Draft Pace

[Cardinals]

Last year, we decided to move the draft start date to February 1, fueled by wanting to end the draft before spring training games get into full swing. The idea that picks 120-150 (picked in mid-March through early April) have more value than late third or fourth rounders sucks.

We need to change something here. On day 13 last year, we were at pick 72. On day 13 this year, we're nearly a full round behind. I have heard people say that "well, this draft stinks so that's why." I don't really buy that.

What can we do to conclude the draft before spring training games begin? I think our options are move the start date back into January, or reduce the amount of clock available to pick.

[Padres]

Reduce the amount of clock available to pick.

[Marlins]

12 hrs seems like plenty. Maybe keep it at 20-24 hrs for first round.

[Reds]

reduce the amount of clock available to pick.

I believe that is the best option.

[Reds]

Also, implement a notification system when a team is on the clock.

[Padres]

Also, implement a notification system when a team is on the clock.

I advise the person after me that they are "on the clock" immediately after my selection ... Either by text, email or private message (or combination of these) dependent on the info I have ...

[Reds]

Also, implement a notification system when a team is on the clock.

I advise the person after me that they are "on the clock" immediately after my selection ... Either by text, email or private message (or combination of these) dependent on the info I have ...

I don't think we can rely on that for all participants. We may have to take turns doing it.

[Cardinals]

I will ask Shawn if he can build the notification system, and draft queue. It broke years ago.

[Marlins]

The draft queue helps speed things up immensely and would make lowering time between picks easier.

[Guardians]

I understand people are annoyed by the slow pace. In fact, JP informed me today that I am the entire reason the draft has been slow this year. So, I suppose that means my opinion is invalid on this matter. However, I still have one.

I'll point out that the last four drafts ended on 4/3, 3/22, 4/18, 4/28. In none of those years did we end before spring training games started. The only significant change we've made is to allow draft pick trading during the draft, which probably adds time to the draft. I'll also point out that we've always allowed 24 hours for picks and no one has gone beyond their 24 hours.

To the point of later picks becoming more valuable if the draft drags into spring training:

Last year, the only player that I can tell who was drafted once spring training games started on 3/14 (we were at pick 120 in the draft) was Logan Evans, who pitched one inning in spring training. I have not done a deep dive on researching spring stats from other years' draftees, but I don't see that later picks become more valuable as the draft moves on.

I agree that an unwieldy draft time isn't great, but I also don't think it creates anything catastrophic for the league. If you want to change the clock to 12 hours and people start getting skipped with overnight and east coast/west coast issues, go for it. But I don't think this is a catastrophic issue; it's more of an annoyance.

[Reds]

I will ask Shawn if he can build the notification system, and draft queue. It broke years ago.

If that is in place reducing the 24hr clock time may not be needed.

[Cardinals]

I will ask Shawn if he can build the notification system, and draft queue. It broke years ago.

If that is in place reducing the 24hr clock time may not be needed.

You assume everybody will use the tool. I think a reduction is still in order, or starting the draft earlier.

There is also no guarantee Shawn has the time to code it. I will speak to him about it, though.

[Reds]

You assume everybody will use the tool. I think a reduction is still in order, or starting the draft earlier.

There is also no guarantee Shawn has the time to code it. I will speak to him about it, though.

You may be right. Let's see what Shawn's availability is.

[Cardinals]

I understand people are annoyed by the slow pace. In fact, JP informed me today that I am the entire reason the draft has been slow this year. So, I suppose that means my opinion is invalid on this matter. However, I still have one.

I'll point out that the last four drafts ended on 4/3, 3/22, 4/18, 4/28. In none of those years did we end before spring training games started. The only significant change we've made is to allow draft pick trading during the draft, which probably adds time to the draft. I'll also point out that we've always allowed 24 hours for picks and no one has gone beyond their 24 hours.

To the point of later picks becoming more valuable if the draft drags into spring training:

Last year, the only player that I can tell who was drafted once spring training games started on 3/14 (we were at pick 120 in the draft) was Logan Evans, who pitched one inning in spring training. I have not done a deep dive on researching spring stats from other years' draftees, but I don't see that later picks become more valuable as the draft moves on.

I agree that an unwieldy draft time isn't great, but I also don't think it creates anything catastrophic for the league. If you want to change the clock to 12 hours and people start getting skipped with overnight and east coast/west coast issues, go for it. But I don't think this is a catastrophic issue; it's more of an annoyance.

Logan Evans was selected on March 14.

This was written on MLB.com on March 12:

“PEORIA, Ariz. -- Spring Breakout is on the horizon, with many of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline set to take center stage on Friday against a similar group of promising Padres.
Here’s everything to know about the first-ever event.
How to watch: MLB Network, MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), ROOT Sports and Mariners Radio Network (710 Seattle Sports)

Pitcher to watch: RHP Logan Evans (No. 20)
A 12th-round Draft pick last year, Evans made a strong first impression in his pro debut last year, jumping quickly from the Arizona Complex League to Single-A Modesto, where he had 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. Above his pure stuff -- which includes a two-seam fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range, a slider he attacks lefties with and a cutter to righties -- Evans showed an advanced acumen with pitch shapes and location strategy. He also leverages his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, much like Logan Gilbert.”

March 26, on Baseball America: “ Logan Evans Looks Like Mariners’ Latest Pitching Find”

Keith Law also had a whole series on The Athletic reporting on the Spring Breakout games.

[Reds]

I agree that an unwieldy draft time isn't great, but I also don't think it creates anything catastrophic for the league. If you want to change the clock to 12 hours and people start getting skipped with overnight and east coast/west coast issues, go for it. But I don't think this is a catastrophic issue; it's more of an annoyance.

2-3 picks a day is ridiculously slow, so some sort of adjustment is needed. There are ways to adjust the clock to deal with time zones, perhaps 15 hours instead of 12. Maybe just doing notifications helps if they are generated automatically. Maybe disallowing the trading of picks while on the clock is an option we should look at. Let's debate and consider that on this forum and see what we collectively come up with.

[Reds]

How about this to deal with the marketing of picks during the draft…

Draft pick trading permitted after the all-star break as it is now. Once the draft starts on February 1st, no trading of picks.

Players selected in that draft cannot be traded until January 1st of the following year (this oughta make January interesting).

Leave the time clock at 24 hours, but setup a notification system. Skipped once and the following picks skip automatically, but make up picks allowed.

[Marlins]

JP and I were chatting about this too. Another option if we want to keep pick trading during the draft: obviously if you're dealing for a pick and are online to approve a deal, you should know who you want. So once a pick which is up is dealt, that pick must be made within 15 or 30 minutes.

[Guardians]

Logan Evans was selected on March 14.

This was written on MLB.com on March 12:

“PEORIA, Ariz. -- Spring Breakout is on the horizon, with many of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline set to take center stage on Friday against a similar group of promising Padres.
Here’s everything to know about the first-ever event.
How to watch: MLB Network, MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), ROOT Sports and Mariners Radio Network (710 Seattle Sports)

Pitcher to watch: RHP Logan Evans (No. 20)
A 12th-round Draft pick last year, Evans made a strong first impression in his pro debut last year, jumping quickly from the Arizona Complex League to Single-A Modesto, where he had 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. Above his pure stuff -- which includes a two-seam fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range, a slider he attacks lefties with and a cutter to righties -- Evans showed an advanced acumen with pitch shapes and location strategy. He also leverages his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, much like Logan Gilbert.”

March 26, on Baseball America: “ Logan Evans Looks Like Mariners’ Latest Pitching Find”

Keith Law also had a whole series on The Athletic reporting on the Spring Breakout games.

So, if you want to avoid any articles about spring training affecting the draft, not necessarily even games being played (pitchers and catchers reported before the draft starts), then I think you're in a tough spot. The international signing period moving to Jan. 15 makes things particularly difficult for getting the entire draft done before the end of February, which I don'[t know has ever been done since the international signing period has moved from summer to January.

[Cardinals]

Logan Evans was selected on March 14.

This was written on MLB.com on March 12:

“PEORIA, Ariz. -- Spring Breakout is on the horizon, with many of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline set to take center stage on Friday against a similar group of promising Padres.
Here’s everything to know about the first-ever event.
How to watch: MLB Network, MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), ROOT Sports and Mariners Radio Network (710 Seattle Sports)

Pitcher to watch: RHP Logan Evans (No. 20)
A 12th-round Draft pick last year, Evans made a strong first impression in his pro debut last year, jumping quickly from the Arizona Complex League to Single-A Modesto, where he had 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. Above his pure stuff -- which includes a two-seam fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range, a slider he attacks lefties with and a cutter to righties -- Evans showed an advanced acumen with pitch shapes and location strategy. He also leverages his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, much like Logan Gilbert.”

March 26, on Baseball America: “ Logan Evans Looks Like Mariners’ Latest Pitching Find”

Keith Law also had a whole series on The Athletic reporting on the Spring Breakout games.

So, if you want to avoid any articles about spring training affecting the draft, not necessarily even games being played (pitchers and catchers reported before the draft starts), then I think you're in a tough spot. The international signing period moving to Jan. 15 makes things particularly difficult for getting the entire draft done before the end of February, which I don'[t know has ever been done since the international signing period has moved from summer to January.

I think if you can halt the draft before games start, it makes a big difference, especially the Spring Breakout games. I don't think we'll ever finish before pitchers and catchers report.

[Marlins]

Let's keep things in perspective. Last year we had an official start time of the draft as Feb 15 (some picks began sooner). We finished March 24th. Ten picks were made before the official start date. That means we did 140 picks in 39 days. That comes out to a little more than 6 1/2 hrs per pick. I don't think it's much of a hardship to give everyone almost double the average time it took last year.

[Reds]

Let's keep things in perspective. Last year we had an official start time of the draft as Feb 15 (some picks began sooner). We finished March 24th. Ten picks were made before the official start date. That means we did 140 picks in 39 days. That comes out to a little more than 6 1/2 hrs per pick. I don't think it's much of a hardship to give everyone almost double the average time it took last year.

Agreed

[Rangers]

I suggested this previously and I know it would be less of a decrease, but how about 12 hours, not including midnight to 6 AM ET? Just giving people a break for overnight.

I also am on board with having a short amount of time - 30 minutes or so - to make a pick after you trade for it. Of course the two can also collude to wait to execute until the person knows who he wants to pick, but hopefully people wouldn't be that conniving?

[Rangers]

I'll point out that the last four drafts ended on 4/3, 3/22, 4/18, 4/28. In none of those years did we end before spring training games started. The only significant change we've made is to allow draft pick trading during the draft, which probably adds time to the draft. I'll also point out that we've always allowed 24 hours for picks and no one has gone beyond their 24 hours.

To the point of later picks becoming more valuable if the draft drags into spring training:

Last year, the only player that I can tell who was drafted once spring training games started on 3/14 (we were at pick 120 in the draft) was Logan Evans, who pitched one inning in spring training. I have not done a deep dive on researching spring stats from other years' draftees, but I don't see that later picks become more valuable as the draft moves on.

I agree that an unwieldy draft time isn't great, but I also don't think it creates anything catastrophic for the league. If you want to change the clock to 12 hours and people start getting skipped with overnight and east coast/west coast issues, go for it. But I don't think this is a catastrophic issue; it's more of an annoyance.

I have been on this in the past including last year, still completely disagree. It was very frustrating to have drafts finish this late and people - me included - benefited quite a bit from being on the clock as spring training events and especially regular season games in a few cases went on. You can equivocate, as done here, about how dramatic the effect is but it's flat out not fair.

I don't like to have an unnecessarily intrusive number of rules, but I think we can put the bar for rules to encourage fairness a little lower than league catastrophy.

[Guardians]

I have been on this in the past including last year, still completely disagree. It was very frustrating to have drafts finish this late and people - me included - benefited quite a bit from being on the clock as spring training events and especially regular season games in a few cases went on. You can equivocate, as done here, about how dramatic the effect is but it's flat out not fair.

I don't like to have an unnecessarily intrusive number of rules, but I think we can put the bar for rules to encourage fairness a little lower than league catastrophy.

My overarching point is everyone is basing this need to change on A) a squishy deadline of when the draft needs to get done, which has something to do with spring games being played and articles about spring coming out (notwithstanding all the winter prospect articles everyone sees anyway) and B) an issue of "fairness" because you now think 5th round picks are more valuable if someone hits a backfield home run and generates a tweet.

I haven't seen any concrete examples of the unfairness, just innuendo. I still think this is a solution looking for a problem, but if you want to do a thing to do a thing because you think it will help, you have the ability.

[Marlins]

Sorry Pat, I think you're alone in wanting a 2 month draft.