NEWSLETTER
Baseball!
No International Draft Coming
After exchanging four proposals this month to no avail, MLB and the MLBPA could not come to terms on a new international draft format, meaning the current qualifying offer system and international signing period will remain unchanged (they had tied the fate of those two issues together at the end of the last round of CBA negotiations).
Here’s what the MLBPA had to say about the failure to come to terms:
“At their core, each of our proposals was focused on protecting against the scenario that all Players fear the most — the erosion of our game on the world stage, with international players becoming the latest victim in baseball’s prioritization of efficiency over fundamental fairness. The League’s response fell well short of anything Players could consider a fair deal.”
MLB released a statement as well:
“MLB worked to reach an agreement with the MLBPA to reform the international amateur system in ways that would address longstanding challenges and benefit future players,” a league spokesperson wrote in a statement. “We are disappointed the MLBPA chose the status quo over transitioning to an international draft that would have guaranteed future international players larger signing bonuses and better educational opportunities, while enhancing transparency to best address the root causes of corruption in the current system.”
You’ll remember that the international draft was a central sticking point in the CBA negotiations that delayed the start of the 2022 MLB season. Despite the two sides not agreeing by the deadline set in March, this won’t be the end of the conversation about how baseball will address the current international signing structure, which is plagued by corruption.
Alden González has more insight on what lies ahead:
Notable 2023 Hall of Fame Candidates
With the 2022 Hall of Fame inductions behind us, we have an early look at some notable names that will join the ballot this winter.
Francisco Rodriguez jumps out as an immediately strong candidate. Rodriguez pitched 15 seasons, with seven coming in Anaheim/Los Angeles and stops in New York (NL), Milwaukee, and Detroit. Rodriguez saved 437 games, logged 62 saves in 2008, and seven seasons with 30-plus saves. Rodriguez racked up 1,142 strikeouts and posted a 10.53 K/9.
Carlos Beltrán hit 435 home runs and amassed 67.7 fWAR in 20 seasons, spending time with the Royals, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees, and Astros. If you can get past Beltrán’s involvement in the Astros sign stealing scandal, maybe his .837 career OPS and nearly 500 home runs, and 312 stolen bases are enough to get him into Cooperstown eventually.
The rest of the names on the list are pretty blah. However, I’m sure Michael will start the campaign for Cubs’ first base coach and career 21.0 fWAR player Mike Napoli as soon as the ballot is released this winter (maybe sooner).
Dallas, Texas Ranger
Dallas Keuchel is the gift that keeps on giving this season. For opposing teams, that is. After posting a 2-5 record with a 5.63 ERA in 32 innings with the White Sox, he was reunited with his old pitching coach from Houston, Brent Strom, in Arizona. After a series of tune-ups, he made his Diamondbacks debut on June 26 and allowed four runs in four innings for the Diamondbacks against the Tigers.
Keuchel’s time in Arizona was short-lived after going 0-2 with an 8.68 ERA (20 ER, 18.2 IP), and he was DFA’d for the second time this season. If you thought that was it for the former Cy Young Award winner, you were wrong. Keuchel is heading to Texas on a minor league deal.
American League West offenses rejoice! If Keuchel’s stint in Triple-A shows any signs of life, he’ll be serving up 88 mph fastballs to you sometime next month. The 34-year-old southpaw owns an 8.53 ERA in 50.2 innings of work this season and if he gets promoted by the Rangers, he’ll bring those numbers to his third MLB team this year.
If I’m Julio Rodríguez, I’m dreaming of facing Keuchel between now and the end of the season.
