A couple of interesting pieces of which you could possibly, if you want to, give a read...
*Rob Neyer:
It’s the Players Association that has always acquiesced in, and even
encouraged, a system that seriously underpays young players and
seriously overpays old players. What’s more, while a different system
might be more “fair” to the younger players, it’s the current system
that allows teams like the Rays to remain competitive. Without an
economic structure that doesn’t pay young players what their performance
would seem to merit -- and team-friendly deals like Longoria’s and
Perez’s -- franchises with low revenues simply wouldn’t be able to
compete for more than a few years.
*Grant Brisbee:
Teams that succeed with drafting and development win. Teams that rely
solely on free-agent signings don't. You might take exception to the
last one, citing the Yankees as a team that used free agents. Except if they don't lose enough to get Derek Jeter, or if they don't draft Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada
in back-to-back rounds in the bowels of the same draft, that strategy
doesn't work. Spending helps a lot, but it doesn't help without drafting
and development first...The reason drafting and development are key isn't because young players
are always better than veteran players; it's because young players are
cheaper. Cheaper players allow teams to spend more or stay within a
finite budget. It's the only thing that gives small-market or
small-checkbook teams a chance. Keeping young players around for six
years at below-market costs ... that's the real advantage. And every
team has the chance to do it.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
