Race To The Bottom

The bright light in the fog of losing comes from the arcane transaction rules. And it's something to keep in mind as you watch the final games play out.

When a team signs a Type-A free agent (The good players like Burnett), they forfeit their first-round pick in the following summer's draft provided the player's original team hasn't declined to offer arbitration. (But that's another topic.)

So, Free Agents aren't free. A few years ago, Chuck Finley was forced to retire, in part, because no one would sign him for fear of losing a draft pick.

The team that loses the player gains the draft pick AND an extra pick sandwiched between the first and second rounds -- a pick popping out of the air.

The exception is with teams that finish in the bottom half of the league. All 15 of 'em.

Right now, Milwaukee and San Diego are tied for that 'honor' at 77-78, just a half game ahead of our faire team.

12  Toronto     76-79  --
13  Texas       77-79  --
14  Chicago     77-79  --
15  Milwaukee   77-78  --
15  SD          77-78  --
17  Washington  78-78   .5
18  Mets        78-77  1
19  Minnesota   78-77  1

It's a race to the bottom that'd make Pat Moynihan smile.

The devolution is in the details!