Unlike the other major sports in the US, for a long time there was no trading of draft picks in MLB. That changed slightly a couple years back with the amendment that you could trade competitive balance picks. 

 

Given their long history of being traded, the other sports have a fairly well established value of draft picks. Not MLB.

 

Given the Twins' relatively large draft pool, because of our 2nd round competitive balance pick and our compensatory pick for not signing Kyle Cody, I think it would be a smart idea to try to get their hands on a 1st round competitive balance pick, then go over-slot on someone. But what the heck is the value of that pick?

 

Would a team like the Padres or Rockies think Oswaldo Arcia is enough value for their pick? I have no idea if that is laughable, and if it is laughable, who's laughing.

Edited January 15, 201610 yr by amjgt

 

Given the Twins' relatively large draft pool, because of our 2nd round competitive balance pick and our compensatory pick for not signing Kyle Cody, I think it would be a smart idea to try to get their hands on a 1st round competitive balance pick, then go over-slot on someone. But what the heck is the value of that pick?

 

Agreed. Good idea. We could take one or two college players at the 72 and 74 picks underslot and then go big overslot on the first competitive balance. Alternatively, even without a trade for the first round competitive balance we could try to get a potential 8-14 overall HS player at 16 who has signability issues (if there is such a player this year - hard to say this early) and use the money saved later on, effectively moving up a couple picks.

I don't think Arcia is going to get a pick at this point but it's a good idea.

 

I'd guess, from a prospect perspective, that a late first round supp pick would usually settle in for his team in the 10-15 best prospect range (just looking at where mlb.com placed Nevin and Woodford last year).  But they'd be a prospect with (usually) nice ceilings so a team probably values the pick more than where those placements would suggest.  I think the best way to get a pick would be to make it part of a larger deal or package.  

 

Of the teams that have those tradeable picks, only Arizona is in a "win-now" mode while the other five are clearly rebuilding so unlikely to trade.  But I don't know what Arizona wants.  

I would rather have Arcia than a draft pick in that range. At least I have a good idea of what he is capable of. Draft picks work out less than AAA monsters (who has also had success in MLB, mind you).

 

The last thing I want to see is the Twins trading off players for more potential #5 starters with a low ceiling.

But I don't know what Arizona wants.

 

A quote also heard often in the AZ front office, I would suspect.

 

I like Arcia to come through this year if given a fair chance, however I also see a great possibility that a fair chance isn't in the cards due to the current roster.

 

Aside from Berrios, who has yet to debut, the Twins haven't hit on a comp pick since 2004. This hasn't been a strong area of the draft for the Twins lately. Through I love the draft and would be thrilled to get more high picks.