Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman did not hold back when he first heard about a proposal from the league.
As part of the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, MLB issued its ideas to change the amateur draft process, which has generated a polarizing reception.
In the proposal, no more high school players are allowed to enter the draft, the rounds are reduced from 20 to 12, and the signing bonus pool is cut in half.
Players would need to enter the draft after their sophomore season of college baseball. For international players, there would also be a 12-round international draft.
A reporter asked Freeman about the idea of totally overhauling the draft system, and he could not hide his displeasure.
He said it was “ridiculous” and highlighted that the league is only focusing on lowering costs for owners rather than on any improvements to the competition.
“That’s crazy to me,” Freeman said. “That’s all just a money issue,” Freeman said.
“I think maybe now the fans will start seeing that it’s just money. Because that’s just cutting. It’s all about money.”
Freeman came out of Orange El Modena High School in Orange, California, and was taken in the second round by the Atlanta Braves, where he played the first act of his storied career.
What impact did coming out of high school have on Freeman?
“I loved coming out of high school,” he said. “It got me into the professional ranks. It got me into being able to develop into that organization and how they expect you to play. They believed in you at such a young age.”
MLB’s proposal is only the league’s opening stance, and the MLBPA has already come out strong against the proposal.
“Today, MLB made another set of proposals that are flat out bad for baseball, ones that would cripple the next generation of players and damage the future of our game,” the MLBPA wrote in a statement.
“Players remain committed to bargaining in good faith and leaving baseball better than they found it – the league’s proposals fall woefully short.”
The player’s association will fight against anything that delays the ability for players to enter the league and develop at a faster rater, though this adds another point of contention for these negotiations.
