With the 2015 regular season in the books, the 2016 first round draft order is set, pending the qualifying offers and free agent signings that will follow in the offseason:
1. Phillies (63-99)
2. Reds (64-98)
3. Braves (67-95)
4. Rockies (68-94)
5. Brewers (68-94)
6. Athletics (68-94)
7. Marlins (71-91)
8. Padres (74-88)
9. Tigers (74-87)
10. White Sox (76-86)
11. Mariners (76-86)
12. Red Sox (78-84)
13. Diamondbacks (79-83)
14. Rays (80-82)
15. Orioles (81-81)
16. Indians (81-80)
17. Twins (83-79)
18. Nationals (83-79)
19. Giants (84-78)
20. Angels (85-77)
21. Astros (86-76)
22. Yankees (87-75)
23. Rangers (88-74)
24. Mets (90-72)
25. Dodgers (92-70)
26. Blue Jays (93-69)
27. Royals (95-67)
28. Cubs (97-65)
29. Pirates (98-64)
30. Cardinals (100-62)
The Reds and Brewers will see their rebuilding programs assisted with top five picks. The rest of the NL Central brings up the rear, which really stinks for the Pirates and Cubs, in particular. Sure, they had two of the top three records in baseball, but it’s tough to swallow that they’ll play each other in a one-game playoff, while the Mets and Dodgers will pick several spots higher and go straight to the NLDS.
At least the pick the Cubs would lose for signing a qualified free agent is low, nearing a second rounder. Further, if they make a qualifying offer to Dexter Fowler and he subsequently signs elsewhere, the Cubs would pick up another pick soon after that first round.
In any case, however this plays out, it’s going to be a bit of a shock to our collective system (no pun intended) following the draft in 2016, because there’s a world of difference between getting ready for your team to pick in the top 10 and getting ready for them to pick in the final few picks in the first round.
But we’ll get there when we get there.