Pretty cool mock draft going on at ESPN. Jayson Stark, Steve Phillips, Rob Neyer, and Buster Olney are drafting a team that has to be under a budget of $40m, with player salaries coming only from 2009. Its neat to see where each player goes and the comments during the rounds. Neyer snagged Pedroia first overall. It's a battle of trying to find the balance between the absolute bargains and the amazing players that still cost a few million. There is no doubt that Hanley Ramirez is one of baseball's best and with a contract at only $5.5 for 2009 he's an absolute steal, but when Josh Hamilton makes less than half a million, guys like Hanley slip a few rounds. That gives you the idea of the draft. You want to pile up the really big bargains early at weak positions, but you also don't want to start off with less talent than the other teams.
This is a 5 part series, and I'm definitely looking forward to following this. My favorite part so far has to be Steve Phillips comments in the 4th round:
Buster Olney: I picked the Indians to win the World Series last year. I have no advice worthy of offering.
Jayson Stark: Wasn't one of us an actual GM? That's your guy. I can't even balance my checkbook.
Steve Phillips: I would just recommend avoiding Mo Vaughn, Roger Cedeno and Kevin Appier.
The real problem may be that only one of those guys was Latin.
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