MLB Proposes International Draft While Overhauling Domestic Amateur-Entry System

A lockout could be brewing in the near future but in the meantime proposals are being put forward by both sides. For instance, the players would like to see minimum pay rise to $1.5M. Now the league has a suggestion of its very own to mix into the pot. MLB has proposed an international draft while overhauling a domestic amateur-entry system.

This isn’t the first time that the powers that be wanted to institute a draft featuring international talents. MLB has once again proposed an international draft, just like it did during the last round of talks. This one is for roughly the same money but significantly fewer slots. Another big change: The minimum age would be 18.

Additionally, MLB states that it has no intention of cutting the number of MiLB affiliates. It says it will not be seeking any reductions from the 120 current MiLB affiliates in its PDL negotiations with MiLB owners in 2030.

Nonetheless, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, this particular development the league is,

“Painting it as a push to provide structure for an increasingly unruly and corrupt system.

MLB’s international draft would be restricted to players who are at least 18 years old, as opposed to 16 under the current system. It would consist of 12 hard-slot rounds, with an initial signing bonus pool totaling $200 million for 360 amateur players residing outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, according to sources.”

What about the domestic amateurs matter? What is going on with that system? Thursday afternoon Jeff Passan reported,

“MLB today proposed an overhauled domestic amateur-entry system that removes high school players from the draft, makes college players eligible after sophomore year, shortens the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and cuts bonus pool from current $358.7M to $200M, sources tell ESPN.

The league’s proposal on domestic amateurs, first reported by JJ Cooper, reflects a changing landscape in college sports with players receiving high-six-figure NIL sums.”

MLB Proposes International Draft While Overhauling Domestic Amateur-Entry System

As one can see, Major League Baseball presented a proposal to the MLBPA that would, if adopted, result in a sweeping change to all aspects of amateur talent acquisition. The aspect that sticks out most to us: high school players would no longer be draft eligible. There are generational players that came straight from high school and performed just fine, if not exceptionally in the majors. From a fan standpoint, removing this opportunity would take some of the magic and fun out of baseball.

Furthermore, the MLBPA are already not in favor of these proposed changes. The MLBPA says these changes are bad since they,

“Eliminate over a billion dollars in player compensation from the international and domestic system over the next five years, with a $400 million reduction from 2026 to 2027 alone. Destroy fundamental player rights and remove talent from our sport by barring high school and junior college players (anyone under age 20) from the domestic draft. Abolish an entire year of international signings by delaying the first draft until at least September of 2027 (and as late as March of 2028). [While] denying young international players the ability to start their professional careers.”

Very interesting ideas are now steadily coming to the table. However, both sides are clearly not in agreement at this point in time.

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