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Some of MLB’s worst teams had something to play for Sunday

Jake Elmore, Jimmy Paredes

Houston Astros shortstop Jake Elmore, left, and right fielder Jimmy Paredes collide and the ball gets loose as they try to catch a pop fly by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Russell Martin with the bases loaded for the last out in the bottom of the ninth inning of the baseball game on Friday, May 17, 2013, in Pittsburgh. The error drove in the winning run as the Pirates won 5-4. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AP

With the new collective bargaining agreement came a new incentive for teams to play poorly: locking up a protected first round draft pick. In the old CBA, the first 15 first-round picks were protected. In the new one, only ten are protected. If a team with a protected pick signs a free agent who received a qualifying offer, that team does not have to surrender its first round draft pick as compensation.

Teams with the ten worst records secured themselves a protected pick. Entering today’s action, the Astros, Marlins, White Sox, Twins, Cubs, Mariners, and Phillies had already locked one up. The Rockies, Mets, Blue Jays, and Brewers entered Sunday’s contests playing for the remaining three spots. In the event of a tie, the team with the worse 2012 record gets preference.

With all of Sunday’s action finalized, here are your protected pick standings:

TeamWLWin%
1Houston Astros51111.315
2Miami Marlins62100.383
3Chicago White Sox6399.389
4Minnesota Twins6696.407
5Chicago Cubs6696.407
6Seattle Mariners7191.438
7Philadelphia Phillies7389.451
8Colorado Rockies7488.457
9Toronto Blue Jays7488.457
10New York Mets7488.457
11Milwaukee Brewers7488.457

Last year, the Rockies had a .395 winning percentage, the Jays .451, the Mets .457, and the Brewers .512. Unfortunately for the Brewers, they finish on the outside looking in.

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