Is the End of High School Eligibility in the MLB Draft Coming Soon?

[wiguy94]

Joe Doyle says industry chatter is we could be in the final year or two of high school talent being draft eligible.

 

[nate82]

And people were saying I was crazy that there would be contraction in the minor leagues.  This article also mentions the removal of A-ball level.  This makes a lot of sense if they are going to reduce the number of rounds in the draft.  The next CBA could be a really big change for the minor leagues.  

[snoogans8056]

They’d get rid of the Midwest League before any warm weather place.

Us building a new stadium in Carolina would imply they’d be sticking around. Though all these new rules seem intent on putting an end to what we do well, so we’ll see….

Wait til the expansion draft makes all players under 21 available.

[BlazingGunz]

So Latin American players can start their career at 16 but US/Cananda/PR born players can't start until age 20!   I wonder if they pair this with a foreign player draft as well.

[Jim Goulart]

2 hours ago, snoogans8056 said:

They’d get rid of the Midwest League before any warm weather place.

That'd be 12 teams. Only 18 more to go!

I have so much to say about potential MiLB contraction, as so do all the municipalities who invested millions in new parks, park upgrades, related infrastructure, etc., to meet MLB's demands. Will aim to post those thoughts in full another time relatively soon.

P.S. I hope those municipalities have great legal representation to pursue the eventual major compensation and punitive packages from MLB.

[snoogans8056]

All this offseason stuff makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

MLB should be forcing teams to be more like the Brewers, not taking away the things that make them different.

[Tedaldtada]

Greed is a helluva drug 

[CheezWizHed]

What is driving the MiLB contraction?  Just the player cost (i.e. the cost of signing that many players) or are the teams operating at a loss? 

If you eliminate the HS draft and A league ball, I'd assume that independent leagues would suddenly pop up in the places that were eliminated?  

[jay87shot]

It wouldn't make sense to make American players wait until 20 and foreign players who sign sign when they are 16 but really agree to contracts at like 14 some times.

I think if they dont allow HS players to sign they should make foreign players wait at less until 18 and ten do a foriegn draft. Don't make it so the worst team gets the 1st pick though, make it some form of a rotating schedule.  

How long would a US born HS player have to live abroad (say Japan or Australia) to be eligible as a international free agent? If I was the parent of a 15 year old who threw 90 I would consider moving for a year if it meant they got signed at 16 instead of waiting 5 years to get drafted.

[nate82]

MLB expansion also comes into play here I wouldn't be surprised if expansion in MLB comes with contraction in the minors with Nashville and whoever else gets a franchise losing a minor league team.  I don't believe MLB would want a new franchise to be competing with a minor league team for ticket sales.