With all the news surrounding Yoenis Cespedes and the impending spending cap, there is talk of the MLB trying to find a universal solution for teams acquiring international players.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement limits the amount of money teams can spend on international players as well as those chosen in the amateur draft. Which is a big reason why the market on guys like Cespedes, Gerardo Concepcion and Jorge Soler is larger than normal. The Yu Darvish post was also a bit on the crazy side.
Currently, there is an amateur draft in place for those players from the U.S. who are either coming out of college or high school. For international players, it's almost first-come, first-serve. Whoever wins the posting bid for Japanese players wins the right to negotiate exclusively. With Cuban and Dominican players, whichever team provides the best contract, they essentially win the player.
That may change, according to Bud Selig.
The MLB commissioner told BaseballAmerica recently the league may be headed for an international draft.
"It is inevitable," Selig said. "I would like to see it. We have made some significant progress to that end. When we went to the draft in 1965, it was to create a more level playing field. We've done that, and the same thing will have to happen internationally."
While it may be inevitable, Selig admitted there is no timetable yet on an international draft.
MLB
"We'll watch the situation carefully and make the right decision," he said. "I can't say when a draft would be put in place. We want to see how the process works out."
For more, check out the article at BaseballAmerica.