Saturday, May 25, 2013
The new rules for the major league draft included a set amount of signing bonuses that each team could spend in the first 10 rounds. Each team was assigned a pool of money, based on its draft order and how many picks it had in those first 10 rounds.
After the first 10 rounds, teams could sign a draft pick for up to $100,000. Anything over that and the money could count against the pool
As usual, teams are figuring out ways to work around the system. It appears some teams are drafting players in the top 10 rounds that will not cost them much, so they can use some of the leftover pool money on others.
The cheapest draft pick is college player who has played four years and has used up his eligibility. In the previous four drafts, Boston did not pick a four-year college player in the top 10 rounds. In 2012, the Red Sox picked five four-year college players in the top 10. So did the Yankees. The Blue Jays picked seven of them.
Look for those teams to sign those players cheaply and use the surplus money to sign a higher-priced high school draft pick.
After the 10th round, the Red Sox next five picks were four high school players and one who just finished his first year of junior college
Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal has a story about the Red Sox strategy.
In the minors on Tuesday, Ryan Kalish, newly moved to Pawtucket on his rehab assignment, homered in his first at-bat. He finished 2-for-2 with 3 walks ... Ryan Lavarnway (.301) went 4-for-5 with his fourth HR.
Daisuke Matsuzaka did not look ready to take Daniel bard's place in the Red Sox rotation. He lasted 1 1/3 innings with Pawtucket: 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K ... The intriguing Mark Prior relieved: 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 5 K.
Drake Britton pitched a no-hitter for 5 innings in his Sea Dogs debut. He also walked six batters. See the story.
TweetKevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws on Holding Court
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