Major League Baseball has unveiled a sweeping redesign of its amateur draft that would slash the number of selections from twenty to twelve, halve the signing‑bonus pool to roughly $200 million and bar high‑school prospects from the talent pool altogether. The blueprint also introduces an international draft with a minimum age of eighteen, shortens the draft lottery from six to four slots and would let teams trade every pick, while eliminating the competitive‑balance selections that have long rewarded smaller‑market clubs.
The financial logic behind the proposal
League officials say the changes are meant to curb escalating costs at the lower levels of the minors and free up resources for player development, arguing that today's college players can already cash in on name, image and likeness deals that make the traditional bonus structure less essential. By tightening the draft, the owners hope to keep more money in the organization and lay groundwork for a salary cap that they have long sought.
The union, however, has dug in its heels, warning that any cap or draft restriction would undermine the players' bargaining power and reshape the pathway for the next generation. With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Dec. 1, both sides are aware that a stalemate could push the sport into a work stoppage that would postpone games for the first time since the 1994 strike.