations.
- Zack Wheeler's injury is unfortunate, but it doesn't have to mean anything. Young pitchers get hurt all the time, and the Mets have an awful lot of young pitchers.
- Josh Hamilton is battling addiction, yet when he gets suspended for his relapse in the next few weeks, Angels' owner Arte Moreno will get to pocket Hamilton's $23 million salary. There is a real conflict of interest here, one worth exploring.
- The Giants went shopping for outfield help after Hunter Pence went down with a broken forearm, but the Red Sox were unwilling to sell low on Allen Craig. Given Craig's considerable potential should he be healthy, it's understandable both why the Giants would ask and why the Sox would say no.
- There is a secret scandal in baseball, and it surrounds this player who hits popups on purpose.
- Pablo Sandoval did not have lovely comments about the Giants when asked about his departure, but Sergio Romo had positive things to say about his wanting to stick around.
- If lists of the top 100 prospects just aren't doing it for you, maybe you should try something in a top 175?
- Shelby Miller is one of the centerpieces of the Braves' Don't Call It A Rebuild 2015, and expectations for the former top prospect are rightfully all over the place.
- Someone in the Cactus League looooooooooves Blake Swihart, and before you say it, know that Ruben Amaro's team is in the Grapefruit League.
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