The Boston’s 2011 MLB Draft Order
June 7, 2011 | Sport | 0 CommentThe Red Sox have four of the top 40 selections in the 2011 MLB draft, allowing them to replenish the farm with high-quality prospects early and often, despite its recent success in the field. Although the project is designed to reward teams with poor academic performance, to enable the first crack at the best baseball players potential high school and college has to offer, the compensation system in the Free agency allows teams like the Red Sox stock picks when players leave.
Because of this, the Red Sox, despite not having a unique selection of their own – lost their first SUV for the Rays for Carl Crawford to sign a seven year contract for 142 million U.S. dollars this winter – yet get four points in the top 40. Lost Victor Martinez, first rounder giving Detroit at # 19 and also lost Adrian Beltre to the Texas Rangers, giving the # 26 selection in the project.
For Type-A free agents – Martinez, and Beltre’s fit this category – the teams that lost the player also earns additional compensation choice, at no cost to the team signed free agent. So, Boston also receives a bonus, or round sandwich pick for Martinez and Beltran. These come in at # 36 and # 40 respectively.
Some legitimately great prospects can be found in the sandwich round. Last year, the Red Sox selected Ranaudo Bryce Brentz and Antonio with their two sandwich picks, at # 36 and # 39 respectively. Sometimes players who fell in the first round due to a bad spring or collect bonus is significant demand in the sandwich round, due to the portfolio of Boston (and a group of explorers who have done an excellent job of Theo Epstein and Co.) are often collected by a team like the Red Sox.
Sandwich making does not always work, of course. The last time Boston had a couple of compensatory picks in the sandwich round before 2010 was in 2007 when elected Nick Hagadone and Ryan Dent. Hagadone was packaged in trade Victor Martinez – one could argue its good enough to be moved to that agreement was a victory – but Dent is 22 and has affected everyone in his five years .225/.306/.346 professional baseball.
The project is essentially a lottery. More entries to the Red Sox have to play, the better the chances are that he hit one of them. Which has four selections in the first round of this year given four chances to succeed when there are many teams that only have a chance, or perhaps even no chance. Since today is a day for optimism, let’s leave it.
