Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 1h1 hour ago

 

The #Dodgers will announce signing of Howie Kendrick today to 2-year, $20 million deal. He will receive $5 million over next four years.

Compensation for free agents is likely going to be gone very soon anyway. Steve Stone was on that csn show yesterday evening and thinks it's really stupid which I tend to agree with.

 

I would be surprised if it went away altogether, it is supposed to keep some semblance of competitive balance by trying to get the small revenue teams some compensation when they lose their top players to the deep pocketed high revenue teams. It will definitely be altered in some manner, a QO might start out at $25M in the next deal making sure that it is extended to only the top echelon of players instead of the mid-level players that are receiving QO's the last couple of years. I think they will find a way to revise the system to make it more equitable, but I can't see MLB walking away from the idea of compensation altogether when the other leagues have compensation systems in place unless the players give up something big in return.

I would be surprised if it went away altogether, it is supposed to keep some semblance of competitive balance by trying to get the small revenue teams some compensation when they lose their top players to the deep pocketed high revenue teams. It will definitely be altered in some manner, a QO might start out at $25M in the next deal making sure that it is extended to only the top echelon of players instead of the mid-level players that are receiving QO's the last couple of years. I think they will find a way to revise the system to make it more equitable, but I can't see MLB walking away from the idea of compensation altogether when the other leagues have compensation systems in place unless the players give up something big in return.

If they want them, pay for them. If they don't trade them away. Either that or protect every first round non playoff team pick. Let every team have a second rounder. They still get some comp, but they won't be offering nearly as many QOs.

 

But if a guy is a FREE agent, he should be a FREE agent and not hung up on a draft pick. Many of us are hung up on the White Sox giving up a draft pick, and the pick they would lose is lower than most teams. Tampa would have to give up pick 13 to sign Desmond. It is kind of bad when the better teams have to give up a pick less valuable than the guys in the middle, so if they insist on comp, I say first rounders only sacrificed by playoff teams.

They also need to reform those "competitive balance" picks. The criteria is too fuzzy. No way the Cardinals or Tigers belong in that category, for instance.