GMs Support Change In International Market

SEE ALSO: International Draft Archives

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—General managers across baseball largely declined comment on the proposed international draft at the annual GM Meetings on Tuesday afternoon.

For those willing to expand on their thoughts, there was a common theme that something needed to change in the way international talent is acquired, whether the solution is an international draft or not.

“We’ve been very supportive of some of the reform in the international market,” Indians president Chris Antonetti said. “Primarily just because of some of the behaviors outside of the system that may not be conducive to what we want to represent in Major League Baseball. The way the current system is set up there is potential for teams or individuals to behave in a way that is not consistent with how we want to operate.”

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported last month a proposed international draft is on the table for discussion in Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations taking place right now. The news has been met with rebukes on the international market, from players as well as many international scouts. Trainers and players planned to protest an international draft by not showing up to the MLB Dominican national showcase, which MLB eventually cancelled. MLB last week also cancelled its Venezuelan national showcase scheduled for Nov. 16-17 in Panama, and international MLB stars who came up through the current system are voicing opposition on social media.

Newly hired Twins GM Thad Levine, who was involved internationally as a front office executive with the Rangers, said he supports reform but only with the concerns of international trainers taken into account.

“My concern is just simply about the development of players there,” Levine said. “I think sometimes we demonize the trainers down there. In practice they play a vital role in the development of the players. They’re investing a lot of time and money and coaching and making sure these players become the players who we ultimately sign. Whether it’s in Mexico where the professional teams are more invested in the development of players or other places in Latin America where it’s actually the trainers or buscones who are doing it. I would hope that we’re taking as much care of this process to make sure that we don’t lose the opportunity to develop these players by coming up with a draft.

“Fundamentally I think the draft in and of itself may be a good idea to level the playing field and really eliminate maybe one of the last bastions where we can play on the margins of the rules in Major League Baseball. I think that’s predicated on us making sure we have the structure in place to develop the players.”

Padres GM A.J. Preller, who made his name spearheading the Rangers’ haul of international talent over the last decade, took a different approach, laying the responsibility for effective international talent acquisition on the quality of a team’s evaluators, no matter what system is in place.

“I don’t think necessarily (it will even the playing field).” Preller said. “I think again it really goes down to how well you do your job. If you have good scouts, good people on the ground who can identify talent, whether it’s in a draft setting or in the current setting, I think you can be impactful. I think we’ve seen that. If you study the last 10 years it’s not necessarily the big market teams that dominate the international market. I think it definitely would give it more structure in terms of a draft setting, but in terms of competition and advantages, I think the teams that put a lot of attention in that area, the teams that have good personnel, the teams that have good development systems to develop international players, those are the ones that are going to reap the benefits no matter what the system.”

The discussion of international reform was not limited to small-market clubs like the Indians, Twins and Padres.

Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi addressed his thoughts on the current system and possible changes from a large-market club perspective.

“I can see sort of from MLB’s standpoint, one of the most important goals is creating transparency and I think that’s something as an industry we all want, transparency and access to talent,” Zaidi said. “From a club standpoint we just want to have the ability to evaluate players and make sure everyone is getting the same access. I think for the most part that exists now. There aren’t like a decade ago players who are hiding out and suddenly someone gets a seven-figure signing bonus you hadn’t really heard of, so I think that has actually come a long way in my time in baseball. I don’t view that as an issue. Sort of the broader financial implications of having a cap and penalties, that’s a collective bargaining issue, not really something for us to opine on.”

Orioles GM Dan Duquette, one of the longest-tenured GMs in baseball who has worked throughout multiple different sets of rules for international signings, said he just thinks it’s important international talent makes its way to Major League Baseball, irrespective of the system through which it flows.

“There may be some efficiencies of the draft for clubs, but in terms of growing the interest of the game worldwide, it’s really about getting the talent in to Major League Baseball,” Duquette said. “Whether it comes through the draft or free agent market, it doesn’t really matter because you’re bringing the talent in and providing an opportunity for those players to go back to their country or for people from the country to follow them.”

Here are the complete quotes from GM surveyed Tuesday on their thoughts about the proposed international changes:

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “Those are Major League Baseball issues. We don’t even know what those are at this point. Those are their negotiating issues. They have to comment on those.”

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo. “We’ve been discussing the best way to implement the signing of international players for years. I think we’re going to continue to vet the process and we just want the most fair, balanced landscape that you can have throughout the industry. We’re getting better at it. I think we’re seeing it progress to a point where everyone is on the same footing and it’s fair an equitable for everyone.”

Angels GM Billy Eppler. “We are just waiting to absorb whatever systems are put in place by MLB. It’s not my area to opine on those things. That’s what we have a commissioners office for and that’s what the players union is for, to vet those possibilities and do what is the ultimate resolution, and we act accordingly. So I just kind of take it as it comes. Whatever that outcome is we will prepare for it.”

Yankees GM Brian Cashman. “I’m not going to comment. They’re in those sensitive negotiating processes now. Myself and the Yankees have conveyed our strong belief in what should be done, our opinion on what should be done, but Major League Baseball is on the negotiating side so I’m not going to say anything publicly about. Hopefully all sides get a great deal we all can be proud of. I’m not going to say what it is we’ve conveyed.”

Rockies GM Jeff Bridich. “Just like any kind of big change or potential for big change, there are pros and cons. It kind of depends on where you are, what your job is in the industry, will color your thoughts on it. I think that the reasons for it are well meaning. In terms of how the industry does it’s business, or really the future looking five, 10, 15, 20 years from where we’re at right now, are there some hiccups? Yeah. Adding Cuba to this whole process has added a huge number of players to this process. I think a draft like that would be a lot to manage, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It would take a lot of people to manage and actually pull it off and do it well and do it right.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if (leveling the playing field) would be a part of it. That’s not really a new concept, whether it’s in this industry or another sports industry, that concept of parity in how acquired players or talent is available to you. That concept that all 30 team have access to the same talent, it’s pretty well established, and I think it makes sense to most people in most sports industries. To have that be part of the process is not surprising.”

White Sox GM Rick Hahn. “While the CBA stuff is going on we’re just going to let MLB and their officials talk about the negotiations and proposals and all that. Once it’s in place, no problem telling you how we’re going to approach it, what we’re looking to do in a new system, but right now it’s speculation. I’m not in the room, so it would be foolhardy for me to speculate on what’s going to happen.”

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak. “I think I’m open to how we do business down there, in terms of what’s the right strategy and also more trying to help find a way to clean it up. There’s a lot of things going on down there that I think are head-scratchers. My take on it is, from an industry standpoint, I hope we’re willing to at least look at ways improve upon that. But overall I also hope that we can keep a fundamental game of baseball being played down there. It’s a great place to grow the business in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and beyond. I’ve always been an advocate for the draft, but I don’t know if the industry as a whole is ready for that, so that’s something that will just have to take time.”

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto. “I’m not to go through the proposed changes. I’ll leave that to MLB. For me the proposals are rumor, more than anything else. I’ll let them address that.”

Mets GM Sandy Alderson. “I think the current system has some flaws. I don’t think the system was ever designed for a club to spend $25 million one year and then no money the next two. I think that’s something Major League Baseball is looking in and I’m sure there are discussions going on regarding those kind of issues. I don’t want to get in the middle of somebody’s labor negotiations.”

Phillies GM Matt Klentak. “They just advised us not to talk about CBA stuff, so no comment. Not that specifically, just generally bargaining topics.”

Giants GM Bobby Evans. “I feel like we’re in very, very good hands in terms of the two sides trying to work through the deal. It’s not the ideal time for me to comment on the strategy around it. All GMs, we have opinions about what’s best for the industry, but there’s two sides to every opinion and I understand that. Ultimately we have to think long-term about what’s in the best interest of the game and our players. There’s a lot of great minds putting their time behind it right now. It would just be hard for me to lead you on a thought that might be counterproductive to their negotiations.

“I think we’ve talked about it in past negotiations and I think clearly there is some intent behind it now that may result in more significant change, so we’ll see. It’s always best when the industry addresses it problems head on.”

Marlins GM Michael Hill. “I know it’s tied into collective bargaining so I’d let them lead the way with that one and stay away from those comments until we get the direction of where things are going. For us we just wait to get the playing rules. We don’t jump to any conclusions. Obviously we have our scouts throughout the world, throughout Latin America, and will continue to evaluate and go whatever direction it goes.”

Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi. “I can see sort from sort of MLB’s standpoint, one of the most important goals is creating transparency and I think that’s something as an industry we all want, transparency and access to talent. How the dynamic works beyond that, I think the teams all want a situation where you get access to the talent, you can evaluate the talent.

“Whatever it is, if it’s in the version of the signing bonus, in the version of the draft or whatnot, you basically get an ability to execute on your evaluations Beyond that it’s obviously a collective bargaining issue and Major League Baseball is dealing with that and a multitude of other issues.

“From a club standpoint we just want to have the ability to evaluate players and make sure everyone is getting the same access. I think for the most part it exists now, there aren’t like a decade ago players who are hiding out and suddenly someone gets a seven-figure signing bonus you hadn’t really heard of, so I think that has actually come a long way in my time in baseball. I don’t view that as an issue. Sort of the broader financial implications of having a cap and penalties, that’s a collective bargaining issue, not really something for us to opine on.”

Orioles GM Dan Duquette.  “I’m not so sure the system is going to change right now. But you see the growth of baseball in the international market and it just keeps creating opportunity after opportunity for more and more players to come and play baseball, and talented players to come into the big leagues from all over the world. That’s a good way to continue to grow the game, irrespective of whether it’s a draft or an open market. There may be some efficiencies of the draft for clubs, but in terms of growing the interest of the game worldwide, it’s really about getting the talent in to Major League Baseball, whether it comes through the draft or free agent market, it doesn’t really matter, because your bringing the talent in and providing an opportunity for those players to go back to their country or for people from the country to follow them.”

Indians president Chris Antonetti. “We’ve been very supportive of some of the reform in the international market. Primarily, just because of some of the behaviors outside of the system that may not be conducive to what we want to represent in Major League Baseball. The way the current system is set up there is potential for teams or individuals to behave in a way that is not consistent with how we want to operate.”

Padres GM A.J. Preller. “I think it’s always challenging because there is always lots of different points of view if they end up changing the system, going to more of a draft setting. I think from our standpoint we’re going to operate in any system. Of course being involved the last 10, 12 years in international baseball it’s been different variations and forms of the systems. I think ultimately it’s still always about identifying good players, recruiting them, really being able to win them over and show them your vision as an organization and what we can do for them as a player to develop them. We’ll see. We’ll see what comes up here in the next month or two.

“I don’t think necessarily (it will even the playing field). I think again it really goes down to how well you do your job. If you have good scouts, good people on the ground who can identify talent, whether it’s in a draft setting or in the current setting, I think you can be impactful. We’ve seen it. If you study the last 10 years it’s not necessarily the big market teams that dominate the international market. I think it definitely would give it more structure in terms of a draft setting, but in terms of competition and advantages, I think the teams that put a lot of attention in that area, the teams that have good personnel, the teams that have good development systems to develop international players, those are the ones that are going to reap the benefits no matter what the system.”

Twins GM Thad Levine. “My concern is just simply about the development of players there. I think sometimes we demonize the trainers down there. In practice they play a vital role in the development of the players. They’re investing a lot of time and money and coaching and making sure these players become the players who we ultimately sign. Whether it’s in Mexico where the professional teams are more invested in the development of players or other places in Latin America where it’s actually the trainers or buscones who are doing it. I would hope that we’re taking as much care of this process to make sure that we don’t lose the opportunity to develop these players by coming up with a draft. Fundamentally I think the draft in and of itself may be a good idea to level the playing field and really eliminate maybe one of the last bastions where we can play on the margins of the rules in Major League Baseball. I think that’s predicated on us making sure we have the structure in place to develop the players.

“I think a lot is made throughout our industry in ‘what is the next competitive advantage?’ I think the one competitive advantage that has prevailed over the lifetime of baseball is talent evaluators. The team with the best talent evaluators typically acquire the best talent, and the teams with the best talent typically wins. Now we can try and apply a formula to that as well to assist the talent evaluator, but it still does come down to who has the best guys on the ground in scouting. In Latin America that is accentuated because you really can pound the pavement and find guys who are the proverbial diamond in the rough. In the amateur context it’s much more difficult to do that domestically.

“Once again, I think comes back to the development of the players. Is the trainer now going to be less motivated to take the kid when he’s 8-12 and invest time? Is it later at which point maybe he hasn’t developed enough skill set in baseball to really become somebody we’d want to pursue? Inherently I think it’s a great idea to move (the signing age) up to 18 because because kids are a little bit more mature, it’s a little bit more consistent with the amateur draft so there’s more overlap in the scouting process. Once again, we’d just need to have that mechanism in place to make sure they’re going to develop them to that age and not discard them too early because they don’t view them as assets they can truly make money off of.”