quote:
Originally posted by moon:
Interesting issue.
Questions:
What is the benefit to the
player as a 'draft and follow'?
Does the player actually enter into some
agreement with the mlb club? (contract)
Is there any financial arrangement in a
'draft and follow'?
The benefit to Draft and follow is that it allows a player to improve his skills over the next season and at the same time improve his negotiating ability with the club that holds his rights. It can also work the other way in as much as a player does not perform well and the team makes no effort to sign him before the next draft.
There is no agreement other than the fact that the club that drafts the player will retain his rights until one week before the next draft.
There is no financial arrangement in a draft and follow because no contract is signed until the team tries to sign the prospect which occurs between the end of the JUCO season and one week before the next draft.
If a player is picked as a draft and follow and decides to go to a four year school then all bets are off. The drafting team no longer has any rights to the player and the player must wait until they are 21 or completes the junior year of college before being draft eligible again.