Final Thoughts on the 2009 Draft
I've been asked a lot about the 2009 Draft and I have many thoughts on it.
First, I really think we'll look back on history and say this was the turning point. $15 million for Stephen Strasburg. He's got great potential and some may say he is the greatest amateur of all-time. I'm not buying into the hype yet. I believe a guy has to do it in the big leagues before you get any tags. We still need to see what he's all about. $15 million is a lot of money to invest in potential.
I think what's brought all of this full circle for most of us like myself is when you look back at this past winter. Think of all the free agents that were trying to get contracts. Orlando Hudson goes to the Dodgers for $3 million. Bobby Abreu gets $5 million from the Angels and this is a player who has driven in over 80 runs 9 times and has a career batting average of .300.
This information makes you ask the question. Are the amateurs worth more than the major leaguers who have proved themselves? This draft has made the owners and players think about that. Once the CBA is up after the 2011 season expect major changes to the MLB draft.
I think the way baseball players are drafted and signed needs to be changed. We have unproven kids - many who have played only at the high school level - demanding huge salaries and signing bonuses because of potential. Where in the real world does anyone receive a salary for what they might do 2, 3 years down the road? Even in football, when a player is drafted, it is expected that he will be playing at the level he is being paid for that year, not at some future date. And when you get right down to it, will the Nationals really be a better team for paying all the money to one guy who might some day make it into the majors?
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
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