Your Simple Guide to the 2007 MLB Draft - Page 3

- Chicago Cubs/Arizona Diamondbacks: What do these two teams have in common? Bud Selig doesn't like how they draft. While MLB does not have a true salary slotting system, they have an informal one. Teams that are willing to pay more for players (and are willing to deal with Selig nemesis Scott Boras) are a thorn in the side of MLB, upsetting the parity of the draft and (more importantly) cost the other teams more money in their negotiations. If these two teams draft highly-desired players and pay them more than the players drafted ahead of them, Selig might drag his heels on the Tribune Company's sale of the Cubs or generally make Arizona's lives miserable. It sounds like a conspiracy, sure, but this is the same league found guilty of collusion in a court of law in the last 15 years. If either team takes a 'signable' player, Selig has made his point rather well.

- Washington Nationals: They just raised ticket prices rather sharply. Expect them to show where the money goes with a huge payout to Mike Moustakas, Matt Wieters, or Rick Porcello. Detroit will probably snatch up the one of these three that are left.

- Phillippe Aumount: Pretty much the only player affected seriously by the "and Canada" part of the draft rules, this hard-throwing righty will go in the first round or so. He doesn't even have a high school baseball team. Also, he's Quebecor, which makes him the closest thing to an Expo the league will see for a long time. Toronto fans are desperate to see him in blue, but he's a high school pitcher (not their drafting style) and probably won't last all the way to the Blue Jays at #16.

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