MLB drags its feet on solving draft problems

Only now, five years after disbanding the separate National League and American League offices, is Major League Baseball even starting to make the slightest acknowledgement that it is one group.

The amateur draft, which takes place Tuesday, is the prime example.

It will be next year before the team that picks first in the draft will for sure be the team that had the worst record in the majors the previous season.

This year, the honor should go to Detroit, which lost an amazing 119 games last season. Instead, San Diego, which had the third-worst record in the majors, gets the first pick.

Why? Because under MLB’s format, the leagues have alternated first picks. San Diego had the worst record in the N.L. last year. It’s the N.L.’s year.

Other problems?

By leaving the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and all of Asia out of the draft, MLB does its have-nots a great disservice.

Street agents find the most talented players before they are of age to get into baseball academies. Then they auction the players to the highest bidders. The highest bidders remain teams with big budgets.

Though picks can’t be traded, teams can receive extra-compensation first-round picks for losing free agents. Minnesota, for example, gets two extras this year and the Rangers one. The Rangers have three of the first 50 picks.

Think they wouldn’t consider packaging one of them with a mid-level prospect for an established player on a team that is already out of the race? Sure they would.

Think a team out of the race wouldn’t enjoy getting a head start on rebuilding by getting an extra high draft pick?

Someday it might actually happen.