One of the many changes that the MLB collective bargaining agreement of 2022-26 brought with it was the draft lottery.
Before last year, the final regular-season standings dictated the draft order: all you needed to do was reverse the standings and you got the blueprint for a draft.
Now, however, to try and discourage blatant tanking, MLB has a draft lottery for the first six picks.
The non-playoff teams will enter the lottery this year, with the exception of the Washington Nationals due to their financial standing.
Here are the odds for the first pick:
May the odds be ever in your favor. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/EFdX5HDA0Y
— MLB (@MLB) December 4, 2023
The Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Colorado Rockies were arguably the worst teams in baseball this past season, so they will have better odds of landing a pick in the lottery.
Their odds are exactly 18.3 percent.
The three franchises will be favored to land a potential franchise-changing talent, once again.
Then, we have the Chicago White Sox and their abysmal current state.
Owners of one of the worst farm systems in the game, the pale hose will be hoping to get in a position in which they can draft someone with legit talent and add them to their farm.
The St. Louis Cardinals, highly disappointing in 2023, are next.
It’s a rather unfamiliar position for the usually solid club, but they will try to make the most of it.
The lottery will take place during the Winter Meetings on Tuesday, December 5.
That way, MLB trades and potential free-agent signings won’t be the only items on the agenda to discuss and watch for.
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