Within moments of the Los Angeles Dodgers selecting their first choice at the No. 28 slot in the 2010 MLB first-year player draft, speculation in regards to the team’s financial situation once again emerged.
In the offseason, Frank McCourt, owner and chairman of the Dodgers, stated that everything would be “business as usual” for the 2010 campaign, and that his pending divorce with wife Jamie would have no bearing whatsoever on the operation of the baseball team.
However, at the first sign of any uneasiness or deceleration of progress, whether it be stadium issues, player production, coaching performances, or any qualm in general, Dodgers critics are quick to point the finger at the divorce.
Nevertheless, Assistant GM Logan White had indicated to the press more than once before the draft that he did have enough money at his disposal to sign the picks he made over the first few days.
“I think sometimes people tend to misunderstand or misinterpret that just because we’re not spending the same amount of money as certain other clubs, the reality of it is that we’re picking 28th,” White said. “If somebody goes out and signs Stephen Strasburg for $15 million, well, right there, they’re $15 million ahead of us already.”
Signing bonuses for draft picks normally tend to drop off dramatically after the top 10 to 15 picks.
But to some experts, the first two selections in this year’s draft have already revealed Los Angeles’ true financial posture, and some even think the No. 1 pick was a feeble attempt to construct some type of facade.
The Dodgers have one of the most productive farm systems in all of baseball, and the success of the team primarily thrives on homegrown talent. And as important as young player development is to Los Angeles, the draft is where it all begins.
The following frames show the first three overall picks for the Dodgers in 2010, illustrate their strengths and weaknesses, and attempt to clarify each player’s signability status.