Rockies surrender first-round pick in 2017 MLB Draft
It isn’t the money that makes the Colorado Rockies signing of Ian Desmond for five years and $70 million a surprise, it’s all the other factors of the signing. One of those reasons is because the Rockies have to surrender the No. 11 pick in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft to sign Desmond, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers after the 2016 season.
With the first 10 overall picks in the MLB Draft protected, the 11th overall selection is the highest that can be surrendered.
The Rangers will receive an extra selection after the first-round of June’s draft for losing Desmond.
Report: 14 teams receive Competitive Balance picks in 2017 MLB Draft
The Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays will receive an extra pick in the Competitive Balance Round A, which occurs after the first-round and compensatory round.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres will receive an extra pick in the Competitive Balance Round B.
The order of the competitive balance rounds is still unknown.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo announced the competitive balance picks on Wednesday via Twitter.
