Double Play: How Major League Baseball Can Fix the Amateur Draft and International Player Acquisition with One Swing

Abstract

(8 Willamette Sports L.J., no. 1, 2010, at 13). This article addresses inequities in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft system, based on disparate treatment of amateur and international (foreign) players in the MLB player acquisition systems. While some critics have suggested an international draft to solve this problem, the author sees legal roadblocks. He advocates the abolition of the amateur draft, making every amateur player a free agent. This would also remove caps on rookie salaries and would make acquisition of foreign players easier.