They sold the bonus's for those kids down the river for a better deal for themselves a few years back because Scot Boras was driving up the signing bonus for all kinds of players. So baseball wanted "structure" and got it and the MLB guys got some things back at the expense of future members.
This ^.
Kind of off topic, but what is independent league lifestyle like? Is the pay and lifestyle very similar to the affiliated minor league levels? Or does it vary league to league? I watched at TV show on the Pecos League and they only make $50 a week or something like that. Gotta imagine that's way way tougher than affiliated minor leagues.
Not independent league but my son plays Pro ball in Europe. He gets transportation to and from Europe, shares an apartment with another" Ïmport Player", gets meals on game days and road trips and gets 350 euros a month. He's not making any money but he's able to live just fine on what he gets. His apartment is within 100 yards of the field and public transportation in Europe is great. We supplement him if he's going on a trip like an off weekend in Portugal or a trip to Oktoberfest in Munich, but what a life for a 22 year old who just graduated from a D1 school this spring and thought his last game was when they lost in the NCAA regionals.
Oh one negative is that since they play on a converted soccer field the right center fence is over 650 feet away, lol.