Mets Still Pursuing Michael Bourn

[Giantmetfan07]

Mets Still Pursuing Bourne; Will Not Give Up 1st Round Pick
NY Daily News
The Mets are still very motivated to sign free-agent center fielder Michael Bourn, according to people familiar with the team’s thinking — but remain adamant about keeping their first-round draft choice.

So how could this actually happen?

It turns out that the decision about the draft pick would be in hands of an independent arbitrator, not the commissioner’s office. Here is how the process could work:

The players association could file a grievance on behalf of Bourn, a Type A free agent, at any time before or after he signs a contract.

The union could then argue that since the Mets were the 10th-worst team in baseball in 2012, they should have a protected pick, and be able to sign Bourn without losing it.

As it stands, the Mets have the unprotected 11th pick, because the Pittsburgh Pirates failed to sign their top draft choice last year, and received a top-10 pick this year as compensation. That pushed the Mets from 10th to 11th.

 

[A.E]

This latest CBA is killing guys like Bourn and Lohse. About half the league would be interested in signing either guy........but not if it means forfeiting a 1st round pick. I'm wagering both players remain unsigned through a good portion of Spring Training. It's going to take a key injury or perhaps something doesn't go as planned for some club to take the plunge. I'm really shocked the Phillies haven't made a bigger push to sign Bourn. I know money is tight in Philly but they're outfield is still pretty weak and they have to win now in order to make what they're paying their rotation and Papelbon worth while.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

If the arbitrator rules the Mets' pick is protected because they had a bottom 10 record, and not that they have an 11th pick because of the freakin pirates, then I suspect they will be the ones to sign him. Other than that I don't see many teams wanting to part with a 1st round pick like you said.

I really don't like that part of the CBA either. Haven't really looked in to what changed in the CBA but this is one thing that sticks out.

And I agree on Philly, it's not time to rebuild yet and if they get Bourn they can make a push one last time.