Link to the Athletic story.
I had long assumed that this wasn't something a team could do unilaterally, because being a first mover seems like such an obvious advantage. The June draft slotting and International draft bonus cap system seems toothless if a team can simply crank up their minor league pay scale, and yet apparently they can.
If a GM can tell a draftee or especially an International FA (where the players have more choice), you should accept a bonus $50k lower from us than you would from another team, because you'll more than make it up in a few years playing in our system, that would presumably stretch those bonus allotments a bit.
Or maybe you could get the best quality NRIs to Spring Training if you were willing to offer a better package of stipends and per diems for March.
In a world where star players are getting $300m contracts, we could add $10k to the pay of every single player in the system for about $3m/year. And that would help attract players at the margin, and help keep them thriving while they're in your system. We have something like 300 players in the system at a time.
It just seems like a no brainer to pay these guys much more, offer performance bonuses, buy or build a few apartment buildings within walking distance of the minor league ballparks, have team-supplied nutritionists and chefs supply their meals, etc.
The team talks a lot about seeking every advantage, but they seem to have been leaving some on the table.
Thoughts?
Good to see Red Sox alumnus Ben Cherington doing good work for the game.
I had long assumed that this wasn't something a team could do unilaterally, because being a first mover seems like such an obvious advantage. The June draft slotting and International draft bonus cap system seems toothless if a team can simply crank up their minor league pay scale, and yet apparently they can.
If a GM can tell a draftee or especially an International FA (where the players have more choice), you should accept a bonus $50k lower from us than you would from another team, because you'll more than make it up in a few years playing in our system, that would presumably stretch those bonus allotments a bit.
Or maybe you could get the best quality NRIs to Spring Training if you were willing to offer a better package of stipends and per diems for March.
In a world where star players are getting $300m contracts, we could add $10k to the pay of every single player in the system for about $3m/year. And that would help attract players at the margin, and help keep them thriving while they're in your system. We have something like 300 players in the system at a time.
It just seems like a no brainer to pay these guys much more, offer performance bonuses, buy or build a few apartment buildings within walking distance of the minor league ballparks, have team-supplied nutritionists and chefs supply their meals, etc.
The team talks a lot about seeking every advantage, but they seem to have been leaving some on the table.
Thoughts?
