Colorado Rockies: What relegation could look like in MLB

MLB Contracts and the Draft

Despite the changes that we have already made, we have a few more that we need to implement for MLB.

First, contracts would look very different in the relegation system. Something major that would be considered is the idea of “leasing” players instead of fully trading them, taken directly from European Futbol leagues. You could see lease/release demands added into certain players’ contracts for relegation to stay in the top level.

Because of that, promising late-season leases for players in the lower levels could be the difference in getting a big name onto your Class C team. Control after the draft will become critical for the teams at the lower levels, along with a robust development system that helps players improve their skillset for The Show.

That’s right, MiLB isn’t dead, but first, let’s focus on the draft.

Because relegation discourages tanking, the teams at the bottom should, in fact, be the teams that need the best draft talent to help them succeed.

What I am proposing is a nine-round pseudo-snake draft with the worst team in class C as Pick #1 and the World Series Champion as Pick #66. The second round starts with the best team in Class C at Pick #67 and ends with the worst team in Class A at Pick #132. The third round works the same as the first and the fourth works the same as the second.

The draft will have nine rounds with 396 total picks each year. So that’s how you get the players, but with nine new players each year, you can’t just put them on the roster and call it good. They need time to develop. They need the Minor Leagues.