Could someone explain why we are teams who sign a top free agent are required to lose a 1st round pick? In MLB, the first round pick is always protected now. I am just trying to figure this out with free agency looming.
We had a rather lengthy discussion on this matter after MLB adopted the last CBA. The discussion, and subsequent referendum vote, can be found in this thread.
http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?topic=284616.0Here is the thread with our referendum poll:
http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?topic=286242.0Here is what we came up with for 2017 and subsequent years.
Sub-Section 3- Compensation for losing a FA
Item AX B(3) 1.0
The following rules shall apply only to players lost during the OFA bidding period, and beginning in 2018, a player lost will be defined as a player who has been on a given team's roster for the entire season.
On December 18, 2016, a league referendum was passed by a majority of league members to have Franchise GMs compensation rule for lost free agents mirror the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was ratified by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association on December 1, 2016.
The new FGM Compensation Rules for lost free agents are as follows:
For 2017:
1) Only one draft pick as compensation for a Type A free agent;
2) The elimination of Type B free agents;
3) Protection of 1st Round Picks for the top ten teams in the draft;
4) When a team loses a 1st Round pick, the team gaining the pick does not replace that team in the 1st Round. Instead, the 1st Round is condensed and that pick becomes a part of the Compensation Round between the 1st and 2nd Rounds. If the pick lost is protected (1-10), then the pick lost is the teams 2nd Round pick, or possibly a Compensation Round pick, whatever is higher.
For 2018 and subsequent years thereafter:
1: Continue one draft pick compensation for Type A free agents;
2: There shall no longer be any protection of 1st Round Picks for the top ten teams in the draft (since they are losing a later round pick);
3: Draft compensation would be a 3rd Round pick--which would be taken in the same spot as the team who signed the free agent would normally have.
4: Compensation would be tied to a player who has been on a team the entire season.
4: If a Type A free agent is signed to a contract of $52.0m, or more, then the team signing that player will give up their 2nd and 5th Round picks to the player's former team.
