MLB Morphed into the NCAA So Quickly I Hardly Noticed

No matter which team signs Shohei Ohtani, there will be investigations and scrutiny!

MLB, after finalizing its agreement with the Nippon Baseball League on Dec. 1 that allowed bidding to begin, issued a memo to all teams and baseball executives that contained paragraphs again warning against any form of cheating.

Teams were told, again, that they could attempt to convince Ohtani to join based on the merits of their respective organizations and their cities, but were warned against discussing future contracts and business relationships, and against third-party machinations — paying off someone who might have influence with Ohtani, for example, or making quid-pro-quo promises outside of the rules.

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Said another club official to ESPN: “I think the perspective of the Commissioner’s Office has been, ‘Hey, we set up this system to limit your [financial] exposure, so you need to play by the rules.'”

A year ago Dave Cameron and I warned about this type of cheating.

What is likely to happen is that teams will find a way around the cap. In my youth, college football booster would buy a recruited player a new car, or maybe even a new house for his mother. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a major league team make a charitable donation to a prospect’s town, with the money magically benefiting the player’s family.

I grew up thinking that college boosters were some sort of evil people, corrupting the college sports system. They would buy recruits cars, or a house for a mother, or in general do good deeds for people who could use a hand up. But this was UNFAIR TO COMPETITION! and SHOULD BE AGAINST THE RULES! The NCAA put in new and better rules. Teams were disciplined for breaking the rules. The NCAA put in more rules. Suddenly, it was difficult for alumni to talk to potential athletes. Coaches needed to be recruiters, rather than concentrating on developing athletes. Teams still cheated. The NCAA put in more rules, and the process continues. Lots of money that could go to help athletes get through college is going to enforcement and compliance. Is this really where MLB and teams want to spend their money?

I don’t have a lot of sympathy for front offices, since this is what they wanted. As Dave Cameron wrote:

But here’s the rub; price controls generally don’t work. And this is nothing more than a price control, while doing nothing to change the value teams place on international free agents.

That’s why there is cheating. The rules are bad. The rules are stupid. Both the NCAA and MLB should step back, and let athletes freely find their own value to teams. The rules are outdated and it’s time to do away with them. It’s the right thing to do, otherwise more good people are facing punishment for doing good things.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2B2OYVm