MLB Draft Question/Help

[Pete Incaviglia]

It's been two years since I worked in a city that had a player drafted by an MLB club. I remember back in the day players were drafted and property of the team for 364 days, then they had to be signed or thrown back into the draft.

I believe that's changed now, no? Isn't there a window in which the team must now sign the player?

Please help? Thanks.

 

[a_rosenthal]

Player has to sign by Aug. 15.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Player has to sign by Aug. 15.

Then what happens?

 

[OJ1414]

From the First-Year Player Draft rules on MLB.com:

A Club generally retains the rights to sign a selected player until 11:59 PM (EDT) August 15, or until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college on a full-time basis. A player who is drafted and does not sign with the Club that selected him may be drafted again at a future year's Draft, so long as the player is eligible for that year's Draft. A Club may not select a player again in a subsequent year, unless the player has consented to the re-selection.

A player who is eligible to be selected and is passed over by every Club becomes a free agent and may sign with any Club until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college full-time or enters, or returns to, a junior college.

 

[HejiraHenry]

I thought you were going to ask if the Cardinals drafted THE Johnny Bravo.