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In baseball, the team with the worst record gets the first pick. However, each year, the league that goes first rotates. So, this year, the Diamondbacks have the worst record. If the season ended today, they wouldn't get the first pick because the American League goes first. The team with the worst record in the AL goes first. D-backs would go second. Then the 2nd worst team in the AL. Then the second worst team in the NL. Etc.
Also, there is no trading of draft picks in baseball. However, at the end of the season, Free Agents are pooled into Type A, Type B, and Type C categories. If a team signs a type A Free Agent in the off season, they give up their first round draft pick to the team the Free Agent was previously on. That team also recieves a compensatory pick after all 30 teams get their first pick. If they sign a type B, they give up their second round pick to the previous team, and that team gets a compensatory pick after all 30 teams get their second round picks. And I'm pretty sure (don't quote me), that if a Type C FA is signed, then the previous team just gets a compensatory pick, and the team that signed the FA keeps their draft spot.
A GM like Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics has made a science out of signing FA in the offseason that don't give up any picks, meanwhile letting his FA's go in order to gain more picks. In 2002, I believe, the A's had 7 first round picks due to FA signings of other teams, as well as 2 compensatory first round picks.
Kind of confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it's fairly simple.
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*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*
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