themissinglink said:
I hate that the union (run by more senior players) negotiates under FMV deals for new players so free agents (typically with 6+ years) can be grossly overpaid. I understand younger players are represented by the union, but potential draft picks are not and there is only 1 entity (MLB) competing for their services.
I'm also not sure how the minimum draft age of 20 is legal. My recollection is age restrictions are only legal if there are physical demands that prevent a young person from doing the job (like the NFL). We literally had a 19 year old make his debut this season, less than 2 years after graduating HS.
The current system isn't broken. Owners are just trying to cut costs and the easiest way to do it is to squeeze money out of future players that don't have a seat at the table and have no negotiating power. I realize MLB has an antitrust exemption, but they shouldn't and BS like this will make them lose it.
There is a decent argument that many 18 year old kids shouldn't be throwing fast breaking balls due to the stress on underdeveloped elbows.
That would most likely be enough to justify the physical demands stuff as far as the court is concerned. There is a good enough argument that it is a safety issue. Might be up to a jury to decide, but I think that it could pass muster.
It takes a special kind of brainwashed useful idiot to politically defend government fraud, waste, and abuse.
